Error code 0x80070002 -0x20007, the installation failed in the safe_os phase with an error during INSTALL_DRIVERS operation. how to fix this?

I have found the Solution for Windows 11 installation failed error 0x80070002 -0x20007 !!! It is basically a problem of driver failing to install itself on Windows 11. In my case it was the driver for Western Digital Passport external hard drive driver.Now, the question arises how I came to know which driver to delete? I searched online for a few days to find that I can learn about it in the Windows logs. They are a bit difficult to access, but you can do it.First, you need to go to folder options of Windows explorer and allow windows to show hidden files and system files. Then you have to go to "$Windows.~BT\Sources\Panther" and you have to find a file named "setupact.log"Now it would be a big-**bleep** log file which you need to open up (it took around 1 minute to open completely). Go to the bottom of the log file to see which driver forced the installation to fail. For me it was a driver from a folder named "system32\driverstore\ WDSCAMxAMD64\wdscam.ini" or something like that.Now all I did was to go to system32\driverstore and find the folder in which the cursed WD drivers were kept, and delete the folder permanently.For others, the driver could have a name like PeePoo.ini or something; you can always google that stuff to see which company makes those drivers. Remember to look for paths of corrupt drivers at the bottom of the log.But I faced a problem, that I could not delete the file because it was owned by the system. So you will have to right-click the folder and click security and then edit the settings to make yourself the owner, and give yourself full control of the bad boy. (You can see a video on YouTube for a detailed method to delete system folders.)Lo and behold! My Windows 11 installed finally after weeks.

rcurci2 Ok you follow these steps 1) go to system32\driverstore\filerepository to find the folder with the naughty drivers.2) right click to show Security tab3) click on Edit4)then select EVERYONE5) then, in the bottom part of the window, select the checkbox for full control.6) Now try to delete or move the folder to somewhere else.7) restart your computer8)Now run the downloaded Windows 11 ISO setup. (allow it to update and everything) After this step, the Windows 11 installed smoothly for me!

mstrada If you read my original comment, you will know how to know the identity of the driver and the folder in which its located. In short, you have to access a log file located in "$Windows.~BT\Sources\Panther". You will have to go to Windows explorer's view settings, to allow hidden items to be shown, in order to access this directory. Under this directory, you will have to open the file name setupact.log.Now here is the slightly tricky part:1) You will have to open the log file with notepad.2) Wait for the note pad to completely load the log file, as it can be large in size. (In my case it was around 50MBs.3) Now the relevant information regarding drivers that are causing Windows 11 installation to fail, are located at the bottom of the log file. In order to directly jump to the end, press the CTRL key and then press the END key. 4) Now you should start reading the log file from the bottom up. Keep reading every line for 5 to 10 minutes, until where you start to see Windows errors 0x80070002 -0x20007 alongside of some driver paths. In my case, the driver folder was something like System32\driverstore\filerepository\WDScamxAMD64\wdscam64.sys or something similar 5) now the moment I saw the line in the log that mentioned WDscam, I knew it had something to do with the Western digital and their crap software.6) You dont necessarily need to know the origin of the driver, because your mission is to just delete the folder you just discovered in the log file.7)Just go to the System32\driverstore\filerepository, and find the folder, and delete it. 😎 Remember, you won't be able to delete the file easily as it is a system file. For that purpose, you can refer to my original comment, on how to gain full access to system folders.9) Your windows 11 should now install easily.10) if it fails with the same error, repeat the process, because there might be some other bad driver in conflict with Windows 11.

I Just received the same error:We couldn't install Windows 11We've set your PC back to the way it was right before you started installing Windows 11.0x80070002-0x20007The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during INSTALL_DRIVERS operationThe failing driver for me was: RealtekService.infYour solution worked for me,Thanks

Windows 11 installation error | Microsoft Community Hub

36 Replies

MichaelMiller
Iron Contributor
Apr 17, 2025
This error indicates the current hardware doesn't meet Windows 11 system requirements. You have to recreate the Windows 11 bootable drive and bypass Windows 11 system checks.
In fact, you can install Windows 11 on any PC with this trick:
https://www.reddiite.com/windows-11-installation-error
- RRB
  Copper Contributor
  Apr 26, 2025
  Thank you for your answer, but I think my system meets or excedes required specks, It came with Win 11 installed, I'm just trying to install the latest update from Microsoft...
Bonniewest
Iron Contributor
Jan 15, 2025
Make sure you have enough disk space on the drive where you’re attempting to install Windows 11. At least 20% of free space is recommended. If space is low, consider deleting unnecessary files or moving them to an external drive.
youaremine
Copper Contributor
Oct 10, 2021
I have found the Solution for Windows 11 installation failed error 0x80070002 -0x20007 !!! It is basically a problem of driver failing to install itself on Windows 11. In my case it was the driver for Western Digital Passport external hard drive driver.

