I recently bought a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 14ILL10 and suspect it includes unwanted Lenovo software. Some programs appear in the installed-apps list but cannot be removed, so I'm considering a clean installation of Windows 11 to remove the bundled software and start fresh.
I'm unsure whether Windows' built-in reinstall options remove everything or preserve some files, and I'm also nervous about using a USB installer because I'm inexperienced and don't want to cause data loss, boot problems, or blue screens.
A Windows installation guide mentions disabling CSM, but I cannot find that option in the Lenovo firmware settings. TPM and Secure Boot appear to be enabled. The guide also mentions changing the storage controller to AHCI or NVMe and disabling RAID, VMD, or IRST. Do I need to change any of those settings on this laptop, and how can I avoid making the system unbootable?
Finally, the guide says that the Media Creation Tool must be saved and run outside the USB flash drive, and that simply copying an ISO file to the drive will not make it bootable. Does that mean I download and open the Media Creation Tool on my current Windows installation while the USB drive is connected?
4 Answers
If the goal is only to remove unwanted applications, first try uninstalling them through Settings and check whether the manufacturer provides a dedicated removal tool. A clean install is reasonable when software cannot be removed, but it is not automatically required, and an inaccessible folder alone does not indicate spying or malware. Keep your security software and Windows Defender up to date, and avoid changing BIOS or disk settings without a specific reason.
Do not change storage-controller settings unless the installer cannot see the internal drive or Lenovo’s documentation specifically requires it. Newer laptops may use VMD, RAID, or another storage mode, and switching it unnecessarily can make the existing Windows installation fail to boot. If Windows Setup cannot detect the SSD, obtain the correct Lenovo storage driver or follow Lenovo’s instructions rather than guessing.
Likewise, not finding a CSM or Legacy Boot option is normal on many modern systems. A Windows 11 installation using UEFI, GPT, TPM, and Secure Boot should work without CSM.
A clean install is more thorough than most reset options, but it erases the Windows partition and all personal files and applications on it. Save documents, photos, browser data, license information, and anything else important first. Also make sure you know your Microsoft account details and have the laptop’s charger connected.
After installation, run Windows Update and install any remaining Lenovo drivers or firmware updates from Lenovo’s support page. Some Lenovo utilities and drivers are useful, so removing every Lenovo component is not always desirable. Research an item before deleting it, and avoid removing system folders simply because they are inaccessible or have unusual names.
Download Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool onto the laptop’s internal drive, such as Downloads or the Desktop. Open it from Windows while the USB flash drive is plugged in, then choose the option to create installation media and select that USB drive. The tool formats the drive and makes it bootable; copying an ISO file manually does not do that.
Before starting, back up important files and verify that the backups work. During setup, boot from the USB using Lenovo’s boot menu, commonly accessed with F12. You generally should not need to disable Secure Boot just to use official Windows installation media.
Some applications still refuse to uninstall even though they appear in the list, which is why I’m leaning toward a clean installation. I’ll make sure my files are backed up and avoid changing the storage mode unless the installer actually needs a driver.