E540: Cannot power up the system

[#1]

Question

I have bought laptop ThinkPad E540 a week ago. After two days, I pressed power on button but noting happened but only LED was shining.

I returned it to the store and they sent me a new one. But same problem occured. I press power on button, but laptop won't start. (Part number is 20C60045XS).

I tried turn it on only with charger connected and the same problem. I also tried trick with unplug battery and charger and then hold power on button, but i didn't help.

Answer

1) First remove the BIOS battery as well as uninstall the Lenovo Solution for small Business. See steps below for details.

• Power down machine to a complete shut.
• Open the under compartment of the machine.
• Remove the BIOS battery and place back again,
• Power on the machine again. 
• Laptop boots up normally (you will notice lost time and date prompt)
• Once machine is powered up and windows is loaded proceed to "Control Panel" > "Programs and Feature" and uninstall the software ""Lenovo Solution for Small Business (LSSB)" 

2) Update your system BIOS

It was found that there is conflict within the software. Lenovo has created a new BIOS to address this conflict. Once you have followed the steps above proceed to download the latest BIOS update from the link below.

BIOS Update Utility V1.61

Once the BIOS is updated if you wish to reinstall the "Lenovo Solution for Small Business (LSSB)" software again, you may do so through the following download link.  

Lenovo Solutions for Small Business Powered by Intel Small Business Advantage for Windows 8 - ThinkP...

Note - As there may be multiple causal factors for these symptoms, additional actions may be required.

If these long boot symptoms following the BIOS update occur, multiple customers have reported success in resolving them  by disabling Intel AMT and setting the security chip, TPM, as active in the BIOS.

Steps to disable Intel AMT and enable TPM settings as below.

1. Boot into BIOS
2. Select Config
3. Select Intel AMT
4. Press Enter key on Intel AMT Control and select Disable
5. Press ESC twice
6. Select Security
7. Select Security chip and select Enable
8. Press F10 and click Yes.

[#2]

Well, out off pure desperateness I disconnected the CMOS battery.  day 3 now, and my laptop boot from battery and/or AC AND for if I choose "shut down" from the start menu while on AC THE LAPTOP ACCUTALLY SHUT DOWN.  In the past I had to disconnect the AC to make sure the laptop do not reboot after 2 seconds.  AND the battery do not loose 10% power overnight.  So what if I loose time - I set the regional settings to autoupdate when I log onto the internet so PROBLEM SOLVED.  I believe the CMOS battery save the bios details, and I have not made any changes to the bios, so no need to save anything.

I will connect the CMOS battery over the weekend to see if it will boot or not.

[#3]

Had a similar issue with a Lenovo Thinkpad T450 that would not power up or power down

Red light on on outside lid - green light on on power button

Held power button down but it still would not shut down

Removed battery and it still would not shut down

Called Lenovo support

They had me remove battery and disconnect AC power adapter

Flip laptop over and find a very small hole on bottom 

Insert a paper clip and push down

After I did this all the lights were out

Reattached the AC power adapter 

Powered up the system 

All is well again....

[#4]

I search high and low and google and worked through the manual for years now - the E540 do not have that reset "hole"....  

I now ONLY use the sleep function and pray that we do not have a power cut.  E540 will not reboot after a shut down and I disconnected the AC.