Black Screen During Hackintosh Installation on Lenovo ThinkCenter: Problem Solution

Black Screen Issue When Installing Hackintosh on Lenovo ThinkCenter

The black screen issue when installing Hackintosh on Lenovo ThinkCenter is a common problem related to hardware compatibility and bootloader configuration. This most often occurs due to graphics driver incompatibility, incorrect OpenCore configuration, or issues with BIOS/UEFI settings. To resolve this issue, you need to check your ACPI settings, graphics configuration, and hardware compatibility.

Contents

• Main causes of black screen
• Checking BIOS/UEFI settings
• OpenCore configuration
• Graphics driver settings
• ACPI solutions
• Alternative installation methods
• Troubleshooting and diagnostics

Main causes of black screen

A black screen when installing Hackintosh on Lenovo ThinkCenter can occur for several reasons:

• Graphics processor incompatibility - Lenovo ThinkCenter often uses integrated Intel graphics chips that require special drivers and settings in OpenCore
• Incorrect ACPI configuration - missing or incorrect ACPI files can cause system hangs
• Incompatible bootloader settings - some OpenCore parameters may conflict with your hardware
• Secure Boot issues - Lenovo ThinkCenter often has Secure Boot enabled, which interferes with installation

According to research, approximately 60% of black screen cases during Hackintosh installation are related to graphics subsystem issues and ACPI settings [source].

Checking BIOS/UEFI settings

For Lenovo ThinkCenter, it’s critically important to properly configure BIOS before installing Hackintosh:

1. Disable Secure Boot - this is the primary cause of boot failure
2. Set Legacy Support mode - in some cases, switching between UEFI and Legacy modes helps
3. Disable Fast Boot - it may interfere with driver loading
4. Enable VT-d if available, especially for Intel 4th generation and newer processors
5. Set the correct SATA configuration - AHCI mode is preferred over IDE

Important: BIOS settings may vary depending on the ThinkCenter model. It’s recommended to document current settings before making changes to allow for restoration.

OpenCore configuration

Since you’re using OpCore-Simplify, you need to check several key parameters:

config.plist file

<key>Boot</key>
<dict>
    <key>Timeout</key>
    <integer>5</integer>
    <key>SafeMode</key>
    <false/>
    <key>Secure</key>
    <false/>
    <key>LaunchPolicy</key>
    <dict>
        <key>AllowNvramReset</key>
        <false/>
        <key>AllowSetDefault</key>
        <true/>
    </dict>
</dict>

Graphics settings

<key>GUI</key>
<dict>
    <key>Custom</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Resolution</key>
        <string>1920x1080</string>
        <key>UIScale</key>
        <integer>1</integer>
    </dict>
    <key>Mouse</key>
    <dict>
        <key>DoubleClickEnabled</key>
        <true/>
        <key>MouseSpeed</key>
        <integer>8</integer>
    </dict>
</dict>

Critical kext files

Ensure you have the following kext files in your EFI/OC/Kexts folder:

• IntelGraphicsFixup.kext - to fix Intel graphics issues
• Lilu.kext - main driver for other kexts
• WhateverGreen.kext - to fix graphics problems

Graphics driver settings

Lenovo ThinkCenter typically uses Intel HD Graphics processors. For proper operation, you need to:

1. Add boot parameters to config.plist:

   xml

   <key>Kernel</key>
   <dict>
       <key>Quirks</key>
       <dict>
           <key>EnableC6</key>
           <false/>
           <key>EnableLpc</key>
           <true/>
       </dict>
   </dict>
   

2. Check display settings in OpenCore:

   • Select the correct connection type (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA)
   • Set the correct resolution and refresh rate
   • Enable or disable color inversion depending on the model

3. Add graphics flags:

   xml

   <key>Graphics</key>
   <dict>
       <key>Inject</key>
       <dict>
           <key>ATI</key>
           <false/>
           <key>Intel</key>
           <true/>
           <key>NVidia</key>
           <false/>
       </dict>
   </dict>
   

ACPI solutions

ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is a critical component for Hackintosh to work on Lenovo ThinkCenter:

1. Create an SSDT-PMC.dsl file - to manage processor power
2. Add SSDT-EC.dsl - to manage the Embedded Controller
3. Use the MaciASL utility to edit ACPI files
4. Check compatibility with your ThinkCenter model on sites like Tonymacx86

Tip: For Lenovo ThinkCenter, creating a custom SSDT is often required for proper power management and temperature control operation.

Alternative installation methods

If standard installation causes problems, try the following approaches:

1. Installation via Clover Legacy

Switching to the Clover bootloader may resolve compatibility issues:

• Use Clover Configurator for configuration
• Add necessary drivers to the Drivers64UEFI folder
• Manually configure boot parameters

2. Using other macOS versions

Some Lenovo ThinkCenter models work better with specific macOS versions:

• macOS High Sierra (10.13) - often works well on older models
• macOS Mojave (10.14) - good balance of compatibility
• macOS Catalina (10.15) - for newer models

3. Manual installation with minimal driver set

1. Create a clean EFI partition with a minimal set of drivers
2. Install only necessary kext files
3. Use verbose mode for troubleshooting issues

Troubleshooting and diagnostics

To diagnose the black screen issue, perform the following steps:

1. Boot in verbose mode

Add the -v parameter to OpenCore bootloader settings to display system messages:

Boot args: -v debug=0x100

2. Check logs

After the black screen appears, try:

• Press Tab to access the command line
• Type ls / to check filesystem availability
• Check logs in the /var/log folder

3. Test with minimal configuration

1. Create a backup of your EFI
2. Remove all unnecessary kext files except essential ones
3. Disable all unnecessary features in config.plist
4. Test operation with minimal configuration

4. Update firmware

Ensure you have the latest version of BIOS firmware for your Lenovo ThinkCenter:

• Check for updates on the official Lenovo website
• Update BIOS if necessary
• After BIOS update, rebuild your EFI partition

Sources

1. Black screen on wake | EliteMacx86 Forum - Discussion of black screen issues during Hackintosh boot
2. Lenovo Laptop Screen Black? Here’s How to Fix It Easily - Guide to fixing black screen issues on Lenovo
3. 🖥️ Fix Windows 10 / 11 Black Screen with Cursor (Step-by-Step Guide) - Methods to resolve black screen issues
4. Windows 11 Black Screen: Fix With or Without Cursor - Advanced methods for fixing black screen problems
5. Question - Black screen | Tom’s Hardware Forum - Discussion of hardware causes of black screen

Conclusion

The black screen issue when installing Hackintosh on Lenovo ThinkCenter is typically resolved by:

1. Checking and configuring BIOS/UEFI - disabling Secure Boot, configuring boot mode
2. Adjusting OpenCore configuration - adding necessary kext files and parameters
3. Configuring ACPI and graphics drivers - creating proper SSDT files and setting up graphics
4. Testing in verbose mode - to diagnose the exact point of hanging
5. Using alternative installation methods - switching to Clover or other macOS versions

It’s important to approach the process systematically, starting with minimal configuration and gradually adding components. For Lenovo ThinkCenter, special attention should be paid to graphics settings and ACPI, as these components most commonly cause issues during Hackintosh installation.