Fix a failed Windows 11 installation by restarting your PC, installing pending updates, freeing storage, and running the Windows Update troubleshooter before retrying. If installation fails again, use the error code to check hardware eligibility, conflicting drivers, or damaged Windows files.
Start with the fixes below while your PC can still reach the desktop. If Windows no longer starts, go directly to the recovery steps near the end. Back up your files before recovery, resetting, or reinstalling Windows.
The short version
- Start small: Restart, install pending updates, and disconnect unnecessary peripherals before retrying.
- Check the blocker: Record the installation error and check hardware eligibility when upgrading to Windows 11.
- Repair downloads: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter, then clear its download cache if needed.
- Preserve your data: Try repair reinstallation before a reset or clean installation.
| Fix | When to use it | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| Restart and install prerequisites | First retry or unfinished installation | Complete pending restarts |
| Disconnect peripherals | Attached hardware may interfere | Keep essential installation hardware connected |
| Storage cleanup | Setup reports insufficient space | Preserve rollback files if needed |
| Windows Update troubleshooter | Update downloads or installation fail | Requires working Windows |
| Update cache cleanup | Downloaded update files are corrupt | Requires administrator access |
| Hardware eligibility fixes | Setup reports unmet requirements | Firmware changes depend on your PC |
| Driver and firmware updates | Driver errors block installation | Use your exact model’s downloads |
| Remove incompatible apps | Setup identifies blocking software | Save reinstallers and license information |
| Clean boot | Background software causes conflicts | Restore disabled items afterward |
| DISM and SFC repair | Windows components or files are damaged | Run commands as administrator |
| SetupDiag analysis | An upgrade repeatedly fails | Diagnosis determines the next repair |
| Windows Update repair reinstallation | The installed Windows version needs repair | May be unavailable on managed PCs |
| Installation Assistant | An eligible PC needs another upgrade route | Supports x64 PCs only |
| Installation media and ISO Setup | You need fresh installation files | Confirm what Setup will preserve |
| Startup Repair | Windows cannot start | May require your BitLocker recovery key |
| System Restore | Startup repair fails | Requires an available restore point |
| Reset this PC | Other repairs fail | Removes apps and settings |
| Clean installation | You need to replace the installation completely | Deletes data on the target disk |
Restart and record the installation error
Save your work, open Start > Power, and select Restart. A restart can clear an incomplete previous installation, particularly error 0xC1900107. After Windows loads, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and record the failed update’s name, KB number, and error code.
Return to Windows Update, select Check for updates, install available updates, and restart when requested. On Windows 10, use Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to install prerequisites before trying the Windows 11 upgrade again.
Keep the computer connected to power and the internet throughout the attempt. Disconnect nonessential USB storage, printers, scanners, audio devices, and docks, leaving essential input, display, and installation hardware connected. Retry after these changes before moving to deeper repairs.
Free enough space for Setup
Open Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations on Windows 11. Review Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud, and Unused apps, then select unwanted items and choose Clean up for the relevant section. Windows 11 requires a storage device with at least 64 GB capacity, but that is not a universal free-space requirement for installation. On Windows 10, use Disk Cleanup, described in the next paragraph.
Move large personal files to external storage if cleanup leaves too little room. For error 0xC1900107 that survives a restart, search for and open Disk Cleanup, choose the Windows drive, and select OK. Select Clean up system files, choose the drive again, review the installation cleanup categories, and leave any previous Windows installation unticked if you may want to go back. Then select OK followed by Delete files.
Keep the windows.old and $windows.~bt folders until you decide whether to return to your previous Windows version. Removing rollback files can affect your ability to revert to a previous Windows version. Retry installation after freeing space.
Repair Windows Update downloads
Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters on Windows 11. Beside Windows Update, select Run and complete the troubleshooting flow. On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, then select Windows Update and Run the troubleshooter. You can follow the detailed steps to use the Windows Update troubleshooter before retrying.
