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    How to repair Windows install on T420

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by tommo99, Apr 17, 2018.

  1. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    I have a T420 that won't boot, but will boot into safe mode. Is there a way of repairing the Windows installation using the Lenovo recovery tools, either from safe mode or from the recovery partition? I'd like to retain currently installed applications and files.
     
    tommo99, Apr 17, 2018
    #1
  2. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What did you install / change before this happened?

    Most likely bad drivers.


    Recovery tools are mostly useless in this case.
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 18, 2018
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  3. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    Nothing new installed recently, but did a forced shutdown by holding down the power button for 15 secs as it was taking too long to shut down.
    If I try booting in normal mode it gets past the welcome screen but the screen then goes blank and remains that way. Plenty of disk activity for maybe 20-30 mins but eventually it stops and the machine goes into sleep mode (with the display never turning on).
    Any suggestions for things to try before the worst case of trying to restore it to factory settings?
     
    tommo99, Apr 18, 2018
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  4. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    backup files on safe mode and fresh install

    don't use the factory image
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 18, 2018
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  5. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    If I don't use the factory image (presumably you mean the recovery partition?) how would I do a fresh install??
     
    tommo99, Apr 18, 2018
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  6. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    use ms iso burned to usb, then nuke the current drive before installing the new os
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 18, 2018
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  7. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    You mean a Digital River type thing? Worth trying a repair from the ISO first?
     
    tommo99, Apr 18, 2018
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  8. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Mobius 1, Apr 18, 2018
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  9. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    As a matter of interest, why do you recommend avoiding the recovery partition? Wouldn't that have the advantage of installing the correct chipset drivers etc and relevant Lenovo utilities?
     
    tommo99, Apr 18, 2018
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  10. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    outdated
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 18, 2018
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  11. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    The problem is I don't see a Windows sticker (i.e. with a CD key) anywhere on the laptop, so presumably I wouldn't be able to reinstall from a Microsoft ISO?
     
    tommo99, Apr 18, 2018
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  12. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    Any stickers under the battery?
     
    iphetamine, Apr 18, 2018
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  13. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    So I found the Windows sticker under the battery but more importantly have found the problem is with the display settings...if I plug a VGA cable into the VGA port the display springs into life on the laptop. The problem is that the screen goes blank again as soon as I remove the VGA cable. I have the display settings set to "1.Mobile PC Display", and if I click the Identify button the number "1" shows on the laptop's screen, but as soon as I unplug the VGA cable the screen goes blank again.
    I've tried hitting Fn-F7 to try switching displays but the screen remains blank. Only plugging in the VGA cable gets it back.
    ???
     
    tommo99, Apr 18, 2018
    #13
  14. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    do you have model with nvidia gpu?

    try check in bios setting if you can disable the nvidia gpu, or choose the optimus mode
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 19, 2018
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  15. ranbir singh kadian

    ranbir singh kadian Newbie

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    you should just see here for all the solution about you device h
    device solution
     
    ranbir singh kadian, Apr 20, 2018
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  16. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    Moderator you may want to ban the last poster for spamming this thread.

    It seems that the laptop thought it was displaying to a projector (I have no idea why). I managed to disconnect the mythical projector from the FN-F7 menu and all is now well.
     
    tommo99, Apr 20, 2018
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  17. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    maybe a bug with intel drivers

    try wiping the drivers with ddu on safemode, then install the newest version from intel website
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 20, 2018
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  18. tommo99

    tommo99 Newbie

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    Sorry "ddu"??
     
    tommo99, Apr 20, 2018
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  19. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    yes, it's a utility to help proper installations of windows gpu drivers
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 20, 2018
    #19