How to Fix the 'Preparing to Install' Stuck Issue on Windows 10

Stuck on "Preparing Files" During Windows Installation

Users complain that Windows 10 gets stuck on “Preparing to install updates.” They say that the installation process goes smoothly until the “Preparing to install updates” screen shows up. This happens quite often and at different percentages (8%, 49%, 17%, etc.). When Windows gets stuck on “Preparing to install updates,” you can't proceed with the Windows installation or boot your PC as needed. How do you fix this? The steps below might help.

Important: Recover important files before fixing the 'Preparing to configure' error

Since fixing the 'Getting Files Ready To Use' error in Windows might involve losing files in the process, it's crucial to back up these important files beforehand.

It is advised that you recover and export your data to an external device.

To recover and export data from a stuck computer with the 'Preparing to Configure Windows' message, you can use a reliable data recovery software like the tool Data Recovery Wizard for assistance.

It can help you recover and export data when the computer fails to start up or gets stuck at "Preparing to install files" in Windows 10/8/7/Vista. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Create a Bootable Disk

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, select Crash Computer Recovery, and click Start Recovery.

Next up, we just need the translation in American English:

Select an empty USB drive to create the bootable drive, and click “Create.”

Caution: The Data Recovery Wizard erases all data stored on the USB drive when it creates the bootable disk. Back up important data beforehand.

Step 2: Boot your computer from the USB drive

Connect the bootable disk to the unbootable computer, and change the computer's boot order in the BIOS. For most users, this involves restarting the computer and pressing F2 to enter the BIOS while it's booting up.

Set your computer to boot from “Removable Device” (a bootable USB drive) rather than the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Step 3: Recover data from the crashed system/computer

After booting from the Data Recovery Wizard ISO, select the drive you wish to scan for all lost files. Preview and recover desired files to a secure location.

After you scan and recover all the data, remember to save them to an external device.

[[3]](#3) Resolving Windows 10 Installation Stuck at "Preparing to Install Files"

After exporting your data, you can fix the “Windows 10 stuck on 'Preparing to install updates'” issue in one of the following ways.

Method 1: Reset the BIOS

Step 1: Enter the BIOS and go to the “Boot” section, and check your list of boot priorities.

Step 2: If your boot drive (SSD/HDD) is not at the top, set it as the highest priority over options such as “Windows Boot Manager,” “USB HDD,” or “DVD Rom.”

Step 3: Save and exit the BIOS.

Step four: Restart your computer.

Method 2: Boot in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads only the most basic drivers and services needed to start your computer, which limits what Windows can do and makes it a useful troubleshooting tool.

Step one: Hold the power button for five seconds, or until the computer turns off.

Step Two: Press the Power button again to turn on the device.

Step 3: You should see a message saying that Windows failed to start or something similar.

Step 4: Choose “Advanced Repair Options” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings.”

Step 5: Click “Restart,” and then select “Safe Mode” to boot into Safe Mode.

Step 6: Log in, and then restart the computer.

Method 3: Delete the Problematic File

When you restart your computer, you should see the “Windows Boot Options” menu:

Step 1. In the Windows Advanced Boot Options menu, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

2. Type C: cd Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt. SrtTrail.txt in the Command Prompt, and press Enter.

If you see a message similar to “Boot critical file c:\windows\system32\drivers\vsock.sys is corrupt,” use Command Prompt to navigate to the specified location and type Del to delete the problematic file.

Figure 3: Delete the problem file At this point, you have successfully deleted the problematic file.

Method 4: Fix a Stuck Windows 10 with Windows Repair Tools

The ultimate solution to address the 'Windows 10 installation files are being prepared' issue is by availing of our Manual Data Recovery Services. Our professional technical team is proficient in resolving any system startup errors, including system crashes, Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), black screen issues, and more.

Windows Recovery Service Tool

Contact our experts for a free assessment.

Get a one-on-one consultation with our data recovery specialists for manual recovery services. After a free diagnosis, we offer the following services:

• Fix Windows boot issues, including Blue Screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Recover your system when it fails to start
• Optimize your Windows computer for improved performance

Conclusions and Frequently Asked Questions

If all else fails, don't worry – you still have a shot at fixing it with a clean install. You can refer to the tips in How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 10 Without Losing Data for that. Then, you'll know how to do a clean install again without any issues. If you find the process too time-consuming or are worried about messing something up, seek help from a local support center instead.

Also, if you're having issues installing the latest version of the Windows 10 update, check out the Quick Fixes section and try to troubleshoot the problem on your own.

1. How long will it take to install Windows 10?

In short, a Windows 10 install takes around 2-3 hours. This is the expected duration for a clean installation. However, if you have an older device or are installing the Enterprise version of Windows 10, the entire process may take up to four hours.

How do I restart a Windows 10 installation?

There are several ways to restart the Windows 10 installer, and we've chosen the most straightforward one for you.

1. Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. 2. Scroll down and locate the Windows Installer service. 3. On the "General" tab, ensure that the service is set to "Started" under "Service Status." 4. If the service is not running, click "Start" under "Service Status," and then click "OK."

How do I fix the "Windows couldn't install required files" issue?

Encountering the issue "Windows cannot install required files" during installation can be resolved by following these steps:

1. Make sure your DVD drive is clean.
2. Disable overclocking settings.
3. Connect your hard drive to a different SATA port.
4. Ensure you're installing the correct version of Windows.
5. Disable the Execute Disable Bit option in the BIOS.
6. Avoid installing Windows on a large partition.
7. Change your hard drive's mode to IDE.
8. Check your hardware devices for compatibility issues.

What should you do if your computer gets stuck while installing updates?

To address a stuck Windows Update, try these suggestions.

Confirm that the update is truly stuck. Restart your computer. Check for Windows updates. Run the Microsoft troubleshooter. Boot Windows in Safe Mode. Roll back time with System Restore. Manually delete Windows Update cache files. Perform a full virus scan.