I have an external ssd that I installed multiple versions of windows with multiple different configurations on the SSD with Rufus (windows to go, regular windows installations, UEFI, MBR, NTFS, FAT32). The SSD shows up in windows and I can freely interact with files on it, however it does not show up in the boot menu or boot settings, or anywhere in bios. I have secure boot disabled.  I am on the X240 thinkpad type 20AM. Machine Type Model 20AM6B00. I have the latest bios version installed (3/17/2020)

Hi guest32362,

It seems like your BIOS is not recognizing your external SSD as a bootable device. This could be due to a number of reasons. Here are a few things you could try:

1. Ensure that the SSD is properly formatted as a bootable device. You mentioned that you used Rufus to create multiple versions of Windows on the SSD. Make sure that the SSD is set up as a bootable device with a proper boot sector.

2. Check if your BIOS supports booting from an external SSD. Not all BIOS versions support booting from an external SSD. You may need to update your BIOS or check with Lenovo support to see if your specific model supports this feature.

3. Try a different USB port. Sometimes, certain USB ports may not be recognized by the BIOS during boot. Try connecting the SSD to a different USB port and see if it shows up in the boot menu.

4. Check your BIOS settings. Make sure that the boot order in your BIOS settings is set to check for external devices first.

If none of these solutions work, I would recommend reaching out to Lenovo support for further assistance. You can contact them here.

Best regards,

Hassen_Lenovo