Windows 10 Thinkpad W520

[makaveli559m]

I did find a couple of bugs that wow I mean 10 is pretty good but wow they need to be fixed asap! One is on Edge if you take out a take and put the tab back into the browser a ghost tab stays behind and you cant close it unless you close the whole browser. Also in All Apps menu if you pass 512 entries non will show up so when you install programs you cant see them in the start menu unless you use a third party menu. Than when you have video games and you have Optimus sit up, you no longer could right click the entry in the start menu and pick what graphics card you want to use for the game so like Call of Duty Ghosts if you just straight click on it, it wont launch and it gives an error if it doesn't pick up the Nvidia video card. Also the issue with Optimus! Optimus doesn't work as correct and sometimes the Nvidia video card will run even when you asked the Nvidia settings to use the Integrated graphics at all times. I tried everything every combo combination and nothing, only way to fix it was to disable Nividia until you need to play video games.

[Hans Gruber]

What settings are you running Call Of Duty Ghosts on? I am curious, you have the W series with an i7 processor. What kind of FPS are you getting? Can you run it at 1920x1080? My question is regarding the Nvidia graphics card. They are pretty gutless for gaming. I have the 3100M in my T410 series with 512mb of ram. It's in the 3% vs the 5% of your 2GB card according to the benchmarks below. Moral of the story, play very old games or less graphic intensive games. I tried playing Insurgency on my T410s with Nvidia 3100m. It actually played pretty decent at low settings @ 1440x900.

http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest/ ... adro-1000M

[aharown15]

I did find a couple of bugs that wow I mean 10 is pretty good but wow they need to be fixed asap! One is on Edge if you take out a take and put the tab back into the browser a ghost tab stays behind and you cant close it unless you close the whole browser. Also in All Apps menu if you pass 512 entries non will show up so when you install programs you cant see them in the start menu unless you use a third party menu. Than when you have video games and you have Optimus sit up, you no longer could right click the entry in the start menu and pick what graphics card you want to use for the game so like Call of Duty Ghosts if you just straight click on it, it wont launch and it gives an error if it doesn't pick up the Nvidia video card. Also the issue with Optimus! Optimus doesn't work as correct and sometimes the Nvidia video card will run even when you asked the Nvidia settings to use the Integrated graphics at all times. I tried everything every combo combination and nothing, only way to fix it was to disable Nividia until you need to play video games.

How did you manage to get Win10 on to a w520? I've tried no less than 9 times w/o success.
So far I haven't found a step by step that works.

(My efforts to date have included returning the unit to factory condition and downloading all "important" Win 7 updates... and most of the 'recommended' ones. Updating all drivers using Lenovo System Update.... and then various mixes of bios settings, none of which worked.)
The error I always come back to is 0xc1900101 - 0x20017 "The installation failed in the safe_os phase with an error during boot operation"

Sure would love to get past that.

[makaveli559m]

I did find a couple of bugs that wow I mean 10 is pretty good but wow they need to be fixed asap! One is on Edge if you take out a take and put the tab back into the browser a ghost tab stays behind and you cant close it unless you close the whole browser. Also in All Apps menu if you pass 512 entries non will show up so when you install programs you cant see them in the start menu unless you use a third party menu. Than when you have video games and you have Optimus sit up, you no longer could right click the entry in the start menu and pick what graphics card you want to use for the game so like Call of Duty Ghosts if you just straight click on it, it wont launch and it gives an error if it doesn't pick up the Nvidia video card. Also the issue with Optimus! Optimus doesn't work as correct and sometimes the Nvidia video card will run even when you asked the Nvidia settings to use the Integrated graphics at all times. I tried everything every combo combination and nothing, only way to fix it was to disable Nividia until you need to play video games.

How did you manage to get Win10 on to a w520? I've tried no less than 9 times w/o success.
So far I haven't found a step by step that works.

(My efforts to date have included returning the unit to factory condition and downloading all "important" Win 7 updates... and most of the 'recommended' ones. Updating all drivers using Lenovo System Update.... and then various mixes of bios settings, none of which worked.)
The error I always come back to is 0xc1900101 - 0x20017 "The installation failed in the safe_os phase with an error during boot operation"

Sure would love to get past that.

Hi did you uncheck all the EFI settings and put it legacy mode? I also had used the Media Creator tool to upgrade to 10.

[Temetka]

Why do an upgrade at all?

I just did a fresh install on my T410 today with no problems. Yes the W520 is way more powerful, and has newer hardware. Perhaps if you have a spare HD to try with, you could try a fresh isntall.

[aharown15]

Both helpful replies.
I don't what EFI is, but I'll find out.

... I haven't attempted a full install because I was under the impression it wasn't possible until doing an upgrade first. So I'll have to explore that I suppose.

