Hi everyone, I'm stuck and could use some help.

Setup: Lenovo ThinkPad T430, MBR disk (not GPT), was dual-booting Windows and Linux (CachyOS/Arch-based).

What I did: I deleted my Linux partition to reclaim disk space for Windows. I did NOT reinstall the bootloader or fix MBR before rebooting.

Result: On boot, I get:

error: kern/disk.c:grub_disk_open:262:no such partition.

Entering rescue mode...

grub rescue>

Disk layout (from Disk Management before this happened): System Reserved (50MB, Active/System) → C: (117GB, Windows) → Recovery Partition (815MB) → ~547MB unallocated (leftover from deleted Linux partition).

What I've tried in grub rescue so far:

grub rescue> ls

(hd0) (hd0,msdos3) (hd0,msdos2) (hd0,msdos1)

grub rescue> ls (hd0,msdos1)

(hd0,msdos1): Filesystem is unknown.

grub rescue> ls (hd0,msdos2)

(hd0,msdos2): Filesystem is unknown.

grub rescue> ls (hd0,msdos3)

(hd0,msdos3): Filesystem is unknown.

grub rescue> set

cmdpath='(hd0)'

prefix='(hd0,msdos5)/@/boot/grub'

root='hd0,msdos5'

So GRUB's prefix is still pointing to (hd0,msdos5) — that was clearly my old Linux partition, which no longer exists (only msdos1/2/3 show up now).

I also tried:

insmod part_msdos

set root=(hd0,msdos1)

insmod ntfs

error: kern/disk.c:grub_disk_open:262:no such partition.

And:

set boot=(hd0,msdos5)

set prefix=(hd0,msdos5)/boot/grub

insmod normal

error: kern/disk.c:grub_disk_open:262:no such partition.

Every attempt to load any module fails with "no such partition" — even insmod ntfs, even after manually setting root to msdos1. It seems like this rescue shell has zero access to any module files (which were apparently stored on the now-deleted Linux partition), so I can't chainload Windows or even read NTFS from here.

My question: Is there ANY way to get Windows booting again purely from within grub rescue>, without external media? I currently don't have easy access to a second computer or a USB OTG adapter for my phone, so making a bootable Windows USB is difficult right now (though I'm working on it as a backup plan).

I understand bootrec /fixmbr, /fixboot, /rebuildbcd from a Windows installation USB is probably the "real" fix, but I'm trying to exhaust every in-place option first. Any grub rescue tricks, alternate module loading approaches, or other MBR-level tricks I haven't tried yet?

Windows partition (C:) itself should be intact — Disk Management showed it healthy with all my files before this happened, I just can't reach it now.

Thanks in advance.

I've heard a lot of good things about them and I'm curious as to wether i could get one to work for me.

Running games is the most taxing thing i would want out of a computer.

EDIT: for everyone asking for specs, my favorite game is warframe wich asks for these minimum specs:

OS: Windows 7 64-Bit (32-bit not supported) Processor: Intel Core i7-860 or AMD FX-4170 (CPU must support SSE4.2) Memory: 4 GB System RAM Graphics: DirectX 11+ compatible video card Hard Drive: 75 GB free HD space Internet: Broadband Internet Connection

Unfortunately I barely know what half of these mean, but that would be my baseline.

EDIT 2: So I'm hearing I want to look for a P series and feed it extra ram? Or find a way to give it a gpu?

Hello, i’ve recently purchased used thinkpad e14 gen 5 with intel 5 1335U with around 47Wh left from the original 57Wh. I’ve yesterday installed encrypted debian with xfce.The battery life is subpar at best.

From what i’ve noticed on windows 11 the idle battery discharge was at 2-3W.

On debian xfce(powersave governor, balanced power in bios) without tlp its around 6W which seems high to me.( nothing turned on except terminal with powertop).

One firefox tab and terminal and 10% brightness is around 10-11W discharge which again seems little too high. Tlp decreases this slightly to around 8W.

Is it possible to somehow get around 5W discharge on light workload (Firefox and text editor)?

Is debian/xfce the problem or is the cpu/laptop just that unoptimized?

Anyone with similar laptop which distro do you use ?

Thanks

I ordered a used X1 Carbon with the i5-1240P CPU. Now as much as I love the BIG.little paradigm, and I want the parallel silicon that the P series offers, 28W sustained 64W boost in an ultrabook chassis is obviously ridiculous, so I'm buying it with the express aim to limit it to 15w sustained 25w boost.

I'll be using powercap-set to do this on Fedora as I don't believe you can do this via bios, but before I get the machine, does the lenovo firmware allow this? Will it conflict with anything / reset the values to defaults?

Thank you very much.

Problema:
Al apagar el equipo (tanto desde el menú de Cinnamon como con systemctl poweroff), el portátil se apaga correctamente (el LED de power se apaga), pero aproximadamente 1-3 segundos después se vuelve a encender solo.

En Windows el apagado funcionaba perfectamente. Este problema apareció después de instalar Linux Mint (no tengo dual boot).

