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TeagueFrost's avatar
TeagueFrost
Iron Contributor
Apr 08, 2025

We couldn't install Windows 11 from 23H2 to 24H2

Hi all,

My laptop is currently running Windows 11 23H2 and I am going to upgrade Windows 11 to 24H2. I came across this error when running the setup.exe from mounted 24H2 ISO image:

We couldn't install Windows 11

We have set your PC back to the way it was right before you started installing Windows 11.

Ox C1900101 - 0x30018
The installation failed in the FIRST_BOOT phase with an error during SYSPREP_SPECIALIZE operation

I don't know why this happens and need to fix "We couldn't install Windows 11" issue on my laptop. How can I solve this so I can install Windows 11 24H2 update on my computer?

7 Replies

  • It means this computer doesn't meet the system requirements of Windows 11 24H2. You can apply some tricks to let the installation wizard bypass the system check. Here is an amazing tutorial to let you install Windows 11 24H2 on any PC:

    https://www.microonn.com/fix-we-couldnt-install-windows-11

     

  • QuinnBailey's avatar
    QuinnBailey
    Iron Contributor

    "We couldn't install Windows 11" When you hit that error, it can be frustrating. It means you’re stuck in limbo, unable to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. This can be a bummer for a few reasons. While Windows 10 will still get updates for a while, it’s not going to last forever. At some point, you'll have to upgrade, or you’ll be left with outdated security patches and features, which isn’t fun—nobody wants to be sitting ducks for hackers! Sometimes, older hardware that isn’t compatible with Windows 11 can lead to a sluggish experience. So if you’re working with an older PC and can’t upgrade, you may find it running even slower over time.

    Honestly, getting that error can just be plain annoying. It’s like trying to jump onto a party bus and getting turned away at the door. You’ll be left feeling frustrated and out of the loop, while your friends (or in this case, other users) are having a good time with the latest OS.

    In my own experience, I ran into this "We couldn't install Windows 11" error when I tried upgrading. It felt like I was in a tech purgatory—looking at the new features from afar but unable to enjoy them! But after using the MediaCreationTool trick, I was finally in! Once I had it all set up, I felt like I’d just stepped into a whole new world. My system felt snappier, and I could finally enjoy the added features.

  • AsherReed's avatar
    AsherReed
    Iron Contributor

    If you get this "We couldn't install Windows 11 from 23H2 to 24H2" issues, there are a bunch of downsides that can really slow you down. Let me lay it out for you based on what I’ve seen and experienced.

    First off, you're totally missing out on the fresh vibe it brings. Windows 11 has a sleek design and a centered Start menu that feels more modern. If you’re stuck with an older version, it’s like still using a vintage phone while everyone else is vibing on the latest smartphone. You know what I mean? 

    Also, let’s chat about performance. Windows 11 is designed to run faster and more efficiently, especially for gamers. If you can’t install it, you might be left playing your favorite games with lower frame rates and longer load times. It’s like trying to run a marathon in a pair of heavy boots. Not exactly ideal!

    Security is another biggie. Windows 11 comes packing some serious security features that help keep your stuff safe, like that TPM 2.0 thingy. If you’re on an older version, you might be leaving yourself open to threats. It's like leaving your front door wide open while you go for a walk; it’s just asking for trouble.

    Then there’s the software front. As time goes on, new applications are likely going to be designed with Windows 11 in mind. So, if you can’t install it, you might end up missing out on the latest and greatest tools. Imagine all those shiny new apps dropping and you’re just sitting there with the old stuff—definitely not a vibe.

  • AsherReed's avatar
    AsherReed
    Iron Contributor

    "We couldn't install Windows 11" The error code 0xC1900101 - 0x30018 typically indicates a problem during the upgrade process related to drivers or hardware incompatibilities. This can happen during the first boot phase, particularly in the SYSPREP_SPECIALIZE operation, and it often relates to specific drivers or services that are interfering with the installation process. Here’s a series of troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve this issue and successfully upgrade to Windows 11 24H2:

    1. Perform a clean boot to load Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help avoid conflicts:

    • Type msconfig in the Run dialog (Win + R) and hit Enter.
    • Under the Services tab, check "Hide all Microsoft services" and then click "Disable all".
    • Go to the Startup tab and click "Open Task Manager". Disable all items there.
    • Reboot your PC.

