4 Quick Fixes | Windows Could Not Complete the Installation

What Causes the "Windows Could Not Complete the Installation" Error?

There are several reasons why the "Windows could not complete the installation" on Windows 10 error message may appear. Some of the most common causes include:

• Corrupted installation media. If the bootable installation media (such as a DVD or USB drive) is damaged or corrupted, the installation process may fail, and the "Windows could not complete the installation" error message may appear.
• The fresh Windows installation was interrupted. If you happen to receive persistent "Windows could not complete the installation" error and system reboot loops, you might be trying to install Windows 10 or your fresh Windows installation was interrupted before creating a user account.
• Hardware issues. Hardware issues, such as faulty RAM or hard drive, can cause installation errors.
• Driver issues. The "Windows could not complete the installation" error message can happen if the installation media does not contain the necessary drivers for the hardware components.
• Software conflicts. If there are conflicting software or drivers installed on the system, the installation process may fail.

Resolving "Windows Could Not Complete the Installation" Error

If you encounter the "Windows 10 could not complete the installation" error message, there are several solutions you can try to resolve the issue. Some of the most effective solutions include:

# 1. Continue Installation Using Automatic Repair

If you receive an error message saying that Windows 10 cannot complete installation after updating the operating system, you can try using Auto Repair to resolve Windows 10 installation errors.

1. Turn on your computer and then close it as soon as your Windows starts to load. Do this two or three times until you see a "Preparing Automatic Repair" message.
2. Then click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

3. In the next window, click Keep my files.

4. You need to choose one account and input your password to continue. Next, you need to click "Cancel" button.

5. Then click "Continue" button to exit and continue to Windows 10.

6. After that, you can try to restart your computer and check whether the issue Windows could not complete the installation has been fixed.

#2. Start Account Creation Wizard

As we explained in the second paragraph, one of the reasons for an incomplete Windows installation comes from the interruption of the Windows installation before the user account is created. So, you need to run the account creation wizard to get it exactly right.

1. Press “Shift” + “F10” key together on the error screen to launch the Command Prompt.
2. Then type the following commands in sequence and click "Enter" after each command is entered to continue.

• cd %windir%/system32/oobe/
• msoobe

3. Then you will see a popup window. You need to make a generic account and password. On this popup window, then click “Finish” button to finish the process.
4. Now, you can reboot your computer and check whether the error “Windows could not complete the installation on Windows 10” is solved.

#3. Modify Registry Settings

If you are experiencing the "Windows could not complete the installation" after SysPrep, you can change a registry setting to resolve it.

1. Press “Shift” + “F10” key together on the error screen to launch the Command Prompt.
2. Then type regedit in Command Prompt window click "Enter" to continue.
3. Now in the Registry Editor navigate to the following key:

• Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status

4. Adjust the following values if they do not match:

🍥 Note: To change the value of the following keys, double-click them and enter a new value.

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\AuditBoot                                              Value: 0
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\ChildCompletion\setup.exe               Value: 3
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\ChildCompletion\audit.exe                Value: 0
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\SysprepStatus\CleanupState             Value: 2
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\SysprepStatus\GeneralizationState  Value: 7
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\UnattendPasses\auditSystem            Value: 0

5. Once setup is complete, this usually corrects the problem that "Windows could not complete the installation" after SysPrep and allows the system to reboot properly.

#4. Enable Administrator Account

The fourth way to solve the error "Windows could not complete the installation of Windows 10 Shift 10 does not work" is to enable the administrator account. You can try to use it to fix the Windows 10 installation problem.

1. Press “Shift” + “F10” key together on the error screen to launch the Command Prompt.
2. Then, type the MMC command and hit “Enter” to continue.
3. In the main interface, you need to click “File” and choose “Add/Remove Snap-in” to continue.

4. Then choose “Computer Management” and double-click it.
5. In the next window, you need to check the “Local computer: (the computer this console is running on)” and click “Finish” to continue.

6. Then click “OK” to continue to the next step.
7. After returning to the main interface, you need to click Computer Management (Local) > System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users > Administrator to continue.

8. Then the Administrator Properties window will be opened. Make sure that the option “Account is disabled” is unchecked. Then click “OK” to continue.

9. Next, right-click Administrator and choose Set Password. You need to set a strong password to get started.

10. All steps have been finished. Now, you can restart your computer and check whether the error Windows could not complete the installation is solved. The above 4 methods are also applicable to Windows 11 installation could not complete error.

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Conclusion

The "Windows could not complete the installation" error message can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the issue and complete the installation process successfully. To be saved from the complicated steps, you may try AOMEI Backupper backup & restore. The operations are easy and there are flexible backup options you can choose from. Go for this tool right now!