Many users face installation errors while installing Windows 10 on the PC. It can be a clean install of Windows 10 to get rid of some issues or simply an upgrade to Windows 10 from older versions of Windows. The Windows 10 installation error can prevent you from completing the install. Many different installation errors can pop up in between the installation process.

The common reason to experience this kind of issue is device driver errors, antivirus or VPN software, less space on the system drive, or language pack. You can easily get rid of installation errors with some working fixes mentioned in the article.

Initial Checks To Fix Windows 10 Installation Error

Before moving onto the list of solutions, we recommend you do some initial checks. The initial checks will save you from putting unwanted additional efforts. Make sure you perform all the initial checks in chronological order.

1. Check if PC Meets Minimum Requirements

If you want to install Windows 10 on any laptop or desktop computer, it is essential to meet the minimum system requirements. If your PC doesn’t meet these requirements, you can get unwanted installation errors. The following requirements are necessary to install Windows 10 without any issues and errors.

  • Processor – 1 GHz or faster processor/System on a Chip (SoC)
  • RAM – 1 GB for 34-bit and 2 GB for 64-bit
  • Hard Drive Size – 32GB or larger hard disk
  • Graphics Card – Compatible with DirectX 9 or later and with WDDM 1.0 driver
  • Display – 800*600

You also need an internet connection to complete the installation. To know more about system requirements, visit the official Microsoft website.

2. Check if you have the Correct Version of Windows

It is important to download the right version of the Windows ISO file. If you have a 32-bit computer, make sure you download the operating system for 32-bit, and the same goes for 64-bit PCs. You can download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website.

3. Check if your Hard Drive has Enough Space

Make sure you have enough space on the hard drive. If there is no adequate space on the system drive, the installation process may throw any error codes in between.

To check the empty space on the hard drive, press Windows key + I to open Settings and then click on System.

Click on Storage from the left panel and check the empty space in the drives listed there.

Available disk space to fix Windows 10 installation error
Available disk space

You can delete the temporary files and create space if required.

4. Unplug all the External Peripherals

Sometimes, the external device can cause issues in the installation process. The drivers can conflict with the update process giving Windows 10 installation error on the screen. You can temporarily disconnect peripherals connected to your PC, including the earphones, USB drive, external hard drive, and Bluetooth devices.

If you are using an external mouse and keyboard with your laptop, unplug them as well for some time. You can complete the installation process and then plug the devices again to use them.

5. Check if Installation Media and ISO file do not have Errors

The installation media used to install Windows 10 can get corrupted or have issues with it. Make sure you choose the installation media without any errors and issues. Also, check if the downloaded ISO file is not corrupted and damaged in any way.

You can also download another ISO file and check if that helps you install Windows 10 without any issues.

18 Solutions to Fix Windows 10 Installation Error

We have mentioned the common solutions to fix any installation error codes related to Windows 10.

Note: To perform any of the solutions mentioned below, you need to start with the installation process and go to the last screen of the process. Once you see that the installation process is going to start, minimize the installer and perform the solution until you fix the Windows 10 installation error.

1. Update Windows 10 Operating System

Your system needs to be updated so that it doesn’t have any issues even when you are trying to clean install Windows 10.

Launch the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I and go to Update & Security. Make sure you are in the Windows Update section. Click on the Check for updates button to check if there are any pending updates for your PC.

 Check for updates to fix Windows 10 installation error
Check for updates

Download and install the new updates. You can start the installation process again after the update.

2. Try Running Windows Update Troubleshooter

You can run a Windows Update troubleshooter to scan and fix the issue related to the installation process.

Go to Settings ➜ Update & Security and then navigate to Troubleshoot from the left frame.

Now, click on Additional troubleshooters.

Open additional troubleshooters
Open additional troubleshooters

Click on Windows Update on the next screen and then on Run the troubleshooter button.

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter to fix Windows 10 installation error
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Let Windows scan and find the issue. This might fix the Windows 10 installation error for you without putting in any additional effort.

3. Remove Incompatible Applications and Software

Sometimes, incompatible applications and software can prevent you from installing Windows 10 again on your PC. You can remove all such apps to fix the Windows 10 installation error.

Open the Settings app and go to Apps. You can find all the incompatible applications and click on them. Click on the Uninstall button to remove them completely from your PC.

Uninstall the incompatible app to fix Windows 10 installation error
Uninstall the incompatible app

Once all the applications are uninstalled, start with the installation again and check if you can do it without any issues.

