Recovering your operating system if Windows 10 fails to start The Windows recovery environment on your computer operates independently from the Windows 10 operating system. It enables you to recover or repair the operating system even if the Windows 10 operating system fails to start. After two consecutive failed boot attempts, the Windows recovery environment starts automatically. Then you can choose repair and recovery options by following the on-screen instructions. Note: Ensure that your computer is connected to ac power during the recovery process. Creating and using a recovery USB drive You can create a recovery USB drive as a backup for the Windows recovery programs. With the recovery USB drive, you can troubleshoot and fix the problems even if the preinstalled Windows recovery programs are damaged. It is recommended that you create a recovery USB drive as early as possible. If you did not create a recovery USB drive as a precautionary measure, you can contact Lenovo Customer Support Center and purchase one from Lenovo. For a list of the Lenovo Support phone numbers for your country or region, go to: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/supportphonelist Creating a recovery USB drive To create a recovery USB drive, you need a USB drive with at least 16 GB of storage capacity. The actual USB capacity that is required depends on the size of the recovery image. Attention: The creation process will delete anything stored on the USB drive. To avoid data loss, make a backup copy of all the data that you want to keep. To create a recovery USB drive, do the following: Note: Ensure that your computer is connected to ac power during the following process. 1. Connect a proper USB drive (at least 16 GB of storage) to the computer. 2. Type recovery in the search box on the taskbar. Then click Create a recovery drive. 3. Click Yes in the User Account Control window to allow the Recovery Media Creator program to start. 4. In the Recovery Drive window, follow the instructions on the screen to create a recovery USB drive. Using the recovery USB drive If you still cannot start your computer, use the recovery USB drive to recover your computer. To use a recovery USB drive, do the following: Note: Ensure that your computer is connected to ac power during the following process. 1. Connect the recovery USB drive to the computer. 2. Turn on or restart the computer. Before the Windows operating system starts, repeatedly press F12. The Boot Menu window opens. 3. Select the recovery USB drive as the boot device. 4. Select a preferred keyboard layout. 5. Click Troubleshoot to display optional recovery solutions. 6. Select a corresponding recovery solution according to your situation. Then follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process. 32 T480 Hardware Maintenance Manual