W520 - can't enter BIOS and boot menu after motherboard upgrade when SSD is connected

[endriu]

After replacing the 04W2028 motherboard with the 04W2029 one I can't enter BIOS or boot menu using the standard ways (ThinkVantage button and F12, respectively).
The BIOS itself doesn't seem to be corrupted because I can edit the settings to some extent using WMI interface and this tool: https://thinkdeploy.blogspot.com/2016/0 ... -tool.html
However I can't get the boot order persistent this way and regardless of that I'd like to be able to change it dynamically when starting the computer.

I have recorded the videos showing the problem:
https://streamable.com/mwqgi
https://streamable.com/obojc

Could this be due to the fact that I didn't updated the serial numbers in the new motherboard with the values from the old one (no errrors suggesting that though)?

[dr_st]

Can you enter the BIOS directly using F1?

[RealBlackStuff]

AFAIK, and I have always done this, you go into BIOS on all Thinkpads by pressing F1.
If your mobo is missing its Type, S/N and UUID, download the HMD: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... tm38us.exe
When you run it first time (in Windows), it wants to unpack itself to c:\drivers\maintenance...
Change it to where it suits you.
Then go to the program usbfmtpw.exe to make a self-booting USB-stick.
Remove your HDD/SSD and CD drives, then run that USB-program.
Reuse the TYPE and S/N from the sticker underneath your W520 (without any dashes) and run UUID once.
Reboot and remove the USB-stick as soon as the logo shows, then press F1 to go into BIOS to check.
Switch off, reconnect your drives, reboot and press F1 instead of Vantage button.
Set your preferred boot-order and whatever.

[endriu]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that hitting F1 results in a similar behavior (black screen).

After a series of trial and error experiments I have found the source of the problem. Whenever I have my SSD connected to the primary slot, I cannot enter neither BIOS nor boot menu. When I disconnect the disk, I can enter both. I use the DVD bay as a slot for a second SSD, when it's connected it works as well. So only the primary slot causes the issues. I did some googling and found similar reports, mostly concerning Lenovo, though I didn't find any solution to this issue.
I would appreciate any ideas on how to resolve this.

EDIT: It actually fails with my old HDD connected as well.

[RealBlackStuff]

Does Primary (and BIOS) work if you remove the Ultrabay drive?

[endriu]

No, the presence (or lack of it) of the Ultrabay caddy has no influence on whether I can enter BIOS / boot menu or not.
Also, when I remove the primary SSD and get to the boot settings I see plenty of old entries:



I'm not very familiar with this aspect of the system, but since no drives are present I understand this data is stored somewhere in the BIOS itself. I already reconnected the internal battery various times, but it didn't wipe this data, so I assume it's stored in some non-volatile BIOS memory, right? Is there a way to bring it all to factory state?

[dr_st]

This is very strange, as this data should be dynamic. It says that you can 'Delete' entries; did you try that?

[endriu]

I can delete _some_ of these entries, but not all. I would prefer to just get the NVRAM to the factory state instead, perhaps that would resolve that blockage of accessing BIOS caused by the presence of SSD/HDD too.

[BillP]

What happens if you press F9 - Setup Defaults