To PXE boot a Lenovo ThinkPad T480, you need to configure the BIOS/UEFI settings to enable network boot and set it as a boot priority, then ensure your network has a PXE-capable DHCP/TFTP server ready to serve the boot image.
Steps to enable PXE boot on the T480:
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Enter BIOS/UEFI Setup: Power on or restart the laptop and repeatedly press F1 (the Lenovo standard for entering BIOS setup) as soon as the logo appears. Some units may use Enter then F1, depending on firmware version.
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Enable the network stack:
- Navigate to the Config menu, then Network.
- Ensure Boot Network Devices Last is turned Off (Disabled) so the network adapter is prioritized appropriately.
- Enable UEFI Network Stack if it's not already on — this is required for PXE boot on UEFI-based systems.
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Check Secure Boot settings: Under the Security tab, you may need to temporarily disable Secure Boot if your PXE server or boot image isn't signed, though many modern PXE environments (like Windows Deployment Services or WDS with signed boot files) work fine with it enabled.
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Set Boot Order: Go to the Startup menu and move Network Boot or PXE Boot above the internal hard drive/SSD in the boot order, or use the one-time boot menu.
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Save and Exit: Press F10 to save changes and reboot.
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Trigger PXE Boot manually (optional): Instead of changing permanent boot order, you can press F12 at startup to bring up the one-time Boot Menu and select the Network or PXE option directly.
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Ensure network prerequisites: The T480 must be connected via Ethernet (using the built-in port or a USB-C/OneLink dock if it lacks a native RJ-45 port) to a network segment where a DHCP server with PXE options (option 66/67 for TFTP server and boot filename) and a properly configured PXE/TFTP server (e.g., WDS, SCCM, iPXE, or Serva) are reachable.
If PXE boot still fails, verify the docking station or USB Ethernet adapter is UEFI PXE-compatible, since some third-party adapters don't support PXE.