Lenovo laptop - problem with boot options

[IJWS15]

I have a Lenovo G40-30, about 10 years old but does everything I need it to do. Bought from PC world with Windows 8 IIRC. Has a RAM upgrade.

Running Windows 10 Home 64 bit.

Have been thinking about moving to Linux for some time and Microsoft’s end of support message triggered the decision and wanted to try Mint. Started looking at what I need to do and I should be able to get into the boot drive selection by pressing F12 on boot but been trying all afternoon and nothing, it just boots to Windows without asking.

What is there that could be stopping me getting into the menu?

[bigpriest]

Tried Function+F12? I end up mashing as many keys as possible at boot up, sometimes a message displays giving you the options.

[Your Dad]

F2 or FN+F2?

[IJWS15]

Tried Fn and F12, Fn andF2.

Nothing

Will try a few more

[Mr Pointy]

Have you looked at this page? It mentions accessing the BIOS from the Windows Desktop if the boot is too fast for the usual method:

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/gb/en/products/laptop...

[IJWS15]

Thanks, That has got me in from the desktop. Next stop download Mint

Edited by IJWS15 on Monday 24th February 19:35

[IJWS15]

Finally got back to this having hit a problem creating a bootable disc which stopped me In March.
There is a way into boot options when running but at start up either I am not quick enough or the time allowed is zero seconds - I tried many times.

Downloaded new copy of mint
Confirmed downloaded file was correct
Burned ISO image to CD (new ground from here)
From windows shift F12 gets you a boot menu so got it to boot from CD in Linux 😁
Played around with it for a while
Loaded Linux on a partition in the drive with the option to boot to either - Success

Two days later I haven’t felt the desire to start it in Windows, Linux boots so much faster (windows was taking 20 to 30 minutes doing stuff on startup which meant I was prevented from doing stuff. Yes I had the minimum programs set to run on start but it still takes ages and I did notice a week ago that it now had voice control parts of Windows that I didn’t wan’t, wasn’t asked if I wanted, and would never use (we have a 2 year old granddaughter who knows all about “Alexa” including the one she is famous for “Alexa, show me grandad”))

All I need to do now is back up the drive content and do a full clean disc install but with a fast, 10 year old laptop, that can wait.

Ps she has a younger sister with a cot camera so is used to people saying “Alexa, Show me M*****”

[BiggestVern]

Take a look at the Explaining Computers.com YouTube channel, worth it for the presenter alone, he gives a full rundown of how to mount the iso file of Linux Mint and also tips on it's use. My old Lenovo ThinkPad was FN & F2 to get into the Bios, although it took multiple tries, you can also get into the Bios from "System" in Windows although it's the long way round, there are plenty of YouTube videos to explain how.

[IJWS15]

Will look but don’t need it now, it boots to a list of options.