Solving issues with failed installations during the initial startup [100% Effective]

If you encounter the error "Setup failed at the FIRST_BOOT phase" while trying to install Windows 10 on your computer, it means that there's an issue with your system preventing the operating system from installing correctly. Typically, a computer goes through several boot phases before an operating system installation is complete.

"We couldn't install Windows 10."

The issues that you encounter in the first stage mean that you won't proceed with the other stages unless you fix the problems in the first stage. What causes this error, and how can you fix it? This tutorial will outline the reasons for the failed to start stage 1 installation error and introduce 11 fixes for it. Read on to learn how to resolve this error!

Why does the installation fail during the FIRST_BOOT phase?

Before troubleshooting a first-boot error, it's important to understand what might have caused it. Some of the main culprits include:

• Damaged system files.
• Limited disk space.
• Incompatible drivers.
• Software conflicts.
• Issues with Windows updates.
• Registry errors.

In the next section, we'll teach you how to fix these problems so that you can install Windows without a hitch.

?Related Reading: Fix Total Identified Windows Installations 0 | Top 3 Methods

How to resolve installation failures occurring during the FIRST_BOOT phase

There are multiple ways to fix the “Failed to Install on First Boot” issue. In this section, we will discuss eleven troubleshooting methods, including:

1. Solution 1: Remove All External Devices
2. Solution 2: Extend Disk Space
3. Solution 3: Check for Bad Sectors and Repair System Files
4. Solution 4: Perform Cleanup of Old Devices and Drivers
5. Solution 5: Disable Antivirus Software and Firewall
6. Solution 6: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
7. Solution 7: Delete or Rename the Software Distribution Files
8. Solution 8: Check for Windows Updates
9. Solution 9: Run SFC and DISM Scans
10. Solution 10: Edit Registry Entries
11. Solution 11: Perform a Clean Boot

We will describe each of these approaches in turn.

Solution 1: Remove all external devices Before attempting the following steps, make sure to disconnect all external devices, including mice, keyboards, USB drives, printers, and so on. These devices can sometimes cause startup issues. After disconnecting everything, restart your computer and check if the problem persists. If it does not occur anymore, then one of the external devices might be the culprit. Reconnect each device individually to identify which one is causing the issue.

If your system fails to boot during the first phase, it might be because it's trying to build a compatible driver for all connected drives, including external ones. The first solution to this problem is to disconnect any external devices, such as USB drives, external hard disks, CDs, printers, and so on.

Step 1. Right-click on the external hard drive in the toolbar at the bottom.

Step 2: Choose “Eject” to safely remove the external drive.

By disconnecting unnecessary hardware, you can narrow down the possibilities. If that doesn't fix the error, try the next method.

Fix 2: Expand the disk space

If your computer's disk space is limited, it might cause the Windows installation to fail. You need at least 30 GB of free space to install Windows. If you have less space, you can use a third-party tool called tools Partition Master to extend it before installing Windows.

This tool is very efficient when it comes to disk management, and it allows you to utilize the unallocated space by extending Drive C (the drive where you want to install Windows) – this is done through Partition Master's “Extend” feature.

Step 1: Shrink the partition to make room for the expansion

If there's enough unallocated space on the disk to extend the target partition, skip to Step 2. If not, free up some first:

In the "Partition Manager" section, right-click on the partition next to the target one and select "Resize/Move." Drag the partition's border to free up space, making sure there's enough unallocated space behind the target partition, then click "OK."

Step 2: Expand the target partition.

Right-click the partition you want to expand, and select “Resize/Move.”

Drag the target partition handle to the unallocated space to extend the partition.

Third, make the changes permanent.

Click the Run Task button, and then click Apply to save all your changes.

Fix 3: Check for bad sectors and repair system files

If your internal hard drive has bad sectors or corrupted system files, Windows might not install. We recommend that you use the Partition Master tool to check for bad sectors and repair corrupted system files.

This disk optimizing software helps you get the best performance out of your hard drive. You can use the “Surface Scan” tool in the application to check for bad sectors. This helps you check the health of your hard drive partitions and fix bad sectors.

Step 1: Launch Partition Master, right click the disk which you want to check and then choose “Surface Test”.

Step 2: The scan starts immediately, and bad sectors are marked in red.

In addition, you can use the "Check File System Errors" feature to repair corrupted system files. AOMEI Partition Assistant uses this function to effectively check your disk, identify file system errors, and make appropriate repairs. After that, you can restart your computer and see if the "Failed at the FIRST_BOOT phase of installation" error disappears.

Solution 4: Perform a cleanup of old devices and drivers

Sometimes, an old device driver might prevent your computer from starting up successfully. You can remove these drivers by following these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This will open the “Run” dialog box.

Step 2. Type “cmd” in the dialog box, then press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter.” This will open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 3: Paste the following command into the Command Prompt window, and then press Enter:

This is a Windows command used to clean the driver cache. In American English, it would be: Run rundll32.exe pnpclean.dll, RunDLL_PnpClean /DRIVERS /MAXCLEAN

Step 4. After running the command, restart your computer and attempt to install Windows 10 again to see if this fix resolved the error.

Step 5: Disable antivirus software and firewalls

Antivirus and firewall software helps prevent malicious attacks, but it can also stop you from installing a new operating system. You can disable your antivirus temporarily to get around this issue.

Step 1: Tap or click the Windows Start icon > Settings > Update & Security.

Step 2: Select Update security information, and then click Open Windows Defender Security Center.

Step 3: Choose to temporarily turn off or disable “Virus & threat protection” and “Firewall & network protection.”

