Install Windows 10 prof on Windows 11 laptop guidance needed

Hello,
I just bought a Lenovo Idea Pad with Windows 11 pre installed on it. However I cannot tolerate Windows 11 for x,y,z reasons. I saw on internet that in order to go to windows 10 professional, I have to re-image the laptop. I am a bit technology savvy so if anybody could give the desired step by step basics of the process, I greatly appreciate it? I will purchase from Microsoft original Keys since this will be my main laptop for coding Python.
I am thinking of going online & downloading ISO file, installing from USB & then purchasing licence from Microsoft? If these steps are correct or I am missing any other crucial steps please advise with links? I thank you in advance for all assistance appreciated.

First, you don't need to purchase keys, a Windows 11 key is the same as a Win 10 key. Your system should be activated with a digital license, so Win 10 will simply activate automatically after installation.

Before you start I would suggest making an image backup using a program such as Macrium Reflect so that you can revery back, just in case. There is free version of Macrium Reflect available.

Then, follow this tutorial to perform a clean install of Windows 10:

Clean Install Windows 10

Note that you can make a bootable Win 10 thumb drive by going to the Windows 10 media creation tool web site here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

Make especially sure that you do the backup. Be aware that going from Windows 10 to 11 is easy, because Win 10 drivers should work in Win 11, but the reverse is not necessarily true. Win 11 supports some new driver models so there is a possibility that saving and restoring your drivers may not work for every driver. However, I believe that Lenovo provides Win 10 specific drivers on their web site for most Win 11 systems. I have not verified that, but believe someone mentioned that.

hsehestedt said:

First, you don't need to purchase keys, a Windows 11 key is the same as a Win 10 key. Your system should be activated with a digital license, so Win 10 will simply activate automatically after installation.

Before you start I would suggest making an image backup using a program such as Macrium Reflect so that you can revery back, just in case. There is free version of Macrium Reflect available.

Then, follow this tutorial to perform a clean install of Windows 10:

Clean Install Windows 10

Note that you can make a bootable Win 10 thumb drive by going to the Windows 10 media creation tool web site here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

First of all I want to say I did exactly as mentioned.
I downloaded the Macrium Reflect personal edition.
Made back up of Windows 11. But I was wondering if
in some unforeseen case I have to revert back to Windows 11,
do I have to install Macrium Reflect & extract the backup copy from harddrive?

Second I made USB copy of windows which took most of the time,
I installed it (clean install), now the laptop is working fine with
new Windows 10 configured but what happens to Windows Key?
I can just forget about it or will "This is not genunine copy of Windows"
Pop up later?

Now I am super comfortable with WIndows 10 & can do some errands.
I sincerely thank you for giving the above advice, I think if windows key is transferred
to this Windows 10 version I just saved $139 from paying Microsoft, phew!

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Ghot said:

With a few tweaks, Win 11 is OK.
Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board. | Windows 11 Forum








But if you insist on reverting to Win 10, do it like this...

1. Make a full backup of Win 11 first.
2. Then backup your drivers... Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10
3. Then just do a clean install of Windows 10... Clean Install Windows 10


Sometimes laptops have weird drivers, that aren't always easy to come by. This is why we backup the drivers.

A full backup of Windows 11 is just a smart move, in case you change your mind.
Make sure to make the bootable backup media, in case Windows won't boot... you can still access your backups.
Two free backup programs are Macrium Reflect and AOMEI Backupper.

Firstly thank you for the advice.
I did the clean install from the link.
Just wondering the even in clean install the "drivers folder" was not deleted even though I made backup of it?
Does the system recreate drivers folder on laptop or something else?
Now the Windows is working fine.
I have backed up copy of windows 11 just in case.

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hsehestedt said:

Make especially sure that you do the backup. Be aware that going from Windows 10 to 11 is easy, because Win 10 drivers should work in Win 11, but the reverse is not necessarily true. Win 11 supports some new driver models so there is a possibility that saving and restoring your drivers may not work for every driver. However, I believe that Lenovo provides Win 10 specific drivers on their web site for most Win 11 systems. I have not verified that, but believe someone mentioned that.

Firstly I want to say I did back up the windows 11 as mentioned often.
I just took special care in backing it up for some future usage.
I want to thank for giving advice in short notice.