Now, the question arises how I came to know which driver to delete? I searched online for a few days to find that I can learn about it in the Windows logs. They are a bit difficult to access, but you can do it.

First, you need to go to folder options of Windows explorer and allow windows to show hidden files and system files. Then you have to go to "$Windows.~BT\Sources\Panther" and you have to find a file named "setupact.log"

Now it would be a big-**bleep** log file which you need to open up (it took around 1 minute to open completely). Go to the bottom of the log file to see which driver forced the installation to fail. For me it was a driver from a folder named "system32\driverstore\ WDSCAMxAMD64\wdscam.ini" or something like that.

Now all I did was to go to system32\driverstore and find the folder in which the cursed WD drivers were kept, and delete the folder permanently.

For others, the driver could have a name like PeePoo.ini or something; you can always google that stuff to see which company makes those drivers. Remember to look for paths of corrupt drivers at the bottom of the log.

But I faced a problem, that I could not delete the file because it was owned by the system. So you will have to right-click the folder and click security and then edit the settings to make yourself the owner, and give yourself full control of the bad boy. (You can see a video on YouTube for a detailed method to delete system folders.)

Lo and behold! My Windows 11 installed finally after weeks.
- RRB
  Copper Contributor
  Apr 28, 2025
  asking for a favor, please.
  I found my setupact.log/ but I don't know what I'm looking for regarding a driver error. Thanks in advance
  RRB
  - Msmith2021
    Copper Contributor
    May 06, 2025
    It's in chronological order. Open the file in Notepad and scroll allllll the way to the bottom, then just work your way up until you find things that look like error messages, and what drivers they mention.
- Maojuuu
  Copper Contributor
  Apr 16, 2025
  How did you find out which driver forced the installation to fail?🤯
  - Msmith2021
    Copper Contributor
    Apr 16, 2025
    Scroll all the way to the bottom of the 'Panther' file mentioned above, "setupact.log" and scroll up. It's a huge file, may take a minute to get to the bottom. Then read it in reverse-chronological order until you see stuff that looks like error messages.
- veixl
  Copper Contributor
  Mar 06, 2025
  i have the setupact.log file open and it goes back to March 3rd 2025 (3 days ago), however, updates were unsuccessful today too.
Deleted
Oct 07, 2021
Srini4594 Hi.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=0x80070002+-0x20007&qpvt=0x80070002+-0x20007&view=detail&mid=FA67CC7AA012B72AE3EFFA67CC7AA012B72AE3EF&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D0x80070002%2B-0x20007%26qpvt%3D0x80070002%2B-0x20007%26FORM%3DVDRE
LCFarsoni
Copper Contributor
Oct 07, 2021
I have an installation error also, Srini4594
It says my computer (a brand new Microsoft Surface Studio 2) is not compatible, due to my processor [Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7820HQ CPU @ 2.90GHz 2.90 GHz] when the requirement indicates 1GHz...
- King_Marqy
  Copper Contributor
  Dec 30, 2021
  I thought there is a list of supported CPU's somewhere.
  But if you want to do a clean install download the Win 11 ISO and the latest version of Rufus. Rufus has the function of removing the TMP2.0 and CPU check. So you will be able (although you might run into some problems) to install it (i've done it on a 21.5 inch iMac with non supported CPU from 2015)
RobertSimon
Copper Contributor
Oct 06, 2021
Same here: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Alpha, Intel Core i7-10510U - 12GB Memory - 512GB SSD, tried the downloadable update 3 times, then update from USB, didnt work.
- King_Marqy
  Copper Contributor
  Oct 06, 2021
  Syncing Time, checking system files, removing update-files doesn't work. Same error on my Dell XPS laptop.
  Tried updating a Dell Vostro 14, CPU not supported, tried HP Envy (2016), CPU not supported....
  
  Terrible... Why does the message about not supported CPU show up if the process has been running for about 15-30 minutes. Why not at the start? I'm going to see if I can edit the installer so that I can try to install it anyway. Unknown why these CPU's aren't supported...
  
  Seems that MS 'forces' a lot of people to buy new hardware just because of this upgrade...
  - mstrada
    Copper Contributor
    Oct 06, 2021
    HP spectre laptop, get 0x80070002 0x20007 safe_os install drivers every time i try to upgrade to windows 11.
WSoet
Copper Contributor
Oct 06, 2021
Same here
- King_Marqy
  Copper Contributor
  Oct 06, 2021
  Same here. Dell Laptop Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H CPU @ 2.20GHz 2.21 GHz
  Dutch Windows 11 version. Great Microsoft, the second PC i'm trying (first PC didn't have a supported CPU) and it doesn't work.... Going to look at it....

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Windows 11 installation error

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