THINKCENTRE M920q Tiny i7 8700T - (Upgrades and Accessories)

[norrinraddhr]

Hi ThinkPads Community,
last year on Christmas I purchased M920q Tiny on ebay.de, never had desktop in my life. At work I worked years with desktop computers but I never had one, always IBM/Lenovo laptops and the list is down in my signature. My first Laptop was Lenovo T60p, I bayed this one as new 2007. and so begins my love to IBM/Lenovo Laptops and Hardware. I had an Idea to make something like home Server for storing many movies in .TS file (bad experience with Lynux based NAS Network Storage) or for something else I don't know for sure yet. The price was good so I take one.

I have one Samsung DDR4 8GB PC4 RAM memory from Lenovo x270 i7 7500u, I bayed 32GB RAM so I can add second one to M920q. It's not 2666MHz, it is 2400T but for now it will be fine I guess to have 16GB RAM, until I get another DDR4 2666MHz, and maybe I add Samsung 980 Pro 500GB, but this must wait. For now I make some cleaning job, vent and other staff. I ordered Lenovo PIFA Wi-Fi antenna FRU P/N (00XJ094) because they came without. Have Lenovo L171 17" monitor with VGA port so i get Lenovo Adapter HDMI to VGA, hope that will work for now. Generally I must say this small desktop machine have nothing with the old big one and the hardware specification is impressed, never seen something like that before.

• Specification
- LENOVO M920q Tiny i7 8700T

• LENOVO Product Home
- LENOVO ThinkCentre i7 8700T, NVMe PCIe 256GB SSD, RAM 8GB

Machine Type:....................10RS
Model Number:.................002CGE
S/N:..............................PC1350AT
Date:...............................03/2019
Product ID:..................10RS002CGE
CPU Type:.........INTEL Core i7 8700T
CPU Speed:.......................2.40GHz
CPU Core:..................................6

Because it is my first desktop I have some question, try to find on YT and on internet but something I must ask here.

1) It has Windows sticker on Housing, is it possible that the Windows 10 key is Stored in BIOS-UEFI?
2) How to Install Windows 10, the problem is Keyboard and Mouse, can I use Bluetooth Keyboard or Wireless USB 2.4GHz Keyboard or some wired Mouse or Keyboard to navigate for setup in Windows 10?
3) Some advice from those who have experience with ThinkCenters...

Some pictures







Some cleaning









Lenovo HDMI to VGA Adapter (FRU P/N: 03X7583)





On table

[RealBlackStuff]

Just try to install W10 straight away.
USB mouse/KB will most likely work OOTB, BT not so sure.
If W10 was on there before, the key will be stored in some EEPROM and W10 should install fine.

I have an M900, but use a wired mouse and a wired keyboard.
Mine has a VGA port (optional HDMI on order), currently using a VGA-cable to the monitor.
It runs W7 without any problems (but will NOT get W10 or newer, EVER!).

[norrinraddhr]

RBS,
all I have from wired staff is this...

• LOGITECH Keyboard Y-BL49A
• Mini Optical Mouse

Recently I get BT RGB keyboard to use with M920q and all other staff is on Bluetooth. Do you think it will work with this mouse and Logitech, the keyboard needs bunch of drivers to work, I tested it few days ago on IBM X60s?

[RealBlackStuff]

Those Tinys all list external (USB) keyboards in their parts list.
AFAIK bluetooth is not suited during installation, so use wired stuff first.
After that you can install Bluetooth drivers.

[norrinraddhr]

In specification from M920q is mentioned Lenovo Traditional Keyboard (USB connector) black, so I think it could work with my Logitech keyboard, hope so.

Input Device
Keyboard**
• Lenovo Calliope Wireless Keyboard (2.4GHz via USB receiver), black
• Lenovo Traditional Keyboard (USB connector), black
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/accessor ... e.com%252F

Mouse**
• Lenovo Calliope Mouse (USB connector), black
• Lenovo Calliope Wireless Mouse (2.4GHz via USB receiver), black
• Lenovo Fingerprint Mouse (USB connector), Windows Hello support, black

I have watch one YT video how to set up BIOS and he used wired keyboard and wireless 2.4GHz mouse on front, so I have one and can try booth, wired and wireless.

How To Get Into Bios And USB Boot | Lenovo Thinkcentre M92
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpzdmYaKxl8

[norrinraddhr]

Hi ThinkPads Community,
I forget about my LENOVO M920q Tiny i7 8700T, ordered mini keyboard and wireless PIFA antenna and after a long time nothing, so I decided to make finally test today on this machine.

