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8 Ways to Fix Windows 10 if It Won’t Install on Your PC
Go through the solutions below to install Windows 10 successfully
7 min. read
Updated onFebruary 29, 2024
updated onFebruary 29, 2024
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If you’re having trouble trying to installWindows, you’ll be relieved to know there are working solutions to get you out of the rut. When Windows 10 installation has failed, first you’ll have to determine the cause.
To understand why you cannot perform a Windows 10 install, here is a list of the commonly experienced errors that hinder the installation:
Why won’t windows 10 install?
This warning can indicate that your computer is missing certain essential updates that have not been installed.
Before attempting the upgrade, you should first double-check that your computer has all of the necessary updates loaded.
Lack of storage space, third-party VPN or antivirus software, or other incompatible applications are other typical contributing factors.
Why can’t I install Windows 10 on any partition?
Users have reported that if the SSD disk on your computer isn’t clean, installation issues with Windows 10 might arise.
It is recommended that before attempting to reinstall Windows 10, you first delete any partitions and files stored on your solid-state drive (SSD).For more information and solutions to this particular case, check out our guide on how tofix Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk.
Why can’t I install Windows 10 from USB?
If this happens, it’s possible that amedia driver is missing on your PC. This isn’t the only problem, and many reported thatWindows cannot be installed to this diskmessage.
If this happens, check your hard drive and its settings in BIOS and make sure that everything is in order. Hard drives aren’t the only problem, and few users reported that theycan’t install Windows 10 to SSD.
Keep in mind that this issue affects all versions, and many reported that they can’t install Windows 11 due to these problems. However, there are a couple of solutions that can help you with this issue.
Each of these errors has a solution, so you need not worry about upgrading or getting to finally install Windows 10.
How do I fix Windows 10 not installing?
1. Fix Driver errors
Sometimes you can’t install Windows 10 because of driver errors such as incompatibility with Windows 10 upgrade.
This solution helps fix the driver errors so you can try the installation again.
How to fix driver errors before performing a Windows 10 install
It is known that Windows 10 has drivers compatibility and this problem is not resolved yet. So, the reason why you can’t install Windows 10 might be your driver.
You need to update all your drivers, but doing it manually could be very annoying, so we recommend you to download a dedicated third-party tool to do it automatically.
Outbyte Driver Updater
2. Keep your PC on and try installing again
When you can’t install Windows 10, it could also either be due to an interrupted upgrade process from accidentally restarting your PC, or you could also be signed out.
To fix this, try performing the installation again but make sure your PC is plugged in and stays on through the process.
3. Turn off VPN software and increase the size of System Reserved partition
Performing a Windows 10 installation can also fail when the computer can’t connect to Windows Update servers.
Not having enough free space in the System Reserved partition also causes difficulty installing Windows 10.
If you’re using aVPN connectionto connect to a work network, disconnect from the network then turn off the VPN software.
To fix the limited space issue, you can use a third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition.
Try installing Windows 10 again.
4. Check for pending updates
For a healthy computer, you need tokeep updating Windowswith the latest system updates, and drivers. This also helps resolve any issues or difficulties you may be experiencing.
If you cannot install Windows 10 on your PC, you should check to ensure all your computer’s important updates are installed.
Use this solution when your PC doesn’t have the required updates installed.
Here’s how to check and install Windows Update (manually):
1. Go toStart.
- In the search field, typeWindows Updates.
3.Click onWindows Updates Settingsfrom the search results.
-
Press onCheck for updates.
-
Install the latest Windows Updates.
5. Uninstall incompatible apps
This solution works when incompatible apps installed block the installation.
Check to ensure you’ve uninstalled incompatible apps before trying to install Windows 10 again.
In order to find incompatible apps, check Device Manager by using these steps:
Once you identify any incompatible apps, uninstall them by doing the following:
Check if you’re able to install Windows 10 after uninstalling the incompatible apps.
6. Check if your computer meets the minimum requirements
Use this solution when your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to install Windows 10.
Go tothis linkto get more information about the minimum requirements for installing Windows 10.
7. Free up space on your hard drive
This solution works when your PC doesn’t have enough space to install Windows 10.
Free up some space on the drivethen try to install Windows 10 again.
Follow these steps to check the available disk space:
8. Run DISM tool
If you still cannot install the OS, run the DISM tool, or Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.
The DISM tool helps fix Windows corruption errors when Windows Updates and service packs fail to install due to corruption errors, like if you have a damaged system file.
Here’s how to run the DISM command on your PC to check if it helps you when you can’t install Windows 10:
Once the repair is complete, reboot your computer and try to the installation again.
Also, don’t miss our guide onWindows cannot install required filesfor more troubleshooting tips during the setup.
We love feedback. Let us know in the comments section whether any of these steps did the trick for you.
More about the topics:Windows Installation errors
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
Reviewed byVlad Turiceanu
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, he’s a Windows 11 Privacy & Security expert.More about Vlad ›
