Problems installing windows

In the window that pops up, look for any device with a yellow exclamation mark beside it you may have to select each category to switch to the list of devices.

Press and hold or right-click the device name and select either Update Driver Software or Uninstall to correct the errors. Remove third-party security software.

Make sure you know how to reinstall your programs and that any necessary product keys are on hand. Windows Defender will help protect your device in the meantime.

Repair hard-drive errors. In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt. Choose Command Prompt from the list of results.

Note: You must have administrator permissions on your device to do this. Do a clean restart into Windows. See How to perform a clean boot in Windows. Restore and repair system files. In the window that pops up, type DISM. Learn to repair a Windows image. The following table lists the most common upgrade and installation errors and some things you can try to fix them.

If you continue having problems upgrading or installing Windows, contact Microsoft support. This indicates that there was a problem downloading and installing the selected update. Windows Update will try again later and there is nothing you need to do at this time.

This could indicate that an incompatible app installed on your PC is blocking the upgrade process from completing. Check to make sure that any incompatible apps are uninstalled and then try upgrading again.

A cleanup operation from a previous installation attempt is still pending, and a system restart is required to continue the upgrade. Restart the device and run setup again.

If restarting device does not resolve the issue, then use the Disk Cleanup utility and clean up the temporary files and the System files. For more information, see Disk cleanup in Windows. A file needed by Windows Update is likely damaged or missing. Try repairing your system files: In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt.

In the window that appears, type DISM. Learn more about the minimum requirements for Windows This might indicate that a driver or other software on your PC isn't compatible with the upgrade to Windows For info about how to fix this problem, contact Microsoft support.

This could mean that the upgrade process was interrupted because you accidentally restarted your PC or signed out of your PC. Try upgrading again and make sure your PC is plugged in and stays turned on. This error might mean that your PC couldn't connect to the Windows Update servers. If you're using a VPN connection to connect to a work network, disconnect from the network and turn off the VPN software if applicable and try upgrading again.

The error could also mean there isn't enough free space in the System Reserved partition. You might be able to fix this problem by using third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition. These are generic errors that might appear any time a Windows update fails. You'll need to determine the specific error code to investigate how to best resolve this problem. You can find the error code for the failed update by viewing your update history.

Look for the update that wasn't installed, note the error code, and then contact Microsoft support. Free some space on the drive and try again. Get tips for freeing up drive space. Metered connections in Windows. Your computer might be slow for a number of reasons, but updating to the latest version of Windows 11 can improve its performance.

For help with a slow computer, see Tips to improve PC performance in Windows. If you're having trouble finding your files after an upgrade, see Find lost files after the upgrade to Windows 10 or 11 for other things to try. Warning: Microsoft only recommends trying the procedures in this section if you're comfortable working in the command line.

These procedures require administrator permissions on your device. In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt , then select Run as administrator from the list of options. Select Yes. Next, in the window that appears, type the following commands one at a time, including the spaces as shown. After you type each command, press Enter. Then let each command complete before you type the next command. After all these commands are completed, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer.

In some instances, third-party antivirus or security software can cause errors when you try to update to the latest version of Windows You can temporarily uninstall this software, update your PC, and then reinstall the software after your device is up to date.

Note: Before uninstalling software, make sure you know how to reinstall your programs and that you have any necessary product keys. In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, and then select Run as administrator from the list of options. A clean restart starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs.

This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update that may cause issues updating your PC. Learn how to do a clean restart. In the window that appears, type this command including spaces as shown: DISM. Press Enter. Note: If you don't see a confirmation message, retype the command and try again. Learn how to repair a Windows image. Go to the software download page and select Download tool now to download the clean installation tool. Make sure to carefully read the notes on the software download page before using the tool.

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. This article will help you answer questions and troubleshoot common problems with your Windows 10 update. If you're looking for info on how to activate Windows 10 or to verify that your installation of Windows 10 is activated, see Activate Windows.

Your device may not be able to update to the latest version of Windows 10 for a few reasons. Serviced versions of Windows Frequently asked questions. To get help, in the search box on the task bar, type get help , then select Get Help from the list of results. Windows 10 is the most secure Windows ever, and we recommend you stay updated to protect your PC from security risks and to keep it running smoothly. If you need to know where you left off in your work after an update, use Timeline to jump back in.

Monthly quality updates on Windows 10 are quite small and have a minimal impact on data usage. Your computer might be slow for a number of reasons, but updating to the latest version of Windows 10 can improve its performance. If you receive the following message, you are not logged on as an administrator:.

After you've verified that you're logged on to your computer as an administrator, you can start troubleshooting Windows Installer issues. If the Windows Installer engine is corrupted, disabled, or installed incorrectly, this may cause program installation issues.

Use the following methods to identify any Windows Installer issues that may be causing problems when you install, uninstall, or update programs. If the MSI engine is working, you should not receive any error messages. If you receive an error message, enter the error message text into a search engine such as Bing or Google to locate troubleshooting information about the issue.

Click Start , type services. Right-click Windows Installer , and then click Properties. If the Startup type box is set to Disabled , change it to Manual. Right-click the Windows Installer service, and then click Start.

The service should start without errors. Click Start , type cmd in the Search box or click Run then type services. If the MSI engine is working, you should not receive any error messages, and a separate dialog box should open. This shows the MSI version. If the installer is not version 4. Click Start , click Run , type cmd, and then click Command Prompt.

There are several methods that can be used to install, to uninstall, or to update a program. Additionally, the method or methods that are used may not have started or completed successfully. In this situation, try some other method to install, or to update the program. The following are common methods that are used to install software:. Browse to the CD, DVD, removable media, or other location where the programs installation files are stored, and then double-click the Setup program.

The setup file is typically one of the following:. To resolve this issue, follow these methods:. Or, use a soft, lint-free cotton cloth to gently wipe the silver side of the disc. Do not use paper cloth, as this can scratch the plastic or leave streaks. When you clean the disc, wipe from the center of the disc outward.

Do not use a circular motion. If the problem continues to occur, clean the disc by using a damp cloth or a commercial CD or DVD disc-cleaning solution. Dry the disc thoroughly before you insert it into the drive. Method 2: Copy the installation files to your computer or to other removable mediaWhen you do this, note the location, and then run the installer from that location.

The installation file is typically named Autorun. If you're not sure, check the Readme file in the folder for instructions about how to run the installation process. If an executable file. Note If multiple CDs or DVDs are required, we recommend that you copy all the disks to the same folder, in reverse order higher disk numbers first.

Be prepared to approve the overwriting of existing files if you are prompted, and then install from that location. Check the software manufacturer's website for a more recent version of the software package. Download and install the new version. If you already have the latest version, download the program from the manufacturer's website, and then run the installation. Method 1: Copy the installation files to your computerCopy the installation files to a local hard disk on your computer or to other removable media.

Note the location, and then run the installation from that location. If you're not sure, check the Readme file in the folder for instructions about how to run the installation. If you are installing a program from the Internet, redownload the file select Save instead of Run in the download dialog box , save the file to a folder on a local hard disk on your computer or to other removable media. Then, run the installation from that location.

If your installation files are on a network for example, a commercial or corporate environment , copy all the files to a folder on a local hard disk on your computer, and then run the installation from that location. Method 2: Obtain a fresh version of the installation packageIf some time has elapsed between when you downloaded the package and when you tried to install it, do the following:. If you already have the latest version, download the program again, and then run the installation.

Programs that are currently running on your computer are interfering with the installation process. Disable programs that might be interfering with the installation process. To do this, follow these steps:. Click Start , type msconfig in the Search box, and then click msconfig. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.