The original post: /r/debian by /u/Cyb3rOperator on 2024-11-14 10:05:49.

So, yesterday I received my brand new Thinkpad T16 Gen. 3. Ordered it without an OS because I was planning on installing either Linux or Windows myself, but so far I’m kind of lost.

I’m not a complete beginner with Linux, and I have installed and configured plenty of computers from the ground up without as many issues. When I received it I though that it would be a good time to finally try and jump to Linux and wanted to try with Debian because of its stability and because I sometimes have to use Kali for work.

Aniway, yesterday I created a bootable Debian-KDE-Live USB and tried to run it, but was not able to, even in its safe mode. Looks like it complains about several missing drivers:

https://preview.redd.it/wv0dt1adau0e1.jpg?width=3755&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13424dee2ddf82c5f1251f1c2f09c7fce18bfb77

https://preview.redd.it/ityhtakfau0e1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e19e1794083e4b5bc0d15f90448a19de7e89bb78

It wont get past that. So, I downloaded the netinstall image just to check, it also complains about the following missing firmware, which appears to be audio related. Checked SOF’s github page and looks like the file is there, and although I don’t know how to get it, read of some people that are not able to provide it via USB aniway:

https://preview.redd.it/cmaijvd0bu0e1.jpg?width=3847&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2aef13ad210a3db9515ad4cef73e8b0531fe8e5c

Now, the trackpad doesn’t work either, as well as wifi, which is nothing new. I plugged it via Ethernet and tried the installation process again, which I was finally able to complete. But, when I finally reboot to log into Debian the laptop will only boot into Lenovo’s PXE, and it looks like I can’t boot into the new installation:

https://preview.redd.it/hdz15ytucu0e1.jpg?width=3340&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee9440778e728e6c84980e5cd5a57a29f4157bc2

https://preview.redd.it/l1tzip3mcu0e1.jpg?width=3978&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c083fd787223b375840bb6c997657b7a00c5f896

If I click on the NVMe there it does nothing.

What’s going on? What am I missing? I guess Debian was not the best choice because of drivers for a brand new laptop even if it’s a Thinkpad?

Thank you in advance.