How to Boot from a USB on a Lenovo Z50: A Comprehensive Guide

Booting from a USB drive on a Lenovo Z50 can be a powerful way to install a new operating system, run recovery tools, or test different software. This guide provides a step-by-step process to ensure you can successfully boot from a USB, along with a brief explanation of how to handle these operations for other Lenovo models and different operating systems.

Preparing the USB Drive

Before you can boot from a USB drive, it must be set up as a bootable drive. This typically means using specialized software to install an operating system or recovery tool specifically onto the USB drive. This guide assumes that your USB drive has already been formatted and contains a valid bootable image.

Inserting the USB Drive in the Lenovo Z50

1. Ensure your USB drive is properly formatted and contains a valid bootable image. 2. Turn off your Lenovo Z50 completely. 3. Insert the USB drive into one of the USB ports on your Lenovo Z50.

Accessing the Boot Menu

1. Turn on your laptop and immediately start pressing the F12 key repeatedly. This should bring up the Boot Menu. 2. In the Boot Menu, you will see a list of bootable devices. Use the arrow keys to navigate to your USB drive. 3. Select the USB drive and press Enter.

Changing the Boot Order if Necessary

If the USB drive does not appear in the Boot Menu, you may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings.

Restart your laptop and press the appropriate key as it boots to enter the BIOS setup (typically F1 or Enter depending on your model). Navigate to the Boot tab using the arrow keys. Change the boot order to prioritize USB devices. Make sure the USB drive is listed before the internal hard drive. Save your changes and exit the BIOS.

After completing these steps, your laptop should boot from the USB drive. If you encounter any issues, ensure that the USB drive is properly formatted and contains a valid bootable image.

Alternative Method for Windows 8.1 Users

If you are using Windows 8.1, you can use the built-in tool to boot from a USB drive. Here is a detailed process:

Press the Windows key S to open the search bar at the side of your screen. Search for Advanced startup options. Click on the option that appears in the search results. Read through the options, and choose the one that best suits your needs. The third option is often the most preferred because it allows you to completely run an OS on your laptop without permanent changes. When you're done, you can simply revert to your original Windows 8.1 installation.

This method is convenient because it enables you to try out different operating systems without affecting your primary OS. Some examples of OS you can try out include:

Linux Mac OS X Unix Cyborg Pentoo Boss Arch Linux

Remember, after the installation, you should change your boot sequence back to HDD (Hard Disk Drive) as first to avoid any potential damages from a possibly infected USB drive.

By following these steps, you can effectively boot from a USB drive on your Lenovo Z50 or even on other Lenovo models, providing a versatile and flexible method for system maintenance and testing.