If this resolves the issue, make sure to reactivate your antivirus software and firewall as soon as you've installed Windows 10 on your computer. It's unsafe to leave your antivirus disabled for extended periods of time.

Solution 6: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Although the Windows Update Troubleshooter is primarily designed to fix issues with Windows updates, it can also resolve the “Failed to install on FIRST_BOOT phase” error. You can apply this fix by following these steps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.

Step 2: Go to “Update & Security.”

Step 3: Click Troubleshoot, and then click Other troubleshooters.

Click Additional troubleshooters.

Step 4: In the new window, select “Windows Update” and run the troubleshooter.

Step 5: The troubleshooter will scan your Windows updates for issues. If it finds any, make sure to follow the on-screen instructions to fix them. After that, restart your computer and check if the error is gone.

Solution 7: Delete or rename the SoftwareDistribution folder

During the Windows update process, temporary system files are stored in the SoftwareDistribution folder. If these files become corrupted, either partially or entirely, it can lead to issues with your Windows installation. To address this problem, you can rename or delete the folder containing these files.

To rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, follow these steps:

Step 1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Paste the list of commands below, pressing Enter after each line:

Delete the software distribution folder by following these steps:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt.

Step 2: Paste the following command and press Enter:

Step 3: Press the Windows logo key + E to open File Explorer.

Step 4: Go to the following folder: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.

Step 5. Select all the files in this folder, then right-click on them and choose “Delete.”

Step 6: Go back to the Command Prompt, paste the following command, and press Enter:

Fix 8: Check for Windows Updates

You might encounter an error stating "Installation failed at phase FIRST_BOOT," which could be due to missing critical updates on your device. To resolve this issue, it's essential to check for updates. You can follow these steps to do so:

Step one: Open Settings.

Step 2: Choose “Update & security.”

Step 3. Click "Check for Updates." Your computer will scan for available updates and let you download them. After that, restart your computer and see if the error has been fixed.

Fix 9: Run SFC and DISM scans

If your system files are corrupted, it can be difficult to install a new operating system. You can run both SFC and DISM to fix this issue. These scans will help repair your files.

You can run them by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt.

Step 2: Type the following command, then press Enter.

This is a command in the Windows operating system used to scan and repair errors in system files. It is translated in Chinese as "System File Checker" or "Run SFC scan now."

Step 3. After running the command, restart your computer and open the Command Prompt again.

Step 4. Paste the list of commands below, pressing Enter after each one:

Next, try restarting your device and see if the error has gone away.

Fix 10: Edit a Registry Entry

Modifying registry entries can also help resolve Windows installation issues. After backing up the Registry, you can edit it as follows:

Step 1: Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. Type “regedit” and press <Keyboard>Enter</Keyboard>. This will open the Registry Editor.

Step 3: Next, navigate to the following file path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade.

Step 4: Open the OSUpgrade folder.

5. Right-click in the folder and select New, then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 6: Set the name of the new key to AllowOSUpgrade, and set the value data to 1.

Step 7. Click “OK,” and then exit the Registry Editor.

Step 8. Restart your computer and check if the error is gone.

Fix 11: Perform a clean boot

You might also encounter Windows installation or driver errors due to conflicting applications or programs. To avoid this, you can perform a clean boot by following these steps:

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and select “Run.”

Step 2: Type “msconfig” and press Enter.

Step 3: Click on the “Services” tab, and then check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services.”

Step 4: Then click “Disable all.”

Step 5. Click the “Start” tab, and then click “Task Manager.”

Step 6: Right-click each item and select “Disable.”

Step 7. After disabling everything, close the Task Manager and restart your computer. This should fix the issue.

Conclusions

This article outlines the main reasons for the "Failed to install on FIRST_BOOT" error and provides some solutions to address this issue.

The best-recommended solution to fix the error of failed installation on first boot is by using the Partition Master tool. This software lets you extend your disk space, scan for bad sectors on the hard drive, and repair corrupted system files.

This tool can help optimize your disk performance. To start using Partition Master, make sure to download and install the free version on your computer today!

"FAQ for FIRST_BOOT Installation Failure"

Here are some common issues related to the “Failed to install on FIRST_BOOT stage” error.

1. How do I resolve installation failure or error messages encountered during the Safe_OS phase?

To resolve this issue, you can try the following solutions.

Solution 1: Use a different installation media. Solution 2: Disconnect all external devices. Solution 3: Remove incompatible drivers. Solution 4: Disable encryption on the drive. Solution 5: Delete corrupted installation configuration files. Solution 6: Use a partition master tool to check for bad sectors on the hard disk.

How do I fix the “We couldn't install this update” error?

You can fix this error by restarting the Windows Update service through the following steps:

1. Press the Windows logo key + R to open the "Run" dialog box. 2. Type "services.msc" and press Enter. 3. Locate the "Windows Update" service, then double-click it to open its "Properties." 4. When the properties window opens, click "Stop" to stop the Windows Update service. 5. After a few seconds, click the "Start" button. This will restart the Windows Update service on your system. Try updating Windows again to see if the error has been resolved.

Other ways to fix this error include:

• Restart your computer.
• Remove Windows Update signatures.
• Disable third-party antivirus software.
• Manually install the update.

How do I fix error code 0xC1900101 0x30018?

You can resolve this error code by following these steps:

• Temporarily disable any antivirus software on your computer.
• If connected to the internet, try switching from a wireless connection to a wired one.
• Disconnect all external devices from your computer except for the mouse and keyboard.
• Launch Command Prompt as an administrator and run "sfc/scannow" to check for corrupted system files.
• Ensure that your computer has the latest drivers and software updates installed.
• Perform a clean boot, and then restart the Windows upgrade/updated process.