Microsoft has now released Windows 10 October 2018 Update and you can read all four ways in which you can install it on your PC. While for many the upgrade to windows 10 Fall Creators Update may have been a smooth affair, many may have faced issues during upgrade, install or even while activating the Windows.
This article aims to walk you through a guide to fix your Windows 10 Creators Update installation issues. It also compiles all the common 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 Issues & their fixes
In case you face issues while installing Creators Update, you can try the below step by step tutorial,
Here are some commonly seen error codes: 0x80073712, 0x800705B4, 0x80004005, 0x8024402F, 0x80070002, 0x80070643, 0x80070003, 0x8024200B, 0x80070422, 0x80070020. These steps should help with all errors and not just the ones listed.
First Step: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter:
- Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter, and then select Open or Save in the pop-up window.Note
If you select Save, you need to go to the folder where the troubleshooter is downloaded to after the download is complete, and then double-click the latestwu.diagcab file to run the troubleshooter.
- Select Next and follow the steps in the wizard to find and fix problems with Windows Update .
If your problem isn’t resolved by the Windows Update troubleshooter, try next step.
Second Step: Download the most recent KB
- Go to the Update history page.
- Find the most recent update KB for the version of Windows 10 you have – it’s usually at the top of the list – and either write the KB number down or copy it.
- Go to the Microsoft Update site and search for the KB number.
- Select the link for the download, and then choose Download. Select Save if you are prompted.
- When the download completes, select Open to start the update.
If your Creators Update installation issue still persists, try the next step which is bit advanced. So, you can take help from your friends too.
Advanced Step: Run DISM command
- Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, right click the Windows button, and then select Command Prompt (Admin). If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow or Yes.
- Type the following command, and then press Enter.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthNoteIt might take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.
ImportantWhen you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruption. However, if your Windows Update client is already broken, use a running Windows installation as the repair source, or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or from a removable media, such as the Windows DVD, as the source of the files. To do this, run the following command instead:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccessNoteReplace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair Windows, see Repair a Windows Image.
- Type the following command and press Enter.
sfc /scannowNoteIt might take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.
- Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.
Final Step:
If above three steps were not able to resolve your Windows Update issues, you may need to reinstall Windows or do a PC reset from options.
- Go to Settings—>Update & Security–> Recover and choose from options of two resets. Usually the “Keep My Files” option should be able to fix things for you and you don’t loose your data and files.
Common upgrade, installation, activation errors & their meaning
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 | This error might mean that a file needed by Windows Update is damaged or missing. |
Code 0x800F0923 | 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. |
Code 0x80200056 | 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. |
Code 0x800F0922 | 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. |
Error: We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer. Error: Failure configuring Windows Updates. Reverting changes. | 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:
|
Error: The update isn’t applicable to your computer. | 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. |
Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C | 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. |
Code 0xC1900200 – 0x20008 Code 0xC1900202 – 0x20008 | This error might mean that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to download or install the upgrade to Windows 10. |
Code 0x80070070 – 0x50011 Code 0x80070070 – 0x50012 Code 0x80070070 – 0x60000 | 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. |
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 | 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. |
Genuine Validation detected tampered Windows binaries. (Error code: 0xC004C4AE) | 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. |
The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations. (Error code: 0xC004F061) | 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? |
A networking problem has occurred while activating your copy of Windows. (Error code: 0xC004FC03) | 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. |
The activation server reported that the product key has exceeded its unlock limit. (Error code: 0xC004C008) | 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. |
This product key didn’t work. (Error code: 0xC004C003) | 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. |
The activation server reported that the Multiple Activation Key has exceeded its limit. (Error code: 0xC004C020) | 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. |
DNS name does not exist. (Error code: 0x8007232B) The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. (Error code: 0x8007007B) | 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:
|
A security error occurred. (Error code: 0x80072F8F) | 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. |
The Software Licensing Service reported that the license evaluation failed. (Error code: 0xC004E003) | 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. |
Unspecified error. (Error code: 0x80004005) | 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. |
You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice. 
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