Interestingly enough (or not), my first attempt, I didn't create an iso, just went with the Media Experience and kicked off the download and went to bed. Attempted upgrade in the morning and it got past the reboot and started copying files (the phase where you have the big circle in the middle of the screen). Got to 2% and stopped cold.

Subsequent attempts I downloaded the iso and tried from DVD and also several times from flash drive.

Got a link for how to do a full install instead of upgrade?

[aharown15]

OK, found UEFI settings in the BIOS and changed from "both" to "legacy."
And made another attempt from my flash drive iso.
Same result.

[pianowizard]

Why do an upgrade at all?

I just did a fresh install on my T410 today with no problems.

That's because you have a Windows 10 product key, from your employer if I remember correctly. If we don't have this key but want to get 10 for free, we need to follow the Windows 10 Upgrade system tray icon. After upgrading, we can go through the "Reset this PC" option (Settings --> Update & security -->Recovery) to reset 10 to its pristine condition, which is as "clean" as clean installing.

[Temetka]

Why do an upgrade at all?

I just did a fresh install on my T410 today with no problems.

That's because you have a Windows 10 product key, from your employer if I remember correctly. If we don't have this key but want to get 10 for free, we need to follow the Windows 10 Upgrade system tray icon. After upgrading, we can go through the "Reset this PC" option (Settings --> Update & security -->Recovery) to reset 10 to its pristine condition, which is as "clean" as clean installing.

Actually I have access to almost every Microsoft program through a software assurance package one of my clients have. Being their IT admin means I get to use a few keys for myself.

People who use the upgrade don't get a key. What happens is you have to upgrade your machine, then activate it with Microsoft. That ties the machine ID to that install. No key. So now use the media creation tool to download the ISO and burn it to your bootable media of choice. Reboot the system and format the HD. Then install Windows 10. According to what I've read that is the path to clean installing the free version. But you have to activate Windows after performing the upgrade once.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to- ... indows-10/

[aharown15]

The link describes the clean install process I already referred to and am unable to do...
1. Run the upgrade process and upgrade to Win 10
2. Do a clean install from that point

Can't do #1, so I can't do #2 either.

[chrisBC]

Just spend the entire afternoon today trying to install the Win10 Pro 64 bit upgrade on my wife's W520. The same process on my homebuilt AMD desktop PC last weekend went smoothly.
This on the other hand...I had installed all the Win7 updates that were offered beforehand, then tried upgrading first with the Windows Update method (ran to 32% overall, 6% getting updates & drivers) then it froze. Then I removed all USB peripherals, tried using the Media Creation method, same 32% then freeze. Then I tried using the ISO'd DVD, this time it seemed to finish BUT...black screen at final boot up. Seems the vid drivers were gone or bad, per some googling on it. But couldn't find a way to boot in to be able to try to install drivers. Got it running briefly, went into Hardware Manager & saw that Nvida Quadro 100M drivers weren't installed, but before I could do anything further the screen went black again. Finally gave up & reverted back to Win7.
Quite frustrating that this powerful, expensive laptop didn't merit Lenovo working to develop Windows 10 compatability.
Any suggestions on solving this would be much appreciated.

[aharown15]

Sounds like you got a good bit further than i was able to. Maybe there have been updates from MS that are improving ... I'm probably going to try again in a few weeks.

[chrisBC]

Trying again today, grabbed latest Nvidia drivers & installed them, as that was what seemed to be missing/corrupted the last go round.
We'll see...

[chrisBC]

Two more install attempts using DVD , one w/ "get updates & drivers" enabled, another without. Both attempts stopped exactly at 32%, 6% of updates.
Threw out " 0xC1900101-0x30018" unknown error after restoring my Win7. Guess I'm going to give it up, thanks Lenovo for the non-support of Win10.

[pianowizard]

I am surprised it's so tricky to put Windows 10 on the W520. I have attempted to install it on nine of my computers, and all were straightforward. Here are the models of these computers and the years they were announced:

Panasonic Let's Note CF-Y9 with Core2 Duo U9600 (Feb 2010)
HP EliteBook 8740w with 1st-gen Core i5 (Mar 2010)
A custom-built minitower with 1st-gen Core i5 (built in Apr 2010)
HP 8200 Elite with 2nd-gen Core i7 (Jan 2011)
Dell OptiPlex 790 with 2nd-gen Core i5 (Feb 2011)
Dell OptiPlex 9010 with 3rd-gen Core i3 (May 2012)
HP 8300 Elite with 3rd-gen Core i7 (Jul 2012)
Sony Vaio Pro13 with 4th-gen Core i5 (Jun 2013)
HP Pavilion x2 with Atom Z3736F (Sep 2014)

For comparison, the W520 was announced in Feb 2011, and has 2nd-gen Core i processors. Thus, five of the above computers are at least as old as the W520.

