A Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 that loops into recovery, shows Automatic Repair or a blue screen is usually dealing with a failed update, a driver or damaged system files. Let Automatic Repair finish, which can take ten minutes. Then use the Windows recovery menu: Startup Repair, Safe mode to remove the last update or driver, and System Restore. Lenovo's Novo button, a pinhole on the side of many Yoga models, opens the Novo menu for Boot Menu, BIOS Setup and System Recovery even when Windows will not load. If BitLocker or device encryption is on, a recovery key screen may appear after a BIOS or hardware change;
the key is in your Microsoft account. Check that the SSD appears in the BIOS; if it does not, the drive is the issue. Back up before using Reset this PC. If the laptop was working before a Windows feature update and now loops, the fastest cure is usually to roll back the update from Safe mode, because Windows keeps the previous version for ten days, and a failed graphics or chipset driver update is the next most common cause. Keep the charger connected, since a flat battery in the middle of repair makes things worse.
Differential
Likely causes of “Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 is stuck at startup, automatic repair or recovery”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A Lenovo or Intel driver pushed by Windows Update
What separates it The laptop crashes on the Yoga logo screen after an update
How to confirm Novo menu, System Recovery, then Safe mode and a driver rollback
- 2
System files damaged by a power cut
What separates it A blue screen with a stop code
How to confirm Startup Repair, then System Restore from the Novo menu
- 3
A BitLocker screen after a BIOS or Thunderbolt firmware change
What separates it The recovery key prompt
How to confirm Fetch the key from your Microsoft account
- 4
Fast Startup leaving a corrupt hibernation file
What separates it The laptop fails only after shutting down
How to confirm Turn off Fast Startup once Windows runs
- 5
An SSD that the BIOS cannot see
What separates it The Novo menu shows no boot device
How to confirm Run Lenovo's hardware scan and contact Lenovo
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The stop code or message and the Lenovo logo state
- Whether the Novo menu opens and lists the SSD
- Whether Thunderbolt devices or a dock were attached
- The last Windows or Vantage update installed
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedLet the repair finish
ReversibleGive Automatic Repair up to ten minutes.
Open the Novo menu
ReversibleWith the laptop off, press the pinhole button on the side for System Recovery and Boot Menu.
Disconnect Thunderbolt devices and docks
ReversibleRemove them and start again.
Run Startup Repair
ReversibleFrom Advanced options.
Use Safe mode to undo a driver
ReversibleRoll back the Intel or Lenovo driver from Safe mode.
Try System Restore
ReversiblePick a date before the trouble began.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Novo menu
- It works when Windows will not start.
- Stop codes
- The code on a blue screen names the cause.
- Ten days to roll back
- Windows keeps the previous version briefly, so rolling back is easy early on.
- Chipset and graphics
- A failed driver update is a common loop cause.
- Recovery drive
- A USB made on another PC can repair a laptop that will not start.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !An SSD missing from the Novo boot menu needs Lenovo service
- !If Windows recovery tools fail, request Lenovo's recovery media
- !Copy your files before using Reset this PC
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my Yoga 9i loop into recovery?+
A driver, damaged files or Fast Startup.
Where is the Novo button?+
A pinhole on the side.
What if the SSD is missing?+
Lenovo service.
Does a restore delete files?+
No.