How to Fix “Windows Could Not Complete the Installation”
The “Windows Could Not Complete the Installation” error can result from corrupted installation files, hardware/driver issues, or conflicting software. Here’s how to troubleshoot it.
Many users report that when they try toinstall Windowson their computers, they get the error “Windows could not complete the installation.” This is a frustrating issue and can be quite scary because there’s no clear sign of what went wrong. Moreover, your computer will be completely useless without a functioningoperating system. This article will help you troubleshoot the problem and get your computer back to functioning normally in no time. So let’s get straight to it.
What’s Causing the “Window Could Not Complete the Installation” Error?
There are several reasons you could see the error message “Windows Could Not Complete the Installation”. It can happen on bothWindows 10 and Windows 11, and the reasons and the fixes are the same. The most notable problems behind this error are:
Now that you know what’s causing the “Windows Could Not Complete the Installation” error, let’s see how you can fix it on your Windows 11 or 10 system.
1. Use Automatic Repair
You can access the Automatic Repair function when you boot your PC in recovery mode.
To do this on Windows 10 and 11:
This should fix the problem and you can now try installing Windows again.
2. Use Administrator Account
If your PC keeps failing the Windows installation, try using the administrator account to install the system.
To do it:
The Installation window will reopen and you can now finish the Windows installation. However, if you don’t have an administrator account, you’ll have to enable it. Here’s how to do it:
Close the Computer Management window and retry installing Windows.
3. Change Password Requirement
If enabling an Administrator account didn’t solve your issue, try changing the password requirement. This could help you resolve the “Windows Could Not Complete the Installation” error.
Restart your PC and try installing Windows again.
4. Run Account Creation Wizard
If none of the above-described methods helped you solve this Window installation error, you’ll have to run the account creation wizard. Here’s how:
5. Modify Registry Settings
If the “Windows could not complete the installation” error message pops up after SysPrep, you need to change the registry setting to resolve the issue. Follow these steps:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup|Status
Changing the Registry Settings will allow your System to boot up properly and finish the Windows installation process.
6. Find Another Source for Windows Installation
It could be that you’re trying to install Windows 11 or 10 from a faulty media source, such as a scratched CD or a broken flash drive. If this is the case, simply changing the media source should help you.
For Windows 11 you can use theMicrosoft Media Creation Tooland create a new bootable drive from which you can install Windows whenever you need.
Nicolae is a Jack of all trades technology writer with a focus on hardware, programming languages, and AI image-processing software. Over the last five years, he has ghostwritten numerous tech how-to guides and books on a variety of topics ranging from Linux to C# programming and game development. Nicolae loves everything that has to do with technology and his goal is to share his knowledge and experience with others.Read Nicolae’s Full Bio
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