Microsoft has claimed that Windows 10 is now running on more than 14 million devices already. While for many the upgrade to windows 10 may been a smooth affair, many may have faced issues during upgrade, install or even while activating the Windows. This article aims to compile all thecommon errors being faced by users while upgrading, installing and activating Windows 10 on their devices, their cause and possible fixes.
Windows 10 upgrade and installation errors & their fixes:
The table on this page lists the most common upgrade and installation errors, and a few things you can try to fix the problems. If you continue having problems upgrading or installing Windows 10, contact Microsoft support.
| Error | What it means and how to fix it |
|---|---|
Code 0x80073712
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This error might mean that a file needed by Windows Update is damaged or missing.
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Code 0x800F0923
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This error might mean that a driver or other software on your PC isn’t compatible with the upgrade to Windows 10. For info about how to fix this problem, contact Microsoft support.
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Code 0x80200056
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This error might mean that the upgrade process was interrupted because you accidentally restarted your PC or signed out of your PC. Try upgrading again and make sure your PC is plugged in and stays turned on.
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Code 0x800F0922
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This error might mean that your PC couldn’t connect to the Windows Update servers. If you’re using a VPN connection to connect to a work network, disconnect from the network and turn off the VPN software (if applicable), and try upgrading again.
The error could also mean there isn’t enough free space in the System Reserved partition. You might be able to fix this problem by using third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition.
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Error: We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer.
Error: Failure configuring Windows Updates. Reverting changes.
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These are generic errors that might appear any time a Windows update fails. You’ll need to determine the specific error code to investigate how to best resolve this problem.
You can find the error code for the failed update by viewing your update history. Look for the update that wasn’t installed, note the error code, and then contact Microsoft support.
To view your update history in Windows 8.1:
To view your update history in Windows 7:
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Error: The update isn’t applicable to your computer.
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This error might mean that your PC doesn’t have the required updates installed. Check to make sure that all important updates are installed on your PC before you try upgrading.
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Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C
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This error might mean that an incompatible app installed on your PC is blocking the upgrade process from completing. Check to make sure that any incompatible apps are uninstalled and then try upgrading again.
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Code 0xC1900200 – 0x20008
Code 0xC1900202 – 0x20008
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This error might mean that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to download or install the upgrade to Windows 10.
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Code 0x80070070 – 0x50011
Code 0x80070070 – 0x50012
Code 0x80070070 – 0x60000
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This error might mean that your PC doesn’t have enough space available to install the upgrade. Free some space on the drive and try again.
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Windows 10 activation errors & their fixes:
| Activation error | What it means and how to fix it |
|---|---|
Windows 10 isn’t activated after upgrading for free from Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update
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If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free and ended up in a non-activated state, try following these steps:
This only applies if you haven’t made any hardware changes to your device.
If you don’t see the Go to Store button on the Activation page, contact your organization’s support person.
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Genuine Validation detected tampered Windows binaries. (Error code: 0xC004C4AE)
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You might see this error if you used a third-party app to add a display language that isn’t currently supported by Windows. To fix the problem, you can restore your PC to an earlier point in time to undo the changes that were made to Windows. For more info, see Recovery options in Windows 10.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, it’s possible that your copy of Windows isn’t valid and you’ll need to buy a new copy.
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The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations. (Error code: 0xC004F061)
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You might see this error if a previous version of Windows wasn’t installed on your PC before you tried using a product key to upgrade to Windows 10. In order to upgrade, you need to have Windows 8 or Windows 7 already on your PC. For more info, see Why can’t I activate Windows 10?
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A networking problem has occurred while activating your copy of Windows. (Error code: 0xC004FC03)
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You might see this error if you’re not connected to the Internet or your firewall settings are preventing Windows from completing the activation process online. Check to make sure you’re connected to the Internet and your firewall isn’t blocking Windows from activating. If you’re still having problems, you can try activating Windows by phone.
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The activation server reported that the product key has exceeded its unlock limit. (Error code: 0xC004C008)
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You might see this error if the product key has already been used on another PC, or it’s being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you’ll need to buy a product key for each one of your PCs to activate Windows on them.
You can buy a new product key from the Windows Store or a participating retailer. To buy a product key from the Store:
If you don’t see the Go to Store button on the Activation page, contact your organization’s support person.
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This product key didn’t work. (Error code: 0xC004C003)
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You might also see this error if you’re using an invalid product key. You’ll need to buy a new product key, or if you bought a PC with Windows preinstalled, contact the PC manufacturer for the original key.
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The activation server reported that the Multiple Activation Key has exceeded its limit. (Error code: 0xC004C020)
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This error occurs when a Volume License (a license that has been bought from Microsoft by a business to install Windows on multiple PCs) has been used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you might need to use a different product key to activate your PC. Contact your organization’s support person for more info.
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DNS name does not exist. (Error code: 0x8007232B)
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. (Error code: 0x8007007B)
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You might see this error if you’re trying to activate your work PC but aren’t connected to your workplace’s network. If you’re connected to your work network and still see this error, you might need to change your network settings. Contact your organization’s support person for more info.
If your organization doesn’t have a support person, you might need to enter your product key again. Follow these steps:
 You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice. |
A security error occurred. (Error code: 0x80072F8F)
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You might see this error if the PC’s date and time are incorrect or Windows is having trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.
To verify your PC’s date and time, follow these steps:
To check your Internet connection, follow these steps:
If the network troubleshooter didn’t find any problems with your network connection, try restarting your PC to see if that fixes the problem.
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The Software Licensing Service reported that the license evaluation failed. (Error code: 0xC004E003)
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You might see this error after installing third-party software that changed system files. Windows activation needs certain system files to complete activation. You can try to restore your PC’s system files back to an earlier point in time. This will remove any software you installed after that point in time without affecting your personal files. For more info, see the section about restoring from a system restore point in Recovery options in Windows 10.
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Unspecified error. (Error code: 0x80004005)
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If you see this error, go to Start
 , then select Settings > Update & security > Activation, and then select Activate Windows to try and manually activate Windows. If that doesn’t work, you might need to reset your PC. For more info, see Recovery options in Windows 10. |
