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Windows Setup was unable to configure Windows to work with this computer's hardware. Windows Setup was unable to configure Windows to work with this computer's hardware Vista could not complete the installation process

One of the common problems of Windows 10 users is the message “We were unable to set up Windows updates. Reverting changes in progress" or "We were unable to complete the updates. Cancel changes. Do not turn off the computer" after restarting the computer to complete the installation of updates.

This manual details how to fix the error and install updates in this situation in various ways. If you have already tried a lot, for example, methods related to cleaning the SoftwareDistribution folder or diagnosing problems with Windows 10 Update, below in the guide you can find additional, few described solutions to the problem.

Note: If you see the message "We were unable to complete the updates. Cancel changes. Do not turn off the computer" and watch it at the present time, while the computer restarts and shows the same error again and do not know what to do - do not panic, but wait: perhaps this is a normal cancellation of updates, which can occur with several reboots and even several hours, especially on laptops with slow hdd. You will most likely end up in Windows 10 with the changes undone.

Clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder (Windows 10 update cache)

All Windows 10 updates are downloaded to a folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and in most cases clearing this folder or renaming the folder Software Distribution(so that the OS creates a new one and downloads updates) allows you to fix the error in question.

Two scenarios are possible: after reverting the changes, the system boots normally, or the computer restarts endlessly, and you keep seeing a message that Windows 10 updates could not be configured or completed.

In the first case, the steps to solve the problem will be as follows:

In the second case, when the computer or laptop constantly restarts and the undo changes are not completed, you can do the following:

After that, you can go to Settings - Update & Security and check if the updates download and install without errors. If Windows 10 updates without reporting that updates could not be configured or completed, go to the folder C:\Windows and delete the folder SoftwareDistribution.old from there.

Troubleshooting Windows 10 Update

Windows 10 has built-in diagnostic tools to fix update problems. Just like in the previous case, two situations can occur: the system boots or Windows 10 constantly reboots, all the time reporting that the update setup could not be completed.

In the first case, follow these steps:

The second situation is more difficult:

Follow steps 1-3 from the section on clearing the update cache (get to the command line in the recovery environment launched from a bootable flash drive or disk).
bcdedit /set (default) safeboot minimal
Reboot your computer from your hard drive. Safe Mode should open.
In safe mode, at the command prompt, enter the following commands in order (each of them will run the troubleshooter, go through one first, then the second).
msdt /id BitsDiagnostic
msdt /id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic
Disable safe mode with the command: bcdedit /deletevalue (default) safeboot
Restart your computer.

Perhaps this will work. But, if the second scenario (cyclic reboot) has not been able to fix the problem by now, then you will probably have to use a Windows 10 reset (this can be done with saving data by booting from a bootable flash drive or disk).

Failed to complete Windows 10 updates due to duplicate user profiles

Another, little described cause of the problem “Failed to complete updates. Cancel changes. Do not turn off the computer" in Windows 10 - problems with user profiles. How to fix it (important: what is below is under your own responsibility, you can potentially spoil something):

After the procedure is complete, restart your computer and try installing Windows 10 updates again.

Additional ways to fix the error

If all the suggested solutions to the problem of reverting changes due to the fact that it was not possible to configure or complete Windows 10 updates were not successful, there are not many options left:

Run an integrity check on Windows 10 system files.
Try to clean boot Windows 10, remove content SoftwareDistribution\Download, download the updates again and start installing them.
Remove third-party antivirus, restart the computer (necessary for the removal to complete), install updates.
Try a long way to restore the original state of Windows Update components, described on the official Microsoft website

And finally, in the event that nothing helps, perhaps the best option is to perform an automatic reinstallation of Windows 10 (reset) with the preservation of data.

Some Windows users like to reinstall the operating system when they are unable to cope with the situation and find a solution to the problem on their own. For example, if an attempt to deploy an update fails, resulting in the computer going into reboot loop mode, followed by the messages “We were unable to configure Windows updates. Reverting changes in progress" or "We were unable to complete the updates. Cancel changes. Don't turn off your computer." The legs of one and the other have been growing since Windows 7 and they still won’t be chopped off in the top ten. But it is still possible to defeat them, and for this it is not at all necessary to demolish the system and reinstall it. It is enough to read this instruction, which describes what needs to be done if the OS was unable to install the Windows 10 update.

