How to install Windows 11 in English (United states ) on a Lenovo X390 Yoga

How to Install Windows 11 in English (United States) on a Lenovo ThinkPad X390 Using Rufus

Introduction

Installing Windows 11 on a Lenovo ThinkPad X390 is relatively straightforward, but choosing the correct Windows installation language can sometimes be confusing.

I recently encountered a situation where the Windows 11 ISO I had downloaded was configured for English (United Kingdom) instead of English (United States).

If you want your Windows installation to use US English, including the language, regional settings, date formats, and keyboard layout, you need to download the correct ISO before creating your bootable USB.

In this guide, I'll walk you through downloading the correct Windows 11 ISO, configuring Rufus, and preparing your Lenovo ThinkPad X490 for a clean installation.

Requirements

Before getting started, make sure you have:

• Lenovo ThinkPad X390.
• USB flash drive (at least 8GB; 16GB recommended).
• Windows 11 ISO file (English).
• Rufus bootable USB creation tool.
• Internet connection.
• Backup of important files.

Warning: Creating a bootable USB using Rufus will erase the existing contents of the USB drive.

Step 1: Download Windows 11 English (United States) ISO

The first step is downloading the correct Windows 11 installation image.

1. Visit the official Microsoft Windows 11 download page:

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

1. Scroll down to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.

2. Select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO).

3. Click Download.

4. Under Select the product language, choose English.

5. Click Confirm.

6. Select the 64-bit Download option.

Important: Choose English, not English International. English International is the UK-oriented language option.

Using the correct ISO helps ensure that your Windows installation uses the intended language.

Step 2: Download and Open Rufus

Rufus is a lightweight utility that allows you to create bootable USB drives for installing operating systems.

Download Rufus from its official website:

https://rufus.ie/

1. Connect your USB flash drive.
2. Open Rufus.
3. Under Device, select your USB flash drive.
4. Under Boot selection, click SELECT.
5. Locate and select your downloaded Windows 11 ISO.

Step 3: Configure Rufus for Lenovo ThinkPad X490

For the Lenovo ThinkPad X390, I recommend the following configuration:

Setting| Recommended option
Boot selection| Windows 11 ISO
Partition scheme| GPT
Target system| UEFI (non-CSM)
File system| NTFS, if selected by Rufus
Image option| Standard Windows installation

The X390 generally supports Windows 11 requirements, so there is normally no need to bypass TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot requirements.

Step 4: Customize Windows Installation Options

After clicking START, Rufus displays a Windows User Experience dialog.

You will see several customization options.

Here are my recommendations:

1. Remove requirements for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

Leave this unchecked if your laptop meets Windows 11 requirements.

1. Create a local account

Enable this option if you prefer creating a local Windows account instead of signing in with a Microsoft account.

Enter your preferred username.

1. Set regional options to the same values as this user's

Leave this unchecked if you want to configure your regional settings manually during Windows installation.

1. Disable data collection

Enable this option if you want to skip certain privacy-related questions during setup.

1. Disable BitLocker automatic device encryption

Leave this unchecked if you want Windows to retain the option of automatically encrypting your device. Make sure you securely save your recovery key if encryption is enabled.

1. QoL improvements

Enable this option if you want Rufus to apply its available quality-of-life installation customizations, such as reducing certain forced integrations.

Once you have selected your preferred options, click OK.

Rufus will begin creating your bootable USB drive.

Step 5: Configure Lenovo ThinkPad X390 BIOS

Before installing Windows, check your BIOS configuration.

1. Restart your Lenovo ThinkPad X390.
2. Press F1 repeatedly to enter BIOS Setup.
3. Navigate to the Security section.
4. Confirm that TPM 2.0 / Security Chip is enabled.
5. Ensure Secure Boot is enabled.
6. Under Startup, select UEFI boot mode.
7. Save your changes using F10.

The exact menu names may vary depending on your BIOS version.

Step 6: Boot from the USB Drive

Now that your bootable USB is ready:

1. Connect the USB drive to your Lenovo ThinkPad X390.
2. Restart the laptop.
3. Press F12 repeatedly to open the Boot Menu.
4. Select your USB storage device.
5. Press Enter.

Windows Setup should now load.

If the USB drive is not detected, check the BIOS boot settings and confirm that the USB was created using the GPT/UEFI configuration.

Step 7: Select English (United States) During Windows Installation

When Windows Setup loads, configure the following:

Installation setting| Selection
Language to install| English (United States)
Time and currency format| English (United States)
Keyboard or input method| US

Click Next and continue with the installation.

Note: The language options available during setup depend on the Windows ISO you downloaded. Using the correct English ISO is therefore important.

Step 8: Complete Windows Installation

Follow the Windows Setup instructions.

If you are performing a clean installation:

1. Select Install Windows.
2. Choose the appropriate Windows edition that matches your licence.
3. Select the installation destination.
4. Carefully identify the existing Windows partitions.
5. Delete partitions only if you intend to erase the entire Windows installation and have backed up all important data.
6. Select the unallocated space and continue.

Windows will copy the installation files and restart several times.

After installation, complete the initial Windows configuration.

Step 9: Install Lenovo Drivers and Updates

Once Windows 11 is installed:

1. Connect to the internet.

2. Run Windows Update.

3. Install available updates and drivers.

4. Visit Lenovo Support:

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/

1. Search for ThinkPad X390.

2. Download any missing drivers, especially chipset, graphics, audio, Wi-Fi and power-management drivers.

You should also check Device Manager to ensure there are no unidentified devices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Downloading English International instead of English.
• Using MBR instead of GPT for a UEFI installation.
• Disabling Secure Boot or TPM unnecessarily.
• Forgetting to back up important files.
• Selecting the wrong USB drive in Rufus.
• Deleting the wrong disk partitions during installation.
• Using an unofficial or modified Windows ISO.

Conclusion

Installing Windows 11 on a Lenovo ThinkPad X390 using Rufus is a manageable process when the correct installation image and boot settings are used.

The most important lesson is to download the correct English ISO before creating your bootable USB.

If you want Windows 11 in US English, select English, rather than English International, on Microsoft's official download page.

With the correct ISO, GPT partition scheme, UEFI boot configuration, and appropriate Rufus customization settings, you can prepare your Lenovo ThinkPad X390 for a clean Windows 11 installation.

Useful resources:

• "Microsoft Windows 11 Download" (https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11)
• "Rufus Official Website" (https://rufus.ie/)
• "Lenovo Support" (https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/)