Like any complex piece of software, Windows 10 and its installation process is vulnerable to mistakes, glitches, and hardware errors. That being the case, here are some of the most commonly-encountered problems that arise when installing or upgrading to the new version of Windows. If you have Windows 10 installation problems, you’ve come to the right place.

Side note: If the latest version of Windows 10 is experiencing widespread problems, you may also want to wait before updating. TheApril 2018 updatealone had the potential towipe all the datafrom your desktop or break Chrome, and theOctober 2018 updatehad its share of problems, leading to recalls and delays.

Now, people are struggling with the latest 2020 updates and some severe problems the new versions of Windows are causing. Not an ideal outcome! Here’s how to make it better.

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes a troubleshooter that can automatically detect andtry to fix problems with updatesand patches. If the problem isn’t apparent and you aren’t sure what to do next, try running this troubleshooter. It doesn’t always find a solution, but it’s an excellent place to start.

Step 1: Head to your search box and type inTroubleshoot. Select theTroubleshoot Settingsoption that awaits inSystem Settings.

Step 2: A new troubleshooting window will open. In the first section, calledGet Up and Running, you should see an option forWindows Update. Select it.

Step 3: A new button should now appear that saysRun the Troubleshooter. Select it to start the troubleshooter and see how it can help automatically.

Step 4: A new troubleshooter window will now open as Windows 10 scans for any problems. If it finds any issues — and it will look for everything from missing updates to corrupted files — then it will notify you and ask if you want toApply This FixorSkip This Fix. Since you are trying to fix your update, it’s a good idea always to choose theApplyoption here.

When finished, the troubleshooter will give you a list of any problems found and fixed, at which point you may selectCloseto end the process. If the troubleshooter did find and fix important issues, you should now try your update process again.

Low disk space

Windows 10 requires quite a bit of free disk space on your hard or solid-state drive to install. The 32-bit version of the operating system — used mostly on tablets and less expensive laptops at this point — needs 16GB of free space; the 64-bit version needs 20 GB. If you’re installing from a file stored on your PC withthe Microsoft upgrade tool, you’ll need an additional 2GB to 4 GB just for the installation files.Windows 10 will also reserve 7 GB of spaceto help make sure there’s enough for most installs.

If you have a full storage drive or not much room to begin with, you’ll need to make some room. The quickest way to do this is to uninstall space-hogging programs. Robust 3D games and complex packages like Adobe Creative Suite take up gigabytes of space. Uninstall them, and be sure to back up any save files or settings. Don’t worry; you can reinstall them from the installation discs or with a download once Windows 10 installs.

Should you still need more space, it’s recommended you remove files in the following order: Video files, audio files, and images of all kinds, then documents and other files. Check out our guide onhow to clean your hard drivefor more information. Anexternal USB hard driveis the quickest and easiest way to accomplish this — simply save any files you can’t delete to the external media, and they’ll be easy to restore once you’ve installed Windows 10.

Afterward, empty the recycle bin to clear the deleted files, or run a program likeCCleanerto clear out your browser caches, logs, and other things that take up storage space. You also can try the built-in disk cleanup tool in Windows 10 as an alternative.

To check your progress, click theStartbutton, type, “This PC,” and click the result. The drive labeled Windows is what Windows 10 will install — make sure you’ve got at least 20 GB free just to be safe.

ISO image issues

If you’ve used the Microsoft Media Creation tool to burn a disc or create a bootable USB drive to install Windows 10, the media itself may be damaged or corrupt. This corruption will result in a failed or damaged installation. Sadly, it’s extremely difficult or impossible to modify the files once written to the disc or drive. You’ll need to rerun the tool to install Windows 10, which may necessitate access to another laptop or installing your older version of Windows again.

If you continue to experience problems after creating multiple installation media and trying to install Windows 10 more than once, you may have a persistent hardware problem. The CD/DVD burner or the USB drive you’re using may be faulty. If possible, try using a different USB drive or an external disc burner.

Thankfully, you might be able to just installWindows 10 from an ISO image, which you’re able to grabherefor free. Fire it up, follow the prompts, and it’ll tell you if you’ll be able to install your new OS without the use of external media like flash drives and discs.

Error codes

Sometimes during the Windows installation process, the program will stop and display an error code. There are hundreds of possible error codes and at least as many potential problems. The best thing to do in this situation is to write down the code — you may not be able to copy it from the display screen — and search the internet for the core problem and, hopefully, a solution.

Here are some of the steps you can take if there’s no reliable information for your specific code:

Microsoft also offers alist of potential Windows 10 installation error codesand what they mean.

Incompatible hardware

Windows 10 runs on a variety of hardware, including Atom-based tablets and other low-power systems, but it does have minimum requirements. If your computer has a processor with a speed of less than 1 GHz — or RAM totaling less than 1 GB for the32-bit versionor 2 GB for the 64-bit version — the setup wizard will not allow you to complete the installation. Desktop users can often upgrade their RAM or processor, but laptop users who don’t meet the minimum requirements are probably out of luck.

We provide you withour guide to all things memory, which you can consult to get an idea of the necessary amount of RAM you require.

Rolling back an update

PC updates are supposed to keep your PC functioning as well as possible, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes certain updates impede functioning instead of improving it, in which case you’ll want to undo the update by wiping it from your system. Unfortunately, your only option might be using an older version of Windows until an update delivers improved functionality. A good example of this is the March 2020 Windows 10 update, which caused problems from blue screens to login and audio loss issues. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Enter “Settings” in the search box, and select theSettingsoption that appears in the results. Then, selectUpdate & Security.

Step 2: From the left menu, selectWindows Update, thenView Update History. You will then see a display of all the recent updates to your system. You will also see that you have a choice to uninstall updates. Simply click on theUninstalloption.

Step 3: Select the most recent update from the options that appear, and clickUninstallto begin the process. Before clicking on the first update you see, we recommend investigating your updates to see which one is the source of the issues you’re experiencing.

Updates could be the root of your problems. However, sometimes you may find that uninstalling the problematic update doesn’t eliminate the issues. Some Windows 10 2020 update errors, such as loss of audio, persisted even after uninstalling the update. When you cannot resolve your update errors by simply uninstalling those updates, you will have totroubleshoot more deeply.