The current troubleshooting platform is Get Help, which replaces older MSDT troubleshooters and downloaded diagnostic packages. As an alternative entry point, open Get Help, enter windows update troubleshooter in its search bar, and follow the supplied steps.
If corrupt downloaded update files remain the problem, clear the Windows Update cache using an administrator account. Press Windows + R and enter this command:
services.mscPress Enter, find Windows Update, right-click it, and select Stop. Open File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, and delete the folder’s contents. Return to Services, right-click Windows Update, select Start, and retry the update.
Resolve hardware eligibility warnings
For a Windows 10 PC upgrading to Windows 11, search for and open PC Health Check, then select Check now. If the app is missing, get it through Microsoft’s PC Health Check installation page. Address the specific eligibility failure it reports before rerunning Setup.
The minimum requirements include a supported processor, 4 GB of RAM, a storage device of at least 64 GB, UEFI with Secure Boot capability, and TPM 2.0. If your PC has a disabled TPM 2.0, follow the manufacturer’s firmware instructions to enable it, save changes, and reassess eligibility. Firmware labels vary, with examples including Intel PTT and AMD fTPM switch.
To reach firmware settings from Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery, then select Restart now under Advanced startup. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart; the steps to get to BIOS on Windows explain firmware access in more detail.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to enable Secure Boot on your PC. An existing MBR installation can require disk conversion before changing from Legacy or CSM boot mode to UEFI, so check that requirement before switching modes. After completing the compatibility assessment, return to Installation Assistant and select Refresh if it requested the check.
Passing the hardware check does not override a compatibility hold for a known problem. Review your version’s known issues on Microsoft’s Windows release-information page, then follow the documented resolution or wait for the hold to be lifted. If the hardware itself is ineligible, ask the manufacturer about supported upgrades or replace the PC.
Update drivers and remove software conflicts
Error codes beginning with 0xC1900101 point you toward driver troubleshooting. On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, select the required driver updates, and choose Download and install. On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, select Check for updates, then View optional updates when it appears, and install the driver updates you need. Restart afterward, and get any additional applicable drivers or firmware from your exact PC model’s official support page.
When Setup identifies an incompatible app, save its installer and license information before removing it. Select Start > All apps, find the program, right-click it, and select Uninstall. On Windows 11, you can also open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More beside the program, and choose Uninstall. Conflicting third-party antivirus software can also require removal before the upgrade.
For persistent background software conflicts, perform a clean boot while signed in as an administrator. Search for msconfig, open System Configuration, select Services, check Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all and Apply. Record the items you disable so you can restore them afterward.
Open Startup > Open Task Manager > Startup apps, then disable enabled startup items. The steps to stop apps from opening on startup explain those controls. Close Task Manager, select OK, restart, and retry installation, then restore normal startup and the items disabled for troubleshooting.
Repair damaged Windows files
Repeated installation failures can require component and system file repair. Search for Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, and select Yes. Run this command first:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthWait for DISM to succeed before starting System File Checker. Then run the following command:
sfc /scannowWait for verification to finish, then restart and retry installation. If DISM cannot obtain repair files through Windows Update, it can require an appropriate repair source; repair reinstallation below provides another repair route.
If the upgrade continues to fail, open %WinDir%\Logs\SetupDiag\SetupDiagResults.xml when available to review the automatic failure analysis. Address the identified cause before retrying. Microsoft says the last failure is typically the fatal one when several appear.
Retry with repair or fresh installation files
On an existing Windows 11 installation, open Settings > System > Recovery. Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now, then select OK and keep power and internet connected. Restart when the repair finishes.
This repairs the installed version while preserving files, apps, and settings. It requires Windows 11 22H2 or later with the February 2024 optional update or later, and it may be unavailable on managed PCs. If your organization manages updates, ask IT to review the restrictions.
