The “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” message often signals issues with your system’s hard drive, partition structure, or installation media. Refer to the solutions below to restore a smooth Windows installation experience.
At times, users attempting a manual installation of Windows 10 may run into a frustrating interruption—an alert stating “The installation was canceled”.Alongside this message, a pop-up window often appears with a more specific error: “Windows could not update registry data in the installation.”
This issue isn’t rare. Consider this real-world case pulled from a Microsoft forum:
“I’m trying to install Build 10130x64 using an ISO CD created on a Windows 7 Pro laptop. The target system is a desktop with an Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2 motherboard and a 160GB SATA drive. I’ve tried five times—every single attempt ends with the same result: ‘The installation was canceled.’”
The root cause of this error usually ties back to corrupted or improperly created installation media, or sometimes a faulty hard drive.
If you’re stuck with this message and unsure what to do next, don’t worry. The following guide breaks down the most effective solutions to help you resolve the “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” error and get your system back on track.
If you’re encountering this issue, try working through the recommended solutions listed below in sequence. Each step is designed to address potential causes and may help you successfully complete the installation process.
Some users report seeing the “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” error while installing Windows using external installation media. This often points to a problem with the media itself—it may have been corrupted during creation or damaged afterward.
To resolve this, creating a new installation media from scratch is a smart first step. If you're installing Windows 10, it’s best to use the official Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to ensure a clean and error-free setup.
Step 1. Plug a USB flash drive into a working computer. Download and run the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official site.
Step 2. When the tool opens, select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC”, then click Next.
Step 3. Choose your language, edition, and architecture, then hit Next. Select USB flash drive as the media type, pick your prepared USB drive from the list, and proceed. The tool will begin creating a bootable Windows installation drive.
One potential solution to the “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” error is to convert your disk from MBR to GPT. This change can resolve compatibility issues during installation. You can do this using either Command Prompt or a dedicated partition management tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant.
This method is quick but comes with a major drawback—it erases all data on the selected disk.
Here’s how to convert an MBR disk to GPT using DiskPart:
Step 1. During the Windows setup process, press F8 to open the Command Prompt window.
Step 2. In the prompt, type diskpart and press Enter to launch the DiskPart utility.
Step 3. Then enter the following commands, one at a time, hitting Enter after each:
list disk
select disk 1 (1 = number of the MBR disk you want to convert)
clean
convert gpt
Once you see the message “DiskPart successfully converted the selected disk to GPT format,” the conversion is complete.
The clean command deletes all partitions and data on the disk. If you’ve accidentally cleaned the wrong drive, you may want to refer to recovery methods like “Undo DiskPart Clean Command” to restore your lost files.
If preserving your data is a priority, the safer alternative is using AOMEI Partition Assistant. This third-party tool allows you to convert an MBR disk to GPT without deleting any data.
Aside from conversion, this tool also offers advanced features like system disk migration, disk cloning functions, disk surface testing, partition recovery, and real-time health monitoring.
Step 1. Install and launch the software, right-click the MBR disk you want to change, and then choose Convert to GPT or click the disk and choose Convert to GPT from the right column.
Step 2. In the pop-up windows, click OK to continue.
Step 3. Click Apply > Proceed to operate, and then your disk will be changed into GPT disk style.
This method ensures a smooth transition to GPT while keeping your files intact—perfect for users who need both safety and simplicity.
Another effective fix for the “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” issue is using the CHKDSK utility. This built-in Windows tool scans your drive for file system errors and attempts to repair them, which can often resolve installation failures.
Step 1. Open the Command Prompt as previously described.
Step 2. In the command window, type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk C: /f /r (Replace “C” with the actual drive letter of the partition you're scanning.)
The /f switch tells CHKDSK to fix any detected errors. Once the scan completes, try running the Windows installation again to see if the issue is resolved.
If none of the previous solutions resolve the “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” error, the issue may lie with a damaged or failing hard drive. In such cases, replacing the problematic disk with a new one is often the most reliable fix. Once the new drive is installed, proceed with a fresh Windows installation.
Before removing the old drive, it's crucial to back up any important data to avoid permanent data loss. You can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to clone your disk to another one, ensuring your essential files remain intact during the replacement process.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click the "Clone" main tab and select "Clone Disk". (You can also right-click the Disk you want to clone and select the "Clone Disk" tool to run disk clone.)
Step 2. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".
Tips: To make a bootable disk clone, please select the system drive of the current computer with Partition Assistant installed as the source drive.
Step 3. Select the destination disk to put the data of the source disk on, and then click "Next".
Step 4. Then, you will enter the Confirm interface where you can check the source and destination disk. After all is set, you can click the "Confirm" button to continue.
Step 5. You can preview the disk cloning operating by viewing the "Pending Operations". To commit the "Pending Operations", please click "Apply" and "Proceed".
Step 6. The cloning process will start and you can check the cloning process.
When dealing with the “Windows could not update registry data in the installation” error, the solutions outlined above offer several reliable ways to address the issue. With careful troubleshooting, you can overcome this installation roadblock and get your system up and running smoothly.