• Mini USB Keyboard K-1000 SODIAL
• Lenovo PIFA Wi-Fi antenna FRU P/N (00XJ094)

[norrinraddhr]

I have used my TV HD as monitor because I don't want to remove the VGA cable on TV LG 37LG5000 FHD. Complicated place for removing so I decided to used HDMI on my 32" TV just to try. The small USB keyboard is working, the wireless mouse with 2.4GHz is working surprisingly good and for now I have all what I need. The plan is to remove the M2 NVME PCIe Samsung 256GB SSD from M920q and with USB 3.1 M2 adapter format the SSD in NTFS as I always do before the OS installation. I have tested the USB 3.1 Adapter on my IBM X60s with one M2 NVME PCIe Samsung SSD 256GB from Lenovo X270 i7 and works just fine.

• USB 3.1 M2 NVME PCIe SSD Adapter

[norrinraddhr]

I started the M920q and spend some time in BIOS-UEFI to see the setting and to inform. For now I have disabled some option, mostly password protected, have mentioned down to see and if you think that some option must be enabled please leave comment here. For owners of similar hardware, can someone help me and advice what must be Set Up (Enabled or Disabled) in BIOS-UEFI before I install Windows 10 x64 that already have on USB prepared?

• LENOVO M920q Tiny i7 8700T
• (BIOS-UEFI) - Options

ADVANCED
- Dust Shield Alert (Disabled / Enabled)

SECURITY
- Security / Require POP on System Boot.........................(Yes / NO)
- Security / Require Admin. Pass. for F12 Boot..................(Yes to NO)
- Security / Require HDP on System Boot.........................(Auto / NO)
- Security / Secure Boot...............................................(Enabled / Disabled)
- Security / Pass. Count Exceeded Error...........................(Enabled / Disabled)

[RealBlackStuff]

Just stick in the SSD and see if it starts.
If not, you need to (re)install W10 on the SSD while it is in the M920.

[norrinraddhr]

Hi RBS,
Can you please share more details?

Just stick in the SSD and see if it starts.
What and where to stick in the SSD?

If not, you need to (re)install W10 on the SSD while it is in the M920.
How to reinstall the Win 10?

I tried several times to start the OS after and before I make some changes in BIOS/UEFI but there was nothing and after some time he shoves me a message that there is no OS. This is what I get wen I started the M920q and after a while it comes with a massage that no OS is found.

[RealBlackStuff]

Replace this one with the new W10 SSD.

[norrinraddhr]

I have seen on YT and he just put a Win 7 Pro on M92 via USB on SSD that have been inside and they have the same Error massage 1962 on screen as I have. The Win 10 key is stored in BIOS, so theoretically there should be no problem to install Win 10, but I must admin I'm not familiar with those models and this is why I'm asking here for advice.

YouTube
How To Get Into Bios And USB Boot | Lenovo Thinkcentre M92 - (Win 7 clean install)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpzdmYaKxl8

Can I just make a clean Install of Win 10 on this original Samsung SSD 256GB that I have inside M920q via USB as shown in the video?

[RealBlackStuff]

Yes.
I would advise Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021.

[norrinraddhr]

Before I download the suggested Win 10 I looked for more information about and some of them are good, some not, especially the part about installing some other programs that might be problematic, not sure is this true. I use a lot of programs from Automotive to Photoshop and if there is any problem with them please let me know in a comment. In the specification is mentions that the M920 supports few of Win 10.

Operating System**
• Windows® 10 Pro 64
• Windows 10 Home 64
• Windows 10 IoT Enterprise
• Ubuntu Linux
• No operating system

Can you tell me more about the benefits of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 v.21H2. I know about the support until 2032, sounds very good, but what is about the Win 10 key stored in BIOS, would the Win 10 LTSC accept my key?

[RealBlackStuff]

My M900 (i5-6600T) still runs on W7 Pro.

And that W10 LTSC is installed on my daily driver T480 (i5-8350U, same age as your M920q), together with M$ Office 2010.
I have not had any problems with any programs I have installed on it.
That T480 also has an external SSD with Hackintosh (MacOS Ventura).

[norrinraddhr]

I have just read that there is no nonsense on Win 10 LTSC, no bloat, no copilot, no Cortana, no teams, no recall, no ai nonsense, etc. and that sounds very good, the perfect OS.

What is about the stored Win 10 key in BIOS, would they be accepted from Win 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2?

[RealBlackStuff]

That W10 LTSC works fine on my T480, which also has a W10 BIOS key.

[norrinraddhr]

Perfect, the Win 10 Enterprise LTSC ISO file is already on downloading and tomorrow or in next few days I will found some USB to prepare him for installation on M920q.

Thanks RBS for helping me and sorry for all my questions.