Stuck at a black screen asking for a password? You are not alone.
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q is a powerhouse of a mini PC, beloved by businesses and home users alike for its Tiny form factor and robust performance. However, its greatest security feature—the BIOS/UEFI password—can quickly become its biggest headache. Whether you bought a used unit from a corporate liquidation, a well-meaning IT admin set a password and left the company, or you simply forgot the password you set last year, being locked out of the BIOS feels like hitting a brick wall. lenovo thinkcentre m720q bios password reset
A: You likely shorted the wrong pins and corrupted the EC firmware. You now need an SPI programmer (CH341A) to reflash the EC. Search for "M720q IT8528 dump file" online. Stuck at a black screen asking for a password
A: Take the M720q to a local repair shop. Tell them: "Please short the EC security pins or flash the BIOS chip with a programmer." Do not let them tell you "removing the battery will fix it"—they are wrong. You now need an SPI programmer (CH341A) to reflash the EC
You are looking for pins labeled "KBC" (Keyboard Controller) or "SDA/SCL" near the EC. Based on community schematics for the M720q (IBM Lenovo FRU: 5B20S43790 or similar), you need to short pin 8 (GND) to pin 1 (SDA) of the EC's debug header.
Alternatively, many technicians use the "Southbridge short": Find two tiny resistors labeled R484 and R485 near the CMOS battery connector. Short those two resistors together with tweezers while powering on.
A: No. BIOS password and Windows login password are completely separate. Conclusion: You Have Options Resetting the BIOS password on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q is frustrating because Lenovo prioritized security over serviceability. The days of simply pulling a jumper are gone.