4. Uninstall VPN and Third-party Antivirus Software

If you have any VPN or third-party antivirus software on your PC, you need to remove them to fix the installation issues. You can use Windows Security that comes in-built in the Windows systems to protect you from viruses and threats.

Search for the Control Panel in the Start menu and open the same from search results. In the Control Panel, click on Uninstall a program.

Uninstall a program from your computer
Uninstall a program from your computer

Now, search for antivirus software and right-click on it. Click on Uninstall

Remove antivirus software
Remove antivirus software

Repeat the same for the VPN software. You can now begin with the installation process again to clean install Windows 10.

5. Check for Disk Errors

You can experience unwanted glitches while installing Windows 10 if there are bad sectors in your drive. The chkdsk command can help you find and fix such bad sectors on the drive.

Type cmd in the Start menu and open Command Prompt as administrator.

Open Command Prompt as administrator to fix Windows 10 installation error
Open Command Prompt as administrator

In the command prompt terminal, type the following command and press Enter.

chkdsk C: /f /x /r
Execute the chkdsk command
Execute the chkdsk command

Make sure you close all the unsaved files and work before executing this command. This will scan your system drive and therefore needs your PC to restart.

It may take some time to perform the chkdsk command, so execute it only when you are not in urgent need of your computer.

6. Run DISM Command

You can execute the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) command to check and fix the Windows system’s corrupted files.

To execute the DISM command, open Command Prompt with administrator privileges as mentioned in the above solutions.

In the command prompt terminal, type the below-given command and hit Enter.  

Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
execute DISM command to fix Windows 10 installation error
execute DISM command

Once the command is executed, reboot the PC and try installing the Windows 10 OS again.

7. Use Installation Media

You can use a USB drive or DVD to create the installation media. The installation media makes it easy to perform the Windows 10 install. You can use the Windows 10 tools for this. All you need to do is download and install the Media Creation Tool to create the installation media. You can then restart the Windows 10 upgrade process using the installation media later.

8. Roll Back Windows 10 Update

If you recently installed a Windows update, you can try uninstalling it to get rid of Windows 10 installation error.

To roll back Windows 10 to the previous version, launch the Settings app and go to Update & Security.

Click on View update history.

View the Windows update history to fix Windows 10 installation error
View the Windows update history

On the next screen, click on Uninstall updates.

Select uninstall updates

Now, when the Control Panel window opens, scroll down to the Microsoft Windows section and right-click on the most recent Windows update. Click on Uninstall option to remove it from the PC.

Uninstall recent Windows update to fix Windows 10 installation error
Uninstall recent Windows update

Once the update is uninstalled, reboot the PC and check if you can perform the install.

9. Uninstall Language Pack from Windows 7

If you upgrade your computer from Windows 7 to 10 and get many unwanted installation errors, you can try uninstalling the language pack. This helped many users to fix the Windows 10 installation error. Follow the steps below to know how to do it.

Step 1: Open Windows 7 search bar and type Change display language there. Open the same from the search results.

Step 2: Go to the Keyboards and Languages tab and click on Install/uninstall languages.

Step 3: Click on Uninstall display languages.

Step 4: Select the other languages except the language used for your PC and click on Next.

Follow the instructions on the screen to uninstall the alternate language packs from your PC. Once the language pack is uninstalled, try upgrading from Windows 7 to 10.

10. Try Fixing Driver Errors

The drive errors can prevent you from reinstalling Windows 10 on your PC. You can check for driver errors in Device Manager.

Press Windows key + X and click on Device Manager to open it. In the Device Manager window, expand all the sections and check if there is a yellow mark, exclamation point, or question mark next to any device driver.

You can roll back, update, or reinstall the driver with the issue to fix it. If you are updating the drivers, make sure you download the stable version from the trusted sources.

After fixing the device driver errors, restart the installation process and check if you can carry out all the steps without any mistakes.

11. Clear the Attributes of $WINDOWS.~BT Folder

The $WINDOWS.~BT folder stores installation files of Windows 10. There might be an error when the installer tries to copy two files. This can prevent the smooth installation of Windows OS on your PC.

You can clear the attributes of  $WINDOWS.~BT  folder to fix the Windows 10 installation error.

Start the installation, and just before the wizard says installation is about to start, minimize the installer.

Now, open File Explorer and go to the C drive (System drive). Click on the View tab and check the checkbox next to the Hidden items, making all hidden folders visible.

View hidden folder to fix Windows 10 installation error
View hidden folder

Search for the $WINDOWS.~BT folder and right-click on it. Click on Properties from the context menu.

Navigate to the General tab and uncheck the checkboxes next to Read-only and System options under the Attributes section.

