Need assistance with UEFI "American Megatrends Inc. version 2.20.1270"
Need assistance with UEFI "American Megatrends Inc. version 2.20.1270"
Hi everyone, đź‘‹
I’m seeking some guidance on UEFI settings for American Megatrends Inc. version 2.20.1270 Aptio Setup Utility.
I’m trying to install a Linux distribution on my new Medion Akoya E3223 laptop (https://www.medion.com/de/shop/p/co...b-...30032489A1).
The system came preinstalled with WIN10, and I wanted to replace it with Linux Lite.
The main issue was that the laptop wouldn’t boot from the USB stick, where the clonezilla and Linux Lite ISO were stored.
I suspect the UEFI configuration might be the cause.
It’s an American product, and I’m following the setup instructions closely.
I attempted various solutions—disabling secure boot, checking boot options, even using what-have-you—but nothing worked.
I managed to open the UEFI interface with all settings accessible (using F2), and the boot menu showed only two options:
- The internal SSD running WIN10
- Another entry, possibly related to EFI…
It seems the uEFI Shell was active.
No indication of the USB stick or any other USB device being detected.
There appears to be an odd setting in the UEFI:
Boot Options / Priority Boot Options:
- Disabled
- Otherwise only WIN10 available
Could anyone help me figure out how to make this AMI version of Megatrends recognize connected USB media? So the ventoy stick could be detected?
Thank you in advance, and best regards from Rosika 🙂
Are you confident the USB drive you made is ready to start? Which Linux distributions have you attempted to load? Was the process limited to using Ventoy?
Hi, thank you for your response.
Yes, I understand. The ventoy stick worked without issues on another machine and installed both OS versions as ISOs: clonezilla and Linux Lite.
I didn’t mention that the laptop came with WIN10 preinstalled, but in S mode.
Could it be that UEFI offers a method to restrict access for the “S mode”?
That would be a serious issue... 🤔
Warm regards from Rosika 🙂
I recommend making a bootable USB using Ubuntu or Mint, excluding Ventoy.
You might also transition from S mode to a standard Windows 10 Home or Pro version.
1. On your Windows 10 PC running in S mode, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
2. Locate the option to Switch to Windows 10 Home or Switch to Windows 10 Pro, then choose the Go to the Store link.
3. On the Microsoft Store page (Switch out of S mode or similar), click Get. After confirming, you’ll be able to install apps from outside the Microsoft Store.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 in S mode FAQ - Microsoft Support
Find answers to frequent questions about Windows 11 and Windows 10 in S mode.
support.microsoft.com
Hi again, đź‘‹
Appreciate your assistance.
You mentioned WIN's S mode could be related to the laptop not displaying any USB entries for booting? That’s something I was considering but wasn’t certain about.
I’ll try disabling S mode and thank you for the guide and link.
Regarding the other question:
I’d attempt a similar approach, but how would I set up a USB-booting device using just tools like clonezilla? Should I use that method?
Thanks again, and best wishes from Rosika 🙂
I'm unsure about the reason for booting Clonezilla. Using a bootable USB with Ubuntu or Mint already provides partitioning tools to install Linux.
Yes, that's clear so far.
I planned to launch Clonezilla Live to create a disk backup of the WIN installation on the laptop, which is brand new.
That was just to ensure everything was safe.
After that, the next step would have been to begin Linux Lite Live, verify compatibility of all hardware and peripherals, and then install Linux Lite.
The method you're using to install things is overly complicated. Follow what @rocktalkrock suggested and stop trying. With new laptops, I always start with a fresh Windows installation to remove all unnecessary software, then install the manufacturer's drivers from the support page.
Thank you for your input. However, the issue is still unresolved—I require a connected USB device to be detected in the boot selection menu. This problem persists, I'm concerned about it.
Do you possess a boot order list in the BIOS or the capacity to choose a device during the boot menu? If not, please ensure the USB drive is an older USB2.0 model. Occasionally I encounter problems with newer USB 3.0 drives being detected for Windows installs and BIOS updates. Have you exited S mode in Windows as recommended earlier?