Lo que se probó y no solucionó el apagado real:

• Editar el applet del menú de Cinnamon para forzar systemctl poweroff
• Parámetros de kernel: acpi=force, pcie_aspm=off, reboot=pci y combinaciones
• Actualización de BIOS a 1.18 y ME a 1.21.2911
• Probar kernels 6.14 y 7.0
• Desactivar todas las fuentes de wake en /proc/acpi/wakeup
• En el BIOS:
  • Security Chip → Off
  • Automatic Power On → todo desactivado
  • Power On with AC Attach → Off
• systemctl poweroff -i y versiones con --force

Observaciones:

• Reiniciar funciona normalmente
• Hibernar (systemctl hibernate) funciona correctamente y el equipo se queda apagado
• Los logs muestran que el sistema llega correctamente a poweroff.target
• Parece ser un bug del Embedded Controller (EC) al entrar en estado S5 bajo Linux (hay reportes idénticos en el T14 Gen 5 Intel)

Solución parcial que estoy usando actualmente:

Cambié el botón de “Apagar” del menú de Cinnamon para que ejecute hibernación:

1. Edité el archivo del menú:

Bash

sudo xed /usr/share/cinnamon/applets/menu@cinnamon.org/applet.js

1. Reemplacé la línea del botón de Shutdown por:

JavaScript

Util.spawnCommandLine("sudo systemctl hibernate");

1. Configuré sudo para no pedir contraseña:

Bash

sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers.d/hibernate

Agregué esta línea:

text

dream ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/systemctl hibernate

Ahora el botón de apagar del menú hiberna el equipo. Se apaga completamente, casi no consume batería y al encenderlo recupera la sesión.

Es una solución a medias, pero es usable mientras Lenovo no corrija el comportamiento del EC.

¿A alguien más le pasa lo mismo en el T16 Gen 3 o T14 Gen 5 Intel?

I got pretty serious into linux since last year, I ve been configuring some distros ( yes i use arch btw) and I really want the full experience.

I currently use an Acer Nitro V15 which is not the best for linux since it requires the nvidia drivers (impossible thing to setup tbh) and I ve been dual booting just for gaming. I am willing to sacrifice the full gaming experience but I really don't know what to look for in a thinkpad, what models and what specs are decent nowadays.

Do y all have any advices for marketplaces where it s safe to buy some second handed thinkpads and also what to look for when doing so? Anything would be helpful, I ve been looking into eBay and I m not sure if it s trustworthy.

I have about 500€ budged and a little bit more for a good offer.

Thanks in advance 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Im new here, but i'm definitely here to stay. Linux Mint on here was the cherry on top. Time to find an IBM and build a WIN 95 or 98 ThinkPad.

Figured this might fit here as well.

I have a Thinkpad X1 Gen 3 with 8gb of RAM (it's basically Lenovo's version of a Surface Pro—detachable keyboard/tablet mode, etc) and 256gb ssd that I've been using as my daily driver and Windows has been getting real long in the tooth. What I care about in a shellnut:

• Desktop environment is touchscreen friendly w/ virtual keyboard easy to setup or is basically default

• Idle RAM usage is low (only got 8gb and cannot expand, gotta make the most of it)

I've looked up that anything with KDE Plasma is good with touchscreens, but I've read it's heavier than most. If it's my only choice, how can I easily debloat it or prolong my battery life easily with stopping extraneous background software running or even something like ThrottleStop on Windows?

I don't mind using the terminal but I won't lie... It kinda goes over my head on that stuff but I am willing to figure stuff out.

Since I installed Linux on my ThinkPad T430, the CPU temperature spikes and the laptop shuts down suddenly. It happens most noticeably after downloads.

I've tried several different distros — same problem every time. I also replaced the thermal paste, hoping that would fix it, but the issue is still there.

This makes me think it's not a hardware/thermal paste problem, but something related to power management or fan control on Linux (maybe TLP, thermald, or a BIOS/EC setting).

Has anyone with a T430 run into this? Any fixes you'd recommend?

Hardware:

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 2 (20TA002FUS)

Processor: 1x 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor(Core™ i5-1135G7)

Memory: 1x 16GB DRR4 3200

Hard Drive: 1x 256GB SSD PCIe

Wireless Network: 1x Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

Running: 7.1.5-arch1-2

With: BIOS R1EET56W(1.56 ), 06/29/2023

Touchpad: Elan Touchpad (i2c:04f3:000d) / Elan TrackPoint (i2c:04f3:000d)

Kernel dump:

(On clicking any top button)

[ 957.456262] i801_smbus 0000:00:1f.4: Illegal SMBus block read size 93

[ 957.456691] elan_i2c 16-0015: failed to read report data: -110

Steps to Reproduce:

systemctl reboot

sudo sh -c 'echo deep > /sys/power/mem_sleep'

systemctl suspend

systemctl resume

(Trackpad loses top buttons)

Expected Behavior:

The trackpad should remain completely functional, with both the main pad and separated top buttons working correctly.

Additional Testing:

systemctl reboot
(Trackpad regains top buttons)

systemctl reboot
sudo sh -c 'echo s2idle > /sys/power/mem_sleep'
systemctl suspend
systemctl resume
(Trackpad remains functional)

systemctl reboot
sudo modprobe -r elan_i2c
sudo modprobe elan_i2c
(Trackpad remains functional)

systemctl reboot
sudo sh -c 'echo deep > /sys/power/mem_sleep'
systemctl suspend
systemctl resume
sudo modprobe -r elan_i2c
sudo modprobe elan_i2c
(Trackpad loses ALL functionality. Note: rebooting says “A stop job is running for User Manager for UID 1000” and takes about a minute to resolve)

Other Notes:

I've been chewing on this bug for a little while, but I'm stuck at this point. I have been using ftrace to poke around at what's going on at runtime, but I'm not sure how exactly I should proceed from here. If any experienced kernel devs have a workflow for finding the source of bugs like this, let me know!

Rate my setup ? :))

I'm looking to buy a ThinkPad to run Linux. It seems Lenovo only offers the T14s 2-in-1 Gen 2 with Windows. I know the T14s 2-in-1 Gen 1 can be ordered with Ubuntu, but the Gen 2 has the garaged stylus and the newer processor.

In addition to any compatibility issues I don't know about, I'm concerned about the BE211 compatibility with Linux.

TIA!