New Thinkpad P16s Gen 4 AMD Install Help - Mint Freezing, Ubuntu not even being noticed on USB in Bios

Support and Help
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Ubuntu Support Template

Ubuntu Version:
24.04.4 LTS

Problem Description:
Linux Mint - Cinnamon: Experiencing full freeze on install from bootable USB (freezes prior to prompting to remove USB device)

After forced shutdown, OS does open and can be used and updated (AMD graphic drivers installed etc.) and successfully reboots. However, after 20 to 30 minutes of usage, I experience full system freeze (cursor still works though)

Tried compatibility mode install, no freeze on install however once again after approximately the same time of use on the OS I experienced the same issue (full freeze, cursor still moves).

Reinstalled Windows 11

Relented and tried Ubuntu, made a bootable USB from Rufus and Balena Etcher and system bypasses that entirely and goes straight to Windows. Windows explorer is reading the USB and recognizes it as Ubuntu OS.

Relevant System Information:
Lenovo Thinkpad P16s AMD - Ryzen AI 9 370 - 64 gb ram - 1 TB SSD

Original OS (and current) - Windows 11

How old is the computer: Received it 9 days ago, been trying to successfully install Linux on it since.

What I’ve Tried:

I’ve installed Linux before on simpler machines (older HP laptops and desktops) without issue and this is my first Thinkpad. It’s a P16s Gen 4 AMD and I feel completely out of my element. Not an expert by any means, but this feels beyond me at this point.

I have successfully installed Linux Mint Cinnamon from a bootable USB, which only lasted for twenty minutes until I experienced repeated a full system freeze (often after about 20 to 30 minutes of use). At first, I couldn’t complete the final install due to it freezing at the end (where the logo prompts you to remove the bootable drive prior to reboot), so I tried compatibility mode and used that with success. Again, there too, after running the OS (and updating everything) I once again experienced a full system freeze (cursor moved, nothing else seemed to work).

Settings I had:

Bitlocker Off, TPM off, Secure Boot on, Ubuntu and USB HDD placed at top of boot order, Windows Boot manager at the end of order (later moved this fully out with no success)

I feel like an idiot and there’s probably something I haven’t turned on (or off) that would fix this issue, but I’ve never encountered a Bios this extensive. Played around in the Lenovo bios simulation and mirrored some settings to no success.

Is this a me issue? Or a potential hardware issue I’ll have to bug Lenovo to fix? Hoping it’s just me being ignorant.

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Please clarify what you’re using.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is a different system to Linux Mint Cinnamon, so which is it?

Linux Mint is a Ubuntu based system, includes lots of third party (non-Ubuntu) packages, and includes an extra layer of software (runtime adjustments) that make it rather different to a Ubuntu system or flavor.

If you’re using Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, being specific with details helps us to understand. Five ISOs have been released thus far, using different kernel stacks (GA, HWE & some offer OEM), with 4 different kernels on those ISOs (6.8, 6.11, 6.14 & 6.17).

You only mention Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, but not which product (Server? Desktop? a flavor)? or if (as is likely) point release media was used; eg. Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS Desktop; as it all impacts what you’re using, as 24.04.4 systems won’t all be using the same kernel, defaults are set by the install media.

If your Linux Mint is to be useful as comparative detail, we need specifics of that too.

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Ubuntu supports TPM, so I recommend that you leave it on.

That’s something that you have to fix in your BIOS. You need to set it up the BIOS to boot from your USB. Or, your computer might need you to press something like F12 (each manufacturer chooses its own key, so check your manual) while booting to be able to boot from the USB.

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Apologies,

I tried Linux Mint first and experienced issues with freezing (as stated before) so I changed course and tried Ubuntu 24.4 Desktop (AMD architecture, whichever is currently listed in the “Download Ubuntu Desktop” page. If I’m researching it right, Noble Numbat). This is when I encountered issues with the bios fully bypassing the USB and not even loading anything and just going straight to the Windows login screen as if it were a normal start up.

I know they share some similarities for certain parts but are not on the whole the same thing. I’m still rather new to this whole ecosystem so I sincerely apologize for my ignorance.

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Okay, that checks out with my research as I’ve found it being stated you can now leave Secure Boot on, didn’t not know I could do the same with TPM, will leave that in as well.

I’ll keep playing in BIOS to see if I can get anything to work. Already moved boot order and had “USB HDD” selected to boot from without success. I’ll keep trying and will try to return with more information.

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Pre-installed in some regions with a custom Ubuntu image that takes advantage of the system’s hardware features and may include additional software. Standard images of Ubuntu may not work well, or at all.

Above text from ubuntu certified mentions an oem kernel.
Is this your PC?

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Yes. Same specs, though mine came from the factory with Windows Home instead of Ubuntu. Budgetary reasons at the time made the Windows option less expensive.

I figured since this came as an option on my laptop from the factory, it would have a fairly straight forward install. I assumed incorrectly and am regretting not having the financial means to have gotten Linux out of the gate.

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The kernel 6.11.0-1024-oem mentioned in the link is in the repo

apt search 6.11.0-1024-oem

Whether it’s perfectly suitable for your PC…?

Do Lenovo have a support site for OEM kernels?

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When you changed to boot settings in your BIOS, did you make sure to save changes and exit? Have you tried the method at the Lenovo site (link below) under Additional Steps which gives 3 methods to access the one time boot menu change option.

Lenovo Site

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Slightly off-topic: Ensure that you have your Windows key. Then, once you have Ubuntu installed, you can load Windows into a VM and use your key for that. That way, you can have Ubuntu and Windows (not dual-boot), and run Windows in a VM.

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What you are experiencing is very unlikely to be a user configuration issue, and also does not immediately indicate defective hardware. Based on similar reports, this is most consistent with a Linux kernel and hardware compatibility gap, especially with very recent AMD platforms.

Your system uses a Ryzen AI 300 series processor, which is extremely new. Current Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Linux Mint releases ship with kernels that predate or only partially support this architecture. As a result, several instability patterns can occur:

  • Random full system freezes after ~10–30 minutes of use
  • UI becoming unresponsive while the cursor still moves
  • Installer instability or freezes during final stages

These exact symptoms have already been observed on similar Ryzen AI systems running Linux, including cases where “the whole screen just froze except for the mouse” and reports of Mint freezing consistently after short usage periods regardless of workload.

Additionally, this is not uncommon on newer AMD platforms in general. There is a long-standing pattern where Linux may exhibit freezes on Ryzen systems due to power management (C-states), scheduler behavior, or GPU driver maturity, while Windows remains stable on the same hardware.

Unix & Linux Stack Exchange

Regarding the USB boot issue: Lenovo systems often prioritize Windows Boot Manager and may ignore external media unless Secure Boot and boot mode settings are fully aligned, which can make Linux installation appear inconsistent.

Conclusion

This is most likely early platform support immaturity, not user error and not necessarily hardware failure.

Recommended direction

Test with a newer kernel (≥ 6.10–6.12 or later)

Try a distribution with faster kernel updates (e.g. Fedora or rolling releases)

Ensure BIOS is fully updated

Temporarily disable Secure Boot during testing

Until kernel and driver support matures further, instability on this class of hardware is unfortunately expected.

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