How to upgrade your Lenovo PC

Instructions for upgrading your Lenovo PC to Windows 7

Click the button below for a link to the instructions.

After you’ve completed your upgrade, you'll need to update your drivers:

Click the button below to find and download the updated drivers for your PC from the Microsoft support site.

For Lenovo support, please visit www.lenovo.com/support.

Start with a new Lenovo PC

You don't need to labor through detailed specification lists to know if your new Lenovo PC will run Windows 7 to its full potential. Our new PCs with Windows^® 7 Lenovo Enhanced Experience certification are optimized to do just that.

Our IdeaPad and IdeaCentre PCs with the Enhanced Experience logo offer a faster, richer and more convenient computing experience. You’ll get more from Windows 7 with the remarkably fast boot and shutdown process, the rich entertainment and graphics features, plus a convenient Windows-independent recovery and anti-virus tool. And our ThinkPad and ThinkCentre PCs with the Enhanced Experience logo deliver the ease of use, enhanced productivity, security and connectivity options your business needs.

So when you’re ready to upgrade, we’re ready for you. Just look for the Enhanced Experience logo on our products in stores. Or if you’re shopping at lenovo.com, look for the next to our Enhanced Experience products and click the icon to learn more.

Important upgrade notes

Windows 7 System Requirements:
1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)
DirectX^® 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Upgrading from Windows XP
Windows 7 is designed as an upgrade for Windows Vista. If you are upgrading from Windows XP*, you will need to back up your files and settings, perform a clean install and then re-install your existing files, settings and programs. Visit http://windows.microsoft.com/upgrade for more information.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT WINDOWS XP DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FREE WINDOWS 7 UPGRADE PROGRAM.

Windows Media Center DVR Functionality
Additional hardware may be required. Not available in all countries.

Windows Media Center Internet TV
Internet access required. Free Internet TV content varies by geography. Some content may require additional fees.

Windows XP Mode
Windows XP Mode requires either Lenovo pre-installation or post-purchase installation of Windows XP Mode (that runs on Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate) plus a virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC. For more information on system requirements, go to http://www.microsoft.com/virtual-pc.

Additional requirements to use certain features:

Internet Access (fees may apply)
Depending on resolution video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
A TV tuner and additional hardware may be required for some Windows^® Media Center functionality
Windows Touch and Windows Tablet require specific hardware
HomeGroup requires a network and PCs with Windows 7
DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
BitLocker™ requires TPM1.2; BitLocker To Go™ requires a USB Flash Drive
Music and sound require audio output
Windows XP Mode requires:
- Additional 1GB of RAM
- Additional 15GB of available disk space
- Processor capable of hardware virtualization, with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on

Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware; visit http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements.

Some features in earlier Windows versions are not included in Windows 7. Download Windows Live™ Essentials to get similar programs including Windows Live™ Mail, Photo Gallery, Messenger and Movie Maker, for free at http://download.live.com.