[chrisBC]

Yes me too. The "unknown error" message explanation doesn't help much either trying to solve it. Had it actually boot up once, resolution wasn't setup, and drivers for video seemed borked or missing, but didn't have time to try & install anything before it rebooted to a black screen.

[pianowizard]

Yes me too. The "unknown error" message explanation doesn't help much either trying to solve it. Had it actually boot up once, resolution wasn't setup, and drivers for video seemed borked or missing, but didn't have time to try & install anything before it rebooted to a black screen.

Did you try connecting an external monitor? Perhaps the image was somehow sent only to the video-out port, not to the laptop's screen.

[chrisBC]

Yes me too. The "unknown error" message explanation doesn't help much either trying to solve it. Had it actually boot up once, resolution wasn't setup, and drivers for video seemed borked or missing, but didn't have time to try & install anything before it rebooted to a black screen.

Did you try connecting an external monitor? Perhaps the image was somehow sent only to the video-out port, not to the laptop's screen.

Don't have one handy, but might try that approach.

[pkincy]

For whatever reason, W520 is not listed by Lenovo/Microsoft as compatible with Win 10. W530 and W540 are but not W520.

I have Win 10 on my X220 and my W550s but it won't install on my W520.

[pkiff]

Well, I've just installed Windows 10 on my W520 twice, and didn't have any hiccups in either case. Now maybe the whole thing will come crashing down tomorrow, but I'm just giving you all an FYI. I'm hoping to set up dual-boot Win 10 and Ubuntu 14 or 15 on this machine, with UEFI bios and self-encrypting drive, and then start tinkering. I guess we'll see what kinds of problems arise!

For whatever reason, W520 is not listed by Lenovo/Microsoft as compatible with Win 10. W530 and W540 are but not W520.

I thought that list was a list of what was supported by Lenovo, not what was compatible. People are getting all kinds of old hardware to run Windows 10, so I'm kind of assuming I'll be able to get everything working eventually. But maybe I'm crazy.

Phil.

[chrisBC]

Believe me, I have tried every way possible, using downloaded media method, USB stick, ISO to DVD, turning off "get updates" during install, it gets to 32% & then just stops. It will not install over Windows 7 Pro on this W520.

[RealBlackStuff]

Could it be that your W7 is a pirate copy?
Micro$haft does not like those...

[pianowizard]

it gets to 32% & then just stops.

Perhaps it is stuck at a bad sector on the hard drive.

[chrisBC]

Nope , not pirate, I've downloaded MS updates since day one just fine.
Did a full sector scan on the hdd , no errors. Have seen this issue mentioned elsewhere.

[pianowizard]

Did a full sector scan on the hdd , no errors. Have seen this issue mentioned elsewhere.

These scans are often unreliable. I once had a hard drive that Windows' full scan claimed was error-free. But when I did a full format, the formatting got stuck at several points due to serious errors on the hard drive. I had to divide that drive into three partitions with gaps in between to avoid those affected areas.

I recommend you to do a full format (AKA "slow format") of your drive, before attempting to install Windows 10 again.

[chrisBC]

If I do that, of course I'll lose the OS & along with that the Windows 10 upgrade 8

[Puppy]

Check SMART status by http://www.hwinfo.com/ or similar tool. If the Reallocated Sector Count [05] 'worst' value is lower than maximum one (typically 200) throw the drive away.

ThinkPad *20 series are not Windows 10 supported by Lenovo https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/ht103535

The following configurations, devices and components are NOT supported:

Intel 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors (Sandy Bridge)

[Temetka]

Neither is my T410 "supported" by Lenovo on Windows 10, but it runs great.

I am going to re-iterate what I said earlier in the thread.

Get a spare HD and try a clean install. If you don't have one, Newegg sells laptop HDD's for cheap. Considering it's an experiment, I would buy a 250 WD blue and see what happens.

[pianowizard]

If I do that, of course I'll lose the OS & along with that the Windows 10 upgrade 8

Clone the hard drive first.

[makaveli559m]

I have Windows 10 Pro now installed on a Samsung 256GB SSD but still issues with graphic switching which I think it is broken, and I hate the fact that screen options on Nvidia now only work when you have two screens! Also Bluetooth issues with F5 so I have to disable it on Device manager. Same with the video cards if I stop a game the Nvidia video card will still be active so I go to Device manager to close it. Also still no fix for 512 entry on start menu so I am using Start10 at the moment on all my machines. Also I cant explain why my booting is so slow on SSD! It was super fast on Windows 7. I have two hard drives, the SSD as the main and a 750 as the one to install programs on.