Cleaning up the SoftwareDistribution folder with Windows 10 updates

Before installing updates, the system downloads them to a separate directory. In most cases, cleaning or moving it helps to overcome the mentioned errors. You can do this both from under the system (if you have access to it), or using a USB drive with files for installing Windows 10.

Clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder in

This method is suitable if you managed to log in.

Using a bootable Windows 10 flash drive to clean up SoftwareDistribution

If you can't get into the system, then you'll have to use the file drive to install the operating system to clear the folder. there are several ways, but one way or another, you will need a second computer with a stable operating system.

After creating the boot drive, do the following:

Fixing Failed to Complete Windows Update with Update Center Diagnostics

As you may know, Windows has its own set of diagnostic and troubleshooting tools. Surely you often stumbled upon it, but never used it. Now you have a great opportunity to use it to solve the problem.

If you are unable to get into the system, then you should try another option.

Removing a Duplicate Profile to Fix Failed to Complete Windows Updates Error

In some cases, the Windows 10 update installation process may fail due to a duplicate user account. The registry editor will help you fix this problem. Be careful and do not touch anything superfluous so as not to harm the system.

If there is no change for the better after applying all the methods described, you can try saving the data.

You are trying to install an update on Windows 10, but a notification is displayed that it cannot be completed, after the system starts to undo the changes. Learn more about how to fix this error.

Errors that installation fails to complete are not new to users. Many have encountered an error in Windows 7 in which the system notifies that updates could not be completed, and then the process of reverting the changes starts. Since some time, more and more users are seeing this problem in Windows 10.

The system downloads updates correctly and displays information that they are ready to be installed. If you ignore the installation, then after a while the OS itself will “throw out” a notification that Windows should be updated, prompting you to restart the computer to complete the operation.

And here the problem begins. The update theoretically installs, but at some point a warning about a possible failure occurs. The notification “We were unable to complete the updates” appears, and the screen below shows “Reverting changes” - Windows 10 begins the uninstall procedure and rolls back the system to the state before it was installed. And so again and again, with each attempt to update the OS. How to fix?

Method number 1. Windows Update Troubleshooter

To get started, you can use the Windows 10 Automatic Troubleshooter. This is an official tool that can be downloaded from the Microsoft website. The utility diagnoses the system area for faults in it, and then tries to solve them with basic methods. It may be more or less effective, depending on the problem, but it's always worth giving this program a try when we start troubleshooting.

Download Troubleshooter

Once downloaded, launch the utility and follow the instructions on the screen. The program will automatically search for problems and then try to fix them.

If a notification is displayed that "" is restored, you can try updating the system.

Method number 2. Clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder

The SoftwareDistribution folder contains the update installers. The problem may be due to the fact that they are damaged or compatibility errors. Therefore, it is worth deleting the contents of this folder and restarting the service.

To be able to do this, you should temporarily stop the service, otherwise the deletion of files will be blocked.

Press the key combination Win + R and enter the command:

Find the service in the list, right-click on it and select Stop. The service will be suspended.

Again, simultaneously press the Win + R keys, enter the path to the directory below and press Enter:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

You need to delete all the contents of the SoftwareDistribution directory - it should remain empty.

After deleting all files from the folder, open the list of services again (enter the command "services.msc" in the run window), find, right-click on it and select "Run".

Now try updating the system.

In the first case, follow these steps:

The second situation is more difficult:

Follow steps 1-3 from the section on clearing the update cache (get to the command line in the recovery environment launched from a bootable flash drive or disk).
bcdedit /set (default) safeboot minimal
Reboot your computer from your hard drive. Safe Mode should open.
In safe mode, at the command prompt, enter the following commands in order (each of them will run the troubleshooter, go through one first, then the second).
msdt /id BitsDiagnostic
msdt /id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic
Disable safe mode with the command: bcdedit /deletevalue (default) safeboot
Restart your computer.

Failed to complete Windows 10 updates due to duplicate user profiles

After the procedure is complete, restart your computer and try installing Windows 10 updates again.

Additional ways to fix the error

Try , remove content SoftwareDistribution\Download, download the updates again and start installing them.
Remove third-party antivirus, restart the computer (necessary for the removal to complete), install updates.
Perhaps useful information can be found in a separate article:.
Try a long way to restore the original state of Windows Update components, described on the official Microsoft website

And finally, in the case when nothing helps, perhaps the best option becomes.