When repair is unavailable or unsuccessful, obtain fresh installation files from Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page. For an eligible x64 PC, under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, select Download Now and run the tool as administrator. Select Accept and Install, then select Restart Now when ready.
Installation Assistant requires a Windows license, Windows 10 version 2004 or later, and at least 9 GB for its download. It also supports eligible PCs already running Windows 11. Arm PCs require the appropriate Arm64 image and the manufacturer’s installation and driver requirements.
To create fresh x64 installation media, under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, select Download Now. Run MediaCreationTool.exe and complete its media-creation flow with a blank USB drive of at least 8 GB, or create an ISO for DVD use. Creating USB installation media erases that USB drive.
For an in-place installation, download the correct ISO in the same language as your installed Windows, right-click it in File Explorer, and select Mount. Open the mounted drive and run setup.exe while signed in to Windows. Select Yes, choose Change what to keep, select Keep personal files and apps, then select Next and Install.
Preservation choices depend on matching media and a supported upgrade path. Review how to reinstall Windows and choose what stays before accepting a different option. If you select Keep personal files only, Setup removes apps; if you select Keep nothing, it removes all data.
Recover a PC that no longer starts
Windows enters its recovery environment automatically after repeated startup failures. You can also boot compatible official installation media, choose the language and keyboard preferences, select Repair my PC, and select Next. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair > Restart.
Supply the BitLocker recovery key if requested. On another device, open your Microsoft recovery key account page, sign in, and match the displayed recovery key ID. A saved printout or USB text file can also contain the key.
If Startup Repair fails and a restore point exists, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore. Choose Next, select a restore point, and use Scan for affected programs to review the impact before selecting Next and Finish. System Restore restores system configuration without restoring personal files.
Resetting is a later option when repairs fail. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, then choose Keep my files to preserve personal files while removing apps and settings. Select Cloud download when local installation files are damaged, and review the steps to reset a laptop through recovery before completing the reset flow. Keep power connected and allow the automatic restarts.
A clean installation removes files, apps, settings, and manufacturer customizations, so back up first. Boot the installation media, choose the language and keyboard settings, and select Next. Select Install Windows 11, select I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings, then select Next.
Supply the licensed edition or product key as applicable, then select Accept for the license terms. If your PC has more than one disk, confirm which one holds Windows before deleting anything, and never delete partitions on any other disk. Delete only that disk’s partitions, select its Unallocated Space, and select Next followed by Install.
If recovery or installation still fails, contact Microsoft with the exact error, Windows version, device model, and any available SetupDiag results. Contact the manufacturer for hardware, firmware, or model-specific recovery problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the PC keep returning to the beginning of Windows Setup?
After an installation started from USB or DVD, the firmware can keep booting the installation media. Restore the boot order so the newly installed internal drive boots normally.
What should you do when Windows Setup cannot find the SSD?
On affected Dell Intel PCs using VMD, download and extract the model-specific Intel RST storage driver to USB using Dell’s instructions. At the disk-selection screen, select Load driver, then Browse, locate the extracted VMD driver folder, and select OK. Select Intel RST VMD Controller, then Next, and continue once the target drive appears.
Can an external drive help when there is not enough installation space?
On Windows 11, Windows Update can offer an external-storage flow through Fix issues. Connect a drive with at least 10 GB free, open Settings > Windows Update, and select Fix issues if offered. Choose the drive from the drop-down menu, select Next, and complete the update. Some internal free space is still required.
How do you finish setup when the home Wi-Fi will not connect?
Connect Ethernet, restart the router, or connect to a phone’s mobile hotspot and enter its password. Windows 11 Home and Pro require internet connectivity for this initial setup flow. If a missing network driver is the blocker, obtain the correct extracted manufacturer driver using another PC.
Does error 0x80072f8f need a different fix?
Check the date, time, and time zone for this time-related error. Open Settings > Time & language > Date & time, then turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically, or enter the correct values manually. Retry the download or installation afterward.