Click on Apply and OK. Now, open the installer and continue with the process to check if the error is fixed.

12. Update BIOS

Check if there is a BIOS update for your PC. Sometimes, the outdated BIOS can cause the Windows 10 installation error. You can download the recent BIOS update from the manufacturer’s site and perform a BIOS update.

Make sure you do this by following the correct steps mentioned in the PC manual or manufacturer website. If something goes wrong, it can damage the computer beyond repair. You can also take help from a local PC repair shop or experts who know how to update BIOS.

13. Rebuild BCD

If the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) gets corrupted, you can experience Windows 10 installation error. To fix this issue, you need to rebuild BCD.

If you can log in to your PC with Windows 10 system, go to:

Settings ➜ Update & Security ➜ Recovery.

Now, under the Advanced startup, click on Restart now button. When the PC restarts, go to Troubleshoot ➜ Advanced options and then click on Command Prompt to open it.

However, if you are on Windows 7 or cannot enter your system, you can open Command Prompt by following the below instructions.

Make sure your BIOS is configured in a way where USB/DVD is configured as a primary bootable device. Once this is confirmed, you can insert bootable media and choose the language, time, along with other required information.

Click on Repair your computer and navigate to Troubleshoot ➜ Advanced options ➜ Command Prompt.

In the Command Prompt window, execute the below commands one by one.

bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOs
bootrec /RebuildBcd

You may be able to proceed with the Windows 10 installation post this fix.

14. Perform a Clean Boot

You can try performing a clean boot to fix the Windows 10 installation error. The clean boot allows you to start the system without any third-party software and services. So, if any third-party application is creating an issue, this solution will help you fix it.

Open System Configuration by typing msconfig in the Start menu. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab and check the checkbox next to Hide all Microsoft services. Click on Disable all button to disable all the services which are not offered by Microsoft.

Disable third-party services
Disable third-party services

Now, go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.

Open Task Manager to fix Windows 10 installation error
Open Task Manager

In the Task Manager, navigate to the Startup tab. Select the services which are not required and click on the Disable button one by one.

Disable Startup apps to fix Windows 10 installation error
Disable Startup apps

Close the Task Manage windows and click OK on the System Configuration window to close it. You can now reboot the PC and begin the installation again.

15. Rename install.esd File

This solution may be only applicable to some users. Sometimes, when you install using an installation media, the file install is named incorrectly. It should be install.wim and not install.esd. To fix this, all you need to do is rename the file with the right extension.

Start the installation process and stop just before Windows 10 gets installed on the system. Minimize the installer and open the File Explorer window.

Access the drive where installation media is present and open the sources folder. Search for the install.esd file there and right-click on it. Select Rename from the context menu.

Rename the file as install.wim.

You can now continue with the Windows 10 install post this and check if you got rid of troublesome errors.

16. Keep only Files While Installing Windows 10

The third-party applications on your PC can give you issues while performing Windows installation. So whenever there is an option to choose between files and programs or just files, select just files options. This will prevent you from the unwanted Windows 10 installation error.

17. Restart Background Intelligent Transfer Service

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) takes care of downloading the Windows update in the background. If the ISO file is corrupted during the installation process, the required file is downloaded again. However, if this service is not running, you can have an installation error on Windows 10 systems.

Step 1: Search for Services in the Start menu and open the same.

Step 2: In the Services, find Background Intelligent Transfer Service and right-click on it. Click on Properties from the context menu.

Alternatively, you can double click on the service to open the Properties window.

Step 3: Stay in the General tab in the Properties dialog box and change the Startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start).

Step 4: If the service is not running, click on Start.

Click on Apply and OK.

Start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service

Once done, reboot the PC and restart the installation process.

18. Use UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode

It is recommended to use UEFI mode to install Windows 10, as it has more security features compared to legacy BIOS mode. However, only some new systems support UEFI mode. In case you are installing Windows 10 on an older PC, you need to use legacy BIOS mode.

All these modes are available in BIOS; you need to enter BIOS according to the instructions given in the PC manual to use the available mode. To know more, visit Microsoft’s official site.

Conclusion

We install Windows 10 whenever there is an error that is beyond repair, or there is a need to upgrade the operating system from Windows 7 to 10. In most cases, the installation is smooth and is done easily. However, some users get stuck in the loop of any installation errors. The error can be because of driver issues, external peripherals, drive errors, or some other glitch.

You can fix the Windows 10 installation error with the solutions given above. The solutions can help you solve any installation errors, as it is a list of common solutions. You may need technical expertise to perform some of the fixes given above.