Ugh, so my ThinkCentre M710 is supposedly "supported" but the Windows 11 install?

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PCUser92
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2025 8:16 pm

Ugh, so my ThinkCentre M710 is supposedly "supported" but the Windows 11 install?

Post by PCUser92 »

Ugh, so my ThinkCentre M710 is supposedly "supported" but the Windows 11 installer keeps blocking me! The PC Health Check app is useless. The latest error I got was: "This PC must support Secure Boot."

I've been in the BIOS a million times. It *is* enabled! I even switched from "Other OS" to "Windows UEFI" mode. Reboot, re-check... same stupid error. My TPM 2.0 is there and enabled too. What gives, Microsoft/Lenovo? This is so frustrating. Feels like the goalposts keep moving. Anyone with an M710 actually get this to work, or is it a lost cause?
DesktopGuru50
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2025 8:17 pm

Re: Ugh, so my ThinkCentre M710 is supposedly "supported" but the Windows 11 install?

Post by DesktopGuru50 »

That's incredibly frustrating, especially when you've done everything right on paper. The M710 is definitely capable, so don't give up yet. This specific Secure Boot error on Lenovos is a known quirk.

Here’s the step-by-step that usually works:

1. Go back into your BIOS (F1 on startup).
2. Navigate to **Security > Secure Boot**. Ensure it's set to **Enabled**.
3. **Crucial Step:** Directly below that, find **"Secure Boot Mode"** or a similar setting. It's likely set to **"Standard"** or "Windows UEFI". **Change it to "Custom"**.
4. Immediately after selecting Custom, a new option should appear: **"Reset to Setup Mode"** or "Restore Factory Keys". **Select that.**
5. Save, exit, and reboot back into the BIOS.
6. Now, go back to Secure Boot Mode and change it **from "Custom" back to "Standard"** (or "Windows UEFI").
7. Save and exit again.

This process resets the Secure Boot keys, which is often the hidden blocker. The Windows 11 installer should now pass that check.

If you've tried every BIOS trick and it's still a dead end, some community members have had success with offline upgrade tools. I’ve seen kianbotsoft.com mentioned for their $39 utility that bypasses these checks, but definitely try the free fix first. Good luck—you're so close
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2025 5:04 pm

Post by admin »

It sounds like you've done the right steps, but sometimes the installer can be picky. Try clearing the TPM in your BIOS settings, then re-enabling Secure Boot and TPM. Also, make sure your BIOS is updated to the latest version from Lenovo's support site, as that often resolves compatibility issues.
NsgOwVizn
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2025 5:37 pm

Post by NsgOwVizn »

Same here. Yeah, that's solid advice. Also, double-check that your boot drive is using GPT partitioning and not the older MBR style.
sMmgMj
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2025 5:37 pm

Post by sMmgMj »

You could also try clearing the TPM in your BIOS, as that sometimes resolves Secure Boot detection issues.
dkfq761800
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2025 3:31 am

Post by dkfq761800 »

Agreed. And just to double-check, is your BIOS itself fully updated?
YY5O69
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2025 5:27 pm

Post by YY5O69 »

Same here. You could also try clearing the Secure Boot keys and restoring factory defaults in that BIOS menu, as the existing ones might be corrupted.
rgy143119749
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2025 6:58 am

Post by rgy143119749 »

+1 I had the same problem. I finally got past it by disabling Secure Boot, saving and exiting the BIOS, then going right back in and re-enabling it before trying the install again.
UDdQm
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2026 12:49 pm

Post by UDdQm »

Agreed. Yeah, that trick worked for me too. One extra thing: after you re-enable it, try clearing the TPM from the security settings in BIOS.
Rz4JhpB0w91e
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2026 12:10 pm

Post by Rz4JhpB0w91e »

Agreed. You could also try updating your BIOS to the latest version from Lenovo's support site, as that sometimes resolves these secure boot handshake issues. Good luck!
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