Backstory: Fresh Windows 10 Pro Installation on a ThinkPad W540
The user, Wayback, recently purchased a ThinkPad W540 that came pre-installed with Windows 7 Professional. Wayback decided to take advantage of the free upgrade offer from Microsoft and upgraded the laptop to Windows 10 Pro.
Misconfigured Fresh Windows Installation: Wrong Version Issue
After the upgrade, Wayback noticed that the system was not functioning as expected. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the version of Windows 10 installed was not Pro, but Home. This was a misconfiguration issue that needed to be addressed.
Checking the Windows Version
To check the version of Windows 10 installed, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Click on System.
- Click on About.
- Under Windows specifications, check the Version field.
Resolving the Wrong Version Issue
To resolve the wrong version issue, Wayback needed to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 Pro. Here are the steps to do so:
- Download the Windows 10 Pro installation media from the Microsoft website.
- Create a bootable USB drive using the installation media.
- Boot the laptop from the USB drive.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 Pro.
Connecting a Microsoft Account
After the clean installation, Wayback connected the laptop to his Microsoft account. This step is optional but recommended as it allows for easy access to Windows Store apps, personalization settings, and other features.
In conclusion, a misconfigured fresh Windows installation can result in the wrong version of Windows being installed. To resolve this issue, a clean installation of the correct version of Windows is necessary. By following the steps outlined in this article, Wayback was able to successfully install Windows 10 Pro on his ThinkPad W540 and connect it to his Microsoft account.