There are many reasons why you might receive an error message when upgrading or installing Windows 11, but common errors can be fixed with a few steps that you can do on your own. Note: An upgrade takes your device from an
older version of Windows, such as Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 to Windows 11. Before searching for a specific error code, try the tips listed in General fixes. If those don't fix your upgrade or installation problem, check the table of error codes at the bottom of this article. Here are some things you can try to fix upgrade and installation errors: Unplug any nonessential hardware devices. These could include headphones, printers, scanners speakers, USB flash drives, and external hard drives. If you’re using a laptop and it’s plugged in to a docking station, undock it. It’s a good idea to make sure that all important updates are installed before trying to upgrade Windows. This
includes updates to hardware drivers on your device. For information and to make sure you're up-to-date, see Windows Update: FAQ. Use Windows Defender to protect your device during the upgrade—non-Microsoft antivirus software can sometimes cause
upgrade problems. As long as you have installation media and all required activation information, you can always reinstall the software after you upgrade. To remove an antivirus application, go to Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features. Select the program, and then select Uninstall. Select Yes to confirm. Outdated software can cause problems with a Windows
upgrade, so removing old or nonessential applications can help. If you plan to reinstall the application later, make sure you have the installation media and all required activation information before removing it. To uninstall software, go to Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features. Select the program, and then select Uninstall. Select Yes to confirm. To upgrade to
Windows 11, you need enough space on your hard drive for the installation to take place. To view how much hard drive space is available on your computer, select File Explorer on the taskbar (known as Windows Explorer in Windows 7) or press Windows logo key + E. Then select Computer or This PC and look under Hard Disk Drives or under Devices and drives. If there are multiple drives listed, the system drive is the drive
that includes a Microsoft Windows logo above the drive icon. You’ll see the amount of available space under the drive. If it looks like your drive is running low on space, see Tips to free up drive space on your PC. An error that begins with
0xC1900101 is usually a driver error. If you see any of these error codes, try the following steps first to fix the problem. If these steps don’t work, see Resolve Windows upgrade errors for more detailed technical info. 0xC1900101 - 0x2000c 0xC1900101 - 0x20017 0xC1900101 - 0x30018 0xC1900101 - 0x3000D 0xC1900101 - 0x4000D 0xC1900101 - 0x40017 Make sure that your device has enough space. Your device requires at least 16 GB of free space to upgrade a 32-bit OS, or 20 GB for a 64-bit OS. For more info, see
Free up drive space in Windows. Run Windows Update a few times. Download and install any available updates in Windows Update, including software updates, hardware updates, and some third-party drivers. Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix Windows 11
Update errors. Check third-party drivers and download any updates. You can find third-party drivers and installation instructions for any hardware you’ve added to your device on the manufacturer’s website. Unplug extra hardware. Remove all external storage devices and drives, docks, and other hardware you might have plugged into your device that isn’t needed for basic functionality. Check Device Manager for errors. In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager. Choose Device Manager from the results. 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. In the window that pops up, type chkdsk/f C: and press the Enter key. Repairs automatically start on your hard drive, and you’ll be asked to restart your device. 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 search box on the taskbar, type command prompt. Choose Command Prompt from the list of results. In the window that pops up, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press the Enter key.
(Learn to repair a Windows image) Note: You must have administrator permissions on your device to do this. Other Common ErrorsThe 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.
There are many reasons why you might receive an error message when upgrading or installing Windows 10, but common errors can be fixed with a few steps that you can do on your own. Note: An upgrade takes your device from an older version of Windows, such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, to Windows 10. Before searching for a specific error code, try the tips listed in General fixes. If those don't fix your upgrade or installation problem, check the table of error codes at the bottom of this article. General fixesHere are some things you can try to fix upgrade and installation errors: Unplug any nonessential hardware devices. These could include headphones, printers, scanners speakers, USB flash drives, and external hard drives. If you’re using a laptop and it’s plugged in to a docking station, undock it. It’s a good idea to make sure that all important updates are installed before trying to upgrade Windows. This includes updates to hardware drivers on your device. For information and to make sure you're up-to-date, see Windows Update: FAQ. Use Windows Defender to protect your device during the upgrade—non-Microsoft antivirus software can sometimes cause upgrade problems. As long as you have installation media and all required activation information, you can always reinstall the software after you upgrade. To remove an antivirus application, go to Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features. Select the program, and then select Uninstall. Select Yes to confirm. Outdated software can cause problems with a Windows upgrade, so removing old or nonessential applications can help. If you plan to reinstall the application later, make sure you have the installation media and all required activation information before removing it. To uninstall software, go to Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features. Select the program, and then select Uninstall. Select Yes to confirm. To upgrade to Windows 10, you need enough space on your hard drive for the installation to take place. To view how much hard drive space is available on your computer, select the Start button, then in the search box on the taskbar, type File Explorer (known as Windows Explorer in Windows 7). Then select Computer or This PC and look under Hard Disk Drives or under Devices and drives. If there are multiple drives listed, the system drive is the drive that includes a Microsoft Windows logo above the drive icon. You’ll see the amount of available space under the drive. If it looks like your drive is running low on space, see Tips to free up drive space on your PC. 0xC1900101 ErrorsAn error that begins with 0xC1900101 is usually a driver error. If you see any of these error codes, try the following steps first to fix the problem. If these steps don’t work, see Resolve Windows upgrade errors for more detailed technical info.
Other Common ErrorsThe 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 10, contact Microsoft support.
Need more help?What is load driver in Windows 10 installation?"Load driver" can be used to load the controller driver before installation.
Which type of installation do you want in Windows 10?Be sure to select the language, edition, and architecture you want to install of Windows 10. If you're installing it on a PC with a 64-bit CPU, you probably want the 64-bit version. If you're installing it on a PC with a 32-bit CPU, you'll need the 32-bit version.
Does Windows 10 install drivers automatically?Windows can automatically check if there are drivers available for new devices that you connect to your computer. For hardware that you've connected to your computer in the past, updated drivers might become available at a later date; but those drivers aren't installed automatically.
How do I fix the most common Windows 10 installation problems?Make sure that your device has enough space. ... . Run Windows Update a few times. ... . Check third-party drivers and download any updates. ... . Unplug extra hardware. ... . Check Device Manager for errors. ... . Remove third-party security software. ... . Repair hard-drive errors. ... . Do a clean restart into Windows.. |