Changing the Windows installation on your Lenovo laptop involves booting from installation media (like a USB drive or DVD) and following the on-screen instructions to install a new version of Windows. Here’s a breakdown of how to do it, depending on whether you're using UEFI or Legacy/MBR.
Prerequisites
- Windows Installation Media: You'll need a bootable USB drive or DVD containing the Windows installation files. You can create this using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool.
- Backup Your Data: This process will erase the data on your primary drive (usually C:). Ensure you back up all important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
- Windows Product Key: Have your Windows product key handy, as you may need it during the installation process.
Steps to Change Windows (UEFI Installation)
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is the more modern BIOS replacement. Most newer Lenovo laptops use UEFI.
- Power on your Lenovo laptop.
- Press the F12 key repeatedly as soon as the Lenovo splash screen appears. This should bring up the Boot Menu. According to the reference, "Power on the system and press the F12 key whenever the following Lenovo splash screen appears."
- Select the Windows bootable installation media "UEFI" option from the F12 boot menu. This is crucial for UEFI installations.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows. This typically involves:
- Selecting your language and keyboard layout.
- Agreeing to the license terms.
- Choosing the installation type: "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)"
- Deleting existing partitions on the drive you want to install Windows on. Warning: This will erase all data on that drive.
- Selecting the unallocated space and clicking "Next" to begin the installation.
- Wait for the installation to complete. Your computer will restart several times during this process.
- Configure Windows. After installation, you'll be prompted to set up your account, network, and other preferences.
Steps to Change Windows (Legacy/MBR Installation)
Legacy/MBR (Master Boot Record) is the older BIOS system. If your system is older, it might be using Legacy.
- Power on your Lenovo laptop.
- Boot into BIOS by pressing the F1 key at the "Lenovo" splash screen. The reference states, "Boot into BIOS by pressing the F1 key at the 'Lenovo' splash screen". The specific key might vary depending on your model (Esc, Del, F2 are also common). Consult your laptop's manual if F1 doesn't work.
- Navigate to the Boot tab (or similar) in the BIOS setup.
- Change the Boot Mode to "Legacy" (or "Legacy Support").
- Save the changes and exit BIOS. Your computer will restart.
- Press F12 repeatedly as the computer restarts to access the Boot Menu.
- Select your bootable installation media (USB drive or DVD). Do not select the UEFI option if it's listed.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows, as described in the UEFI section above.
- Once Windows is installed, you may want to go back into the BIOS and change the Boot Mode back to "UEFI" if you plan on installing other UEFI-compatible operating systems in the future.
Important Considerations
- Drivers: After installing Windows, you'll need to install drivers for your Lenovo laptop's hardware (e.g., graphics card, Wi-Fi, audio). You can download these drivers from the Lenovo support website, using your laptop's model number.
- Activation: Make sure to activate your Windows installation with your product key.
- Secure Boot: If you are using UEFI, you might encounter issues if Secure Boot is enabled. If you do, you might need to disable it in the BIOS settings temporarily to boot from the installation media.
