Failed to Recover ME Firmware and 2100 Storage Detection Error

You update the BIOS on your ThinkPad. The system restarts. Then an error appears. Failed to recover ME Firmware. 2100 Storage detection error. The laptop does not boot. This issue affects several ThinkPad Gen 4 and Gen 8 models after recent BIOS updates. This guide explains the cause and gives a clear fix you can apply in minutes.

Affected ThinkPad Models

• This issue appears after specific BIOS updates on the models below.
• ThinkPad P14s Gen 4 with BIOS version 1.21 R24ET38W or newer.
• ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 with BIOS version 1.21 R24ET38W or newer.
• ThinkPad X3 Gen 4 with BIOS version 1.18 R27ET33W or newer.
• ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 Yoga with BIOS version 1.18 R27ET33W or newer.
• ThinkPad S2 Gen 8 with BIOS version 1.18 R27ET33W or newer.
• ThinkPad S2 Gen 8 Yoga with BIOS version 1.18 R27ET33W or newer

Error Symptoms

• You see Failed to recover ME Firmware during startup.
• You see 2100 Storage detection error.
• The system stops before loading the operating system.
• The SSD looks missing even though it worked before the update.

Why This Happens

The BIOS update resets Intel Management Engine settings.

The ME firmware update does not complete during the first boot.

The system waits for a manual BIOS reset to trigger recovery.

The storage error appears as a side effect of this state.

How to Fix ME Firmware and 2100 Storage Detection

Follow the steps exactly.

1. Power on the ThinkPad.
2. When the 2100 Storage detection error screen appears, press ESC or Enter Key
3. Enter BIOS Setup.
4. Press F9 to load default settings.
5. Select Yes when asked to confirm.
6. Press F10 to save changes and exit.
7. Confirm and allow the system to restart.

What Happens Next

During the restart, the system updates Intel ME Firmware automatically.

• The firmware version updates to 16.1.32.2418.
• The storage device initializes normally.
• Windows or Linux boots without errors.
• No data loss occurs. No SSD replacement needed.
• Post Fix Checks
• After login, verify system health.
• Check BIOS version and confirm it matches the installed update.
• Confirm Intel ME Firmware shows version 16.1.32.2418.
• Verify SSD appears correctly in BIOS and operating system.
• Run a normal restart once more to confirm stability.

Final Notes

This issue relates to BIOS behavior, not hardware failure.

Replacing the SSD does not solve the problem.

Resetting BIOS defaults triggers the required ME recovery process.