How to Install Windows 11 on Lenovo ThinkPad X1 from a USB Drive

Preparing for Windows Installation

• 💡 Reasons to install Windows include a corrupted system, forgotten passwords, or simply desiring a fresh start, but be aware that your drive will be erased.
• ⚠️ For some older Lenovo ThinkPad X1 models, USB 3.0 ports may not work for booting; a USB 2.0 drive is recommended.
• 🚀 You will need a USB drive (at least 8 GB) and another device to create a bootable USB.

Creating a Bootable Windows USB

• 💻 Download the Windows 11 ISO from the official Microsoft website, selecting the multi-edition ISO for x64 devices.
• 🛠️ Use Rufus (rufus.ie) to create the bootable USB drive. Select your USB device, choose the downloaded Windows 11 ISO file, and click start.
• ⚠️ Important: If you encounter issues with enterprise or used devices, create a file named ei.cfg in the sources folder of the USB drive with specific content to bypass account requirements.

Installing Windows on ThinkPad X1

• 🔌 Shut down your ThinkPad X1 completely, then plug in the prepared USB drive.
• 🚀 Turn on the laptop and immediately press F12 repeatedly to enter the boot menu.
• 🖱️ Select the USB HDD from the boot menu to begin the Windows installation process.
• 🗑️ During installation, delete all partitions on Disk 0 (your internal drive) until it shows as unallocated space, then proceed with the installation.

Troubleshooting and Setup

• 🔄 If the installation fails or loops, unplug the USB drive as soon as the screen goes black after quitting the setup.
• 🌐 Follow the on-screen prompts to select your region, keyboard layout, and connect to Wi-Fi for updates.
• 💡 If you encounter issues with Microsoft account setup, refer to a separate video on the channel for instructions on setting up without a Microsoft account.