[SOLVED] Windows Installation Has Failed (6 Ways)

This article will show you 6 solutions to fix Windows installation has failed for Windows 10 and Windows 11 with ease. Scroll down to check them now!

Jonna

By Jonna Updated on July 11, 2025

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Why Does Windows Installation Keep Failing?

The "Windows installation has failed" error, including Windows 10 installation has failed and Windows 11 installation has failed, is an error message that usually occurs when users run Windows Setup to install a new Windows operating system. But no worries. Whether you're experiencing Windows 11 won't install from USB or Windows 10 upgrade installation has failed, you can fix it painlessly.

Before that, let's take a look at the common reasons for installation has failed on Windows 10/11:

🔧 Conflicts with external devices or unnecessary peripherals during installation.
🔧 Corrupt or incomplete installation media, like a faulty USB drive.
🔧 Incompatible hardware, like ineligible TPM and CPUs, for Windows installation.
🔧 Insufficient disk space, especially if you're upgrading to Windows 11, which requires more storage than its predecessor.
🔧 Language pack mismatches, which confuse the setup process.
🔧 Boot Configuration Data (BCD) errors, which prevent proper initialization.
🔧 Incompatible third-party software or drivers, blocking the process.

How to Fix Windows Installation Has Failed for Windows 10/11

Before we try the solutions below, please make sure that the installation media that you created to install Windows 11/10 is configured correctly.

Way 1. Check System Compatibility

Before anything else, make sure your system is compatible with the version of Windows you’re trying to install. For Windows 11, this is especially critical- Microsoft has stricter hardware requirements than ever before. Minimum Windows 11 requirements include:

  • 64-bit processor with at least 1GHz speed and 2 or more cores
  • 4GB RAM minimum
  • 64GB of storage
  • UEFI firmware with Secure Boot
  • TPM 2.0

If you’re using unsupported hardware, Windows 11 may fail mid-install or not run properly afterward. Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool to confirm compatibility. If you’re trying to force an install on unsupported hardware, modify the registry or use third-party tools, but proceed with caution, as updates and security may be limited.

Way 2. Remove All Peripheral Devices

External devices can interfere with the installation or cause driver conflicts, especially on older systems. So unplug everything non-essential to avoid Windows installation has failed on Windows 11/10, including:

  • USB flash drives not used for installation
  • External hard drives
  • Printers, webcams, microphones
  • Docking stations or USB hubs
  • Unused network adapters or Bluetooth dongles

Way 3. Check Disk Space

Lack of space is also a common culprit for Windows installation failed. Windows 10 needs at least 20GB, and Windows 11 asks for 64GB or more. But that’s the bare minimum; installation files and temporary storage demand more than most you expect. You can first try deleting unnecessary files, uninstalling useless programs, emptying the Recycle Bin, and moving large files to an external drive to free up space on your system drive.

If there is still insufficient disk space, you may need a disk upgrade for larger capacity. AOMEI Cloner, a reliable disk cloning tool, offers a seamless solution for you to migrate all data from one drive to another without losing anything.

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  • Its Disk Clone allows you to transfer everything from HDD to SSD, HDD to HDD, or SSD to SSD, including the Windows OS, system settings and configuration, and other personal files.
  • You can also use its System Clone to migrate only the OS to a new drive, leaving other unnecessary files behind.
  • Its Partition Clone is able to move a specific partition to another drive, like EFI System Partition or Recovery Partition.
  • Also, it is embedded with various advanced features like SSD Alignment, Intelligent Clone (copying only the used sectors), and Sector By Sector Clone (copying all the sectors).

You can download and run this software, navigate to Clone > Disk Clone to upgrade your hard drive with a few clicks without a hitch to resolve Windows 10 has failed to install due to insufficient disk space.

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Way 4. Uninstall Language Pack

Some users reported that certain language packs installed on Windows 10 are not supported by Windows 11, which may also cause issues like Windows 11 install has failed. Therefore, it is recommended that you uninstall the language packs before attempting to install Windows 11.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language.

Step 2. Set the Windows display language to English. And then, remove any unnecessary language packs by clicking on them and selecting Remove.

Remove Language

Way 5. Perform a Clean Boot

Background processes can conflict with the installer, especially if third-party antivirus or system optimizers are running. Performing a clean boot disables all non-essential services and apps to resolve the Windows 10 setup Windows 10 installation has failed problem.

Step 1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.

Step 2. Under the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.

Hide All Microsoft Services

Step 3. Go to the Startup tab and open Task Manager.

Step 4. Disable all non-Microsoft startup items.

Disable Startup

Step 5. Restart your PC and retry the Windows installation.

Way 6. Rebuild BCD

When the Windows installation has failed, the problem may lie in the boot configuration itself. Corrupted or misconfigured Boot Configuration Data (BCD) can prevent new installations from completing properly. You can fix this with a few quick commands:

Step 1. Boot from your Windows installation media.

Step 2. Press Shift + F10 when the setup starts to open Command Prompt.

Step 3. Type the following commands one by one:

  • bootrec /fixmbr
  • bootrec /fixboot
  • bootrec /scanos
  • bootrec /rebuildbcd

Bootrec

Step 4. Restart the system and attempt the installation again. This often resolves deep-rooted boot-related installation issues.

FAQs on Windows Installation Failed

#1. Why Windows 11 installation from USB keeps failing?

There are a few common reasons for Windows 11 installation has failed from USB:

  • Corrupted installation media. Recreate the USB using the Media Creation Tool.
  • Outdated BIOS firmware or missing TPM/Secure Boot requirements.
  • Faulty USB ports. Try a different port or USB stick.

#2. How do I force Windows 11 to install from USB?

  • Download the ISO using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.
  • Use Rufus to create a bootable USB.
  • Enter BIOS and enable UEFI, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot (or disable these if bypassing requirements).
  • Boot from USB and follow the on-screen instructions.

For unsupported systems, tweak registry values under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig to bypass checks.

#3. How to fix Windows 11 installation stuck?

Try removing all peripherals, using a clean ISO, and ensuring your system meets all hardware requirements.

#4. How to fix a corrupted Windows 10 install?

Use the Windows Media Creation Tool to do a clean install, or run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth from recovery mode.

#5. How do I fix Windows 10 no boot device?

Enter BIOS, ensure your drive is recognized, and set the correct boot order. If needed, rebuild the BCD using Command Prompt.

Conclusion

There are 6 methods to fix the Windows installation has failed error in this article. If this error is caused by not enough disk space, the most reliable cloning software - AOMEI Cloner, will help you migrate data to a new larger disk effortlessly. You can use it to create bootable USB or CD/DVD. When your system fails, you can clone hard drive from WinPE, without booting into Windows.

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Jonna
Jonna · Editor
Jonna joined AOMEI in 2021 and has become a professional in computer backup and restoration, disk cloning, file synchronization, etc. She maintains a keen eye for the latest technology trends and ensures that the information provided is always in step with industry developments.