Arch Linux

rhkim05

Member

Registered: 2026-01-08

Posts: 3

ThinkPad T480s won’t boot Arch Linux USB (Secure Boot & BIOS settings)

I’m trying to install Arch Linux on a ThinkPad T480s, but I’m stuck at the firmware stage and would appreciate some help.

Situation:
- Laptop: ThinkPad T480s (refurbished, from eBay)
- BIOS: N22ET75W (1.52), UEFI BIOS Date 2022-09-28
- I only have a MacBook Pro to create bootable USBs (no Windows PC, but can use friend's pc if needed)
- USBs created with balenaEtcher (Arch Linux ISO)

Problem:
- When I press F12, I only see “USB HDD: SanDisk”, not “UEFI: USB”
- Selecting it causes the screen to blink briefly and return to the boot menu
- Secure Boot keeps re-enabling itself after every reboot
- Supervisor password does not persist (disappears after reboot)
- OS Optimized Defaults resets to Enabled
- System time does persist across reboots
- Computrace / Absolute status: Disabled / Not Activated

What I’ve tried:
- Disabled Secure Boot (doesn’t stick)
- Tried setting Supervisor password (doesn’t persist)
- Verified BIOS battery is likely fine (clock persists)
- Reflashed Arch USB multiple times

Question:
Is this a known BIOS 1.52 bug on the T480s, or is there another firmware setting I’m missing?
Has anyone successfully disabled Secure Boot / booted Linux on a T480s without Windows, or updated BIOS from macOS only?

Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

5hridhyan

Member

From: Asia

Registered: 2025-12-25

Posts: 298

Re: ThinkPad T480s won’t boot Arch Linux USB (Secure Boot & BIOS settings)

is "N22ET75W (1.52)" the latest one for this model?
If the clock persists but security-related settings don’t, maybe a broken/locked NVRAM or likely in this case incomplete firmware ownership, which is fairly common on refurbished ex-enterprise ThinkPads.
and in their website they show "1.62", why not try updating the BIOS? create windows installer boot it once, and udpate it.
https://support.lenovo.com/in/en/downlo … kpad-t480s

edit: can you atleast boot the bootable ISO?
edit2: if even after updating to "1.62" still the same I think it has serious firmware policy issue where the ex-user or the corporate IT team forgot to "decommission" it properly

Last edited by 5hridhyan (2026-01-08 14:03:10)

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I expect some mercy from my fellow humans! ^^
Keep your virtue sharpened in a kingdom of carrion, and the throne they offer will be built from your ribs.

cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 1,980

Re: ThinkPad T480s won’t boot Arch Linux USB (Secure Boot & BIOS settings)

- Supervisor password does not persist (disappears after reboot)
- System time does persist across reboots
...
- Verified BIOS battery is likely fine (clock persists)

so which one is it? does the clock persist or not?
if the system can't even keep the time this sounds like a serious hardware issue - let alone maybe some broken firmware (incompatible bios flashed > partial bricked the system)

btw: as I recently learned - etcher should not be used because it doesn't write the iso properly: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/USB_fl … le_methods
it also lists how to setup a proper boot media with mac - so no need for windows

create windows installer

no need for windows - the page you linked also provides a bootable iso - so no OS needed at all

rhkim05

Member

Registered: 2026-01-08

Posts: 3

Re: ThinkPad T480s won’t boot Arch Linux USB (Secure Boot & BIOS settings)

Somehow, the clock time does persist and so as secure boot option (as disabled). However, the problem is when I click usb hdd on boot menu, it keeps blink once and do nothing (keep showing the boot menu). How can I handle this?
I am now trying to update BIOS using usb, and kinda sure that I put thinkpad 480s update iso file into my usb in a proper way. However same issue for either Archlinux install or BIOS update
Sorry for newb behavior.

Last edited by rhkim05 (2026-01-08 05:24:52)

rhkim05

Member

Registered: 2026-01-08

Posts: 3

Re: ThinkPad T480s won’t boot Arch Linux USB (Secure Boot & BIOS settings)

Solved.

5hridhyan

Member

From: Asia

Registered: 2025-12-25

Posts: 298

Re: ThinkPad T480s won’t boot Arch Linux USB (Secure Boot & BIOS settings)

Solved.

Good, if your issue has been solved please edit the inital post title and add [SOLVED].
And also, if you don’t mind, you can share how the issue was resolved, it might help future readers.
edit:

Sorry for newb behavior.

Everyone here is learning.

Last edited by 5hridhyan (2026-01-14 15:29:29)

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I expect some mercy from my fellow humans! ^^
Keep your virtue sharpened in a kingdom of carrion, and the throne they offer will be built from your ribs.