Install a Windows operating system and drivers

This section provides instructions on installing a Windows operating system and device drivers.

Install a Windows operating system

Microsoft constantly makes updates to the Windows operating system. Before installing a particular Windows version, check the compatibility list for the Windows version. For details, go to https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/windows-support.

Attention:

It is recommended that you update your operating system through official channels. Any unofficial update might cause security risks.
The process of installing a new operating system deletes all the data on your internal storage drive, including the data stored in a hidden folder.
For computer models that are installed with a hybrid solid-state drive (with Intel Optane memory), ensure that you do not install the operating system into Optane memory.

If you are using the Windows BitLocker^® Drive Encryption feature and your computer has a Trusted Platform Module, ensure that you have disabled the feature.
Ensure that the security chip is set to Active.
1. Restart the computer. When the logo screen is displayed, press F1 to enter the UEFI BIOS menu.
2. Select Security > Security Chip and press Enter. The Security Chip submenu opens.
3. Ensure that the security chip for TPM 2.0 is set to Active.
4. Press F10 to save the settings and exit.
For computer models that are installed with hybrid solid-state drive (with Intel Optane memory), enter the UEFI BIOS menu and select Config > Storage > Controller mode. Ensure that RST mode is selected.
Connect the drive that contains the operating system installation program to the computer.
Restart the computer. When the logo screen is displayed, press F1 to enter the UEFI BIOS menu.
Select Startup > Boot to display the Boot Priority Order submenu.
Select the drive that contains the operating system installation program, for example, USB HDD. Then, press Esc.

Attention: After you change the startup sequence, ensure that you select the correct device during a copy, a save, or a format operation. If you select the wrong device, the data on that device might be erased or overwritten.
Select Restart and ensure that OS Optimized Defaults is enabled. Then, press F10 to save the settings and exit.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the device drivers and necessary programs.
After installing the device drivers, apply Windows Update to get the latest updates, for example the security patches.

Install device drivers

You should download the latest driver for a component when you notice poor performance from that component or when you added a component. This action might eliminate the driver as the potential cause of a problem. Download and install the latest driver by one of the following methods:

Open the Vantage app to check the available update packages. Select the update packages you want, and then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the packages.
Go to https://pcsupport.lenovo.com and select the entry for your computer. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install necessary drivers and software.