Windows setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer’s hardware

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

Windows setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer’s hardware” is an error message that may occur during Windows 11 or Windows 10 installation or update, which interrupts the process midway.

What could cause the error?

There could be several reasons for this error, including corrupted installation files (particularly during a significant Windows update), issues with Windows Update services, Windows activation errors (if you’re installing Windows), errors in the OS system files, or conflicts between existing software.

To resolve this error, we have compiled a list of applicable solutions sorted by their importance. You do not need to execute all of them, but you can work your way down the list until a solution works for you.

If you see the error during Windows 11 or 10 installation

If you encounter the problem during Windows update, skip this fix. If you were installing Windows 10/11 and the error occurred, try the following steps:

On the exact screen where the error was shown, press Shift + F10 keys to open the command prompt directly from the screen. In the command prompt, enter the following two lines. Press the Enter key after each line.

CD C:\windows\system32\oobe
msoobe

The installation should now resume, and you can complete any necessary prompts.

Check your hard disk status

If you suspect that your hard disk or its storage controller driver is causing the error, search for and download the appropriate drivers for your hard disk drive from Intel’s website on another computer with internet access. Burn the drivers to a CD or USB flash drive and run them during the setup.

If you have no access to the internet at the moment or you simply do not know what that driver is about or how to find it, try to install Windows onto another hard drive and see if the “Windows setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer’s hardware” problem persists.

If you encounter the error during Windows Update

The first thing to try is, of course, to restart your PC and re-run Windows Update. It could be that some of the installation files it downloaded earlier were corrupted or missing. Before you re-run Windows Update, go to this folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and move all the files to another folder (anywhere you like).

These are the installation files Windows Update had downloaded and is prepared to be installed. You can straight away delete them, but we encourage you to just move them to another location just in case you need them again later, you can still retrieve them.

windows update download location

Generally, after removing the files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, Windows will re-download whatever it must when you run Windows Update again. So, try this and see if the problem can be fixed. If the same error shows up again, follow the next solution.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

The troubleshooters in Windows 11 and 10 have always been a hidden tool that most people neglect when they encounter a problem. For most Windows-related problems you encounter, the very first thing you should do is to run the troubleshooter for the problem area to see if it can resolve the issue automatically.

In this case, we should run Windows Update troubleshooter first. Follow these steps to do so:

  1. Go to the Start menu or Windows Search.
  2. Click on Settings, or search for “settings” and open it.How to open windows 10 settings
  3. Select Update & Security.Settings Update and security in Windows 10
  4. From the left pane, select Troubleshoot.
  5. Select Windows Update, then click Run the troubleshooter.Windows setup could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware
  6. Wait for the process to complete. Run Windows Update again when it’s completed.Troubleshoot Windows Update detecting problems

Run DISM and SFC System file check

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a Windows built-in tool that automatically troubleshoots and fixes problems such as Windows Update issues. Meanwhile, SFC (System File Checker) is a tool that automatically scans and repairs missing or corrupted system files in the Windows OS. Both tools must be executed in the Command Prompt with administrative privileges. In our case, we will run SFC first and then DISM.

  1. Go to Windows Search.
  2. Search for cmd.
  3. Right-click command prompt from the search result, and select Run as administrator.
  4. In the command prompt, enter the following commands.
sfc /scannow

SFC scannow Windows 11

The process may take a while. When it’s completed, enter the following command to run the DISM check. Press the Enter key after each line of command:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Run DISM Windows 11

When both commands are executed, and their process completed, run Windows Update again. If the same error appears again, try the next solution.

Install the latest update via Update Assistant or Media Creation Tool

Windows Update can be installed via several other methods, such as using the update assistant or media creation tool. For major updates like the Windows April Update, we always recommend manually updating using the two mentioned tools.

Windows Update Assistant

To run Windows Update Assistant, go to this page and download it. Run the tool, and it should automatically detect what is needed to be updated. Follow the on-screen instructions for the rest of the procedure.

To run the media creation tool, go to the same Microsoft’s page. Scroll down until you see media creation tool. Download and run the media creation tool. Select Upgrade this PC now. It should start the update right away.


Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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