     

    2. Run the built-in Windows utility to check the disk for issues:

    • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    • Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter. It may prompt you to schedule a check on reboot if the volume is in use.

     

    3. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update and run the troubleshooter.
    4. If all else fails, consider performing an in-place upgrade using the Windows 11 installation media with the "Keep personal files and apps" option:

    • Create a Windows 11 installation USB or DVD using the Media Creation Tool.
    • Boot from the USB/DVD and start the setup, choose to keep your files, and follow the prompts.
  • DaxtonRiver's avatar
    DaxtonRiver
    Iron Contributor

    During the installation of Windows 11, if you have encountered the problem of not being able to install it, you can try DISM and SFC, which are both built-in in the system and do not require you to download and install them additionally, which is very convenient. You just need to enter some commands to use them, and I will tell you step by step how to do it, so that you can use them to solve the problem of "We couldn't install Windows 11".

    Step 1: Press Windows key + S, type cmd right click on the command prompt and select Run as administrator, a black window will pop up.

    Step 2: Run DISM command: Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. wait for 5-15 minutes, the tool will download and repair the corrupted system image from Microsoft server.
    When it is done, the screen displays “Operation completed successfully”.

    Step 3: Run SFC command: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. wait for 5-10 minutes, the tool will scan and repair the system files, when it finishes, the screen displays "Windows Resource Conservation has repaired the files or no integrity issues were found".

    Step 4: Type shutdown /r and press Enter to reboot the computer.

    Step 5: After reboot, run Windows 11 installer or check for updates via Settings > Windows.

    If We couldn't install Windows 11 24H2, then we can use the above tool to fix it.

  • HunterOrion's avatar
    HunterOrion
    Iron Contributor

    I've encountered this problem before, and I've asked a lot of people and visited a lot of communities to find a solution to it. I found MediaCreationTool, which is a completely free tool from Microsoft that you need to download from the official website. It can be used to create installation media for Windows 11, with the help of which you can bypass the problem of failed online updates and install it directly. There are three choices of installation media: USB flash drive, ISO file and DVD, I chose to use USB flash drive.

    How to fix "We couldn't install Windows 11" problem

    1. After the download is complete, press Windows + E to open File Explorer, enter the download folder and double-click MediaCreationToolW11.exe, the license agreement will pop up.
    2. Click Accept.
    3. In the interface of selecting the media to be used, select the USB flash drive and click Next.
      Insert the USB flash drive into your computer's USB port and MediaCreationToolW11.exe will start downloading the Windows 11 file.
    4. When the download is complete, the file will be written to the USB flash drive automatically.
    5. Restart the computer, press F2/F12/Del to enter the BIOS, set the USB flash drive as the preferred boot item, save and exit.
    6. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.

    After the installation is complete, the system automatically restarts and enters the Windows 11 setup interface. You won't see the error (We couldn't install Windows 11) anymore!

  • BaylorFox's avatar
    BaylorFox
    Iron Contributor

    To update Windows 11, you have to fulfill some hardware requirements. If the hardware is fine, you can use the tool WhyNotWin11. It's a completely free and open source online tool for fixing "We couldn't install Windows 11" error. This tool is mainly used to check if the hardware meets the requirements of Windows 11, and it also gives detailed reasons for failed downloads. The download process can be a bit tedious, but I'll walk you through the steps to download and use it.

    1. At the top of the page, find the "Release" option and click on it, then find the file WhyNotWin11.exe under "Latest Version". Click “Download” and wait for the download to complete. 

    2. Once the download is complete, press the Windows key and the E key at the same time to open File Explorer and go to the Downloads folder. 

    3. Double-click WhyNotWin11.exe in the folder, a security warning window will pop up, click "More Info" and then "Still Need" to run the program. 

    4. After the program runs, it will automatically scan for hardware and display a list with green markings indicating that the hardware passed the test and red indicating incompatibility. Adjust the program according to the items marked in red, and if the hardware does not support it, consider upgrading the device.

    5. Once all the adjustments are done, press the Windows key and the R key at the same time, type shutdown /r in the Run box that pops up, press Enter to restart your computer, and then you can run the Windows 11 installer again.

    By following the steps in above, you can easily fix We couldn't install Windows 11 issue when updating from Windows 11 23H2 to 24H2.

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