Lenovo T490 - OpenCore

Jake Lo · November 19, 2020

Lenovo T490 - OpenCore

!Warning! Warning! Warning!

Follow guide at your own risk, neither I nor OSXL will take responsibility if the process bricked your system. When I first build this system with OpenCore, after selecting Reset NVRam it bricked my system. It'll never boot to POST again. I had tried draining the battery, taking out the CMOS battery, taking out the internal battery and let system sit for days, all in vain. Luckily the system was still under warranty so I was able to get the system board replaced. I had since rebuild the system but never to use Reset NVRam on this system again. I can't remember what version of BIOS it had at the time nor which version of OpenCore. I also have a T480 and don't have this issue with Reset NVRam, so it could be a BIOS issue. Others have reported similar issue here for Lenovo systems.

Dortania recommend resetting NVRAM by updating the BIOS on machines with these issue instead.

Specification:

Bios: 1.72
EC version 1.24
CPU: Intel Core i5-8365U Whiskey Lake
Memory: 1x 8GB DDR4 2400Mhz (Soldered + 1 open slot)
Harddrive: 1x 256 PCIeNVMeOPAL
Display: 14" non-touch 1920x1080 IPS, anti-glare
GPU: Intel UHD 620
Camera: 1x IR Camera & RGB 720p HD Camera & Mic with Thinkpad Privacy Shutter
IR: VGA maximum (640x720)
WLAN: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 2x2ac with BT5.1 (Soldered on)
Battery: 3 Cell 50Whr Li-Ion internal battery - Up to 16.11 hours*
Touchpad: Synaptics
Audio: Realtek HDA ALC257
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1** (one Always On)
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort, Data transfer)
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C / Intel Thunderbolt 3 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort, Data transfer)
MicroSD card reader
Headphone / mic combo
Micro-SIM slot
HDMI 1.4
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet

BIOS Settings:

Spoiler

-Under Config Tap

Display

Boot Display Device -> Thinkpad LCD

Shared Display Priority -> USB Type-C

Total Garphics Memory ->256MB

Boot Time Extension -> Disabled

-Under Security Tap

Memory Protection -> Execution Prevention -> On

Secure Boot -> Secure Boot -> Off

-> Platform Mode -> UserMode

->Secure Boot Mode -> Standard Mode

-Under Startup Tap

UEFI/Legacy Boot ->UEFI Only

CSM Support -> No

Working:

Keyboard (including all Fn keys)
Trackpad with gestures / Trackstick
Battery indicator
Display auto brightness
Audio (Internal and headphone jack)
Microphone
Ethernet
GPU acceleration
Camera
Intel Wireless / Bluetooth (soldered in so can't be replaced)
Sleep / Wake
Native CPU power management
HDMI video and audio
Thunderbolt
MicroSD card reader
USB-C to HDMI Video and audio works
USB-C to USB-C Video (Audio works after closing and opening LID)

Installation:

Download MacOS Ventura / Monterey / Big Sur / Catalina app
Format a 16GB USB drive (GUID / Extended (Journaled))
Create USB Installer with createinstallmedia command
Download attached folder and rename as EFI
Mount EFI partition and add EFI folder
Configure BIOS setting according to guide
Boot with USB installer
Complete installation

Post Installation:

Mount EFI partition of newly installed drive and copy EFI folder over
Update / Change in Config.plist under PlatformID->Generic (use genSMBIOS or Hackintool.app)

MLB, ROM, SystemSerialNumber and SystemUUID

Install ThinkpadAssistant.app (attached), set it to Launch at Login
Note bootpack include AirportItlwm for Intel wifi but won't work with hidden networks
Use Itlwm.kext + Heliport.app instead if you connect to hidden network

Thinkpad Assistant Features:

Spoiler
- F1: Mute Audio (with Status LED indication)
- F2: Volume Down
- F3: Volume Up
- F4: Mute / Unmute Microphone (with Status LED indication)
- F5: Brightness Down / Dim
- F6: Brightness Up
- F7: Screen mirroring / Screen extending
- F8: Activate / Deactivate Wi-Fi
- F9: Open System Preferences
- F10: Activate / Deactivate Bluetooth
- F11: Show Destop
- F12: Open Launchpad
- FN+Spacebar: Toggle Keyboard Backlight