HP laptop cannot be upgraded to Windows 10... due to WUSA installer

UPDATE: Ignore this error... it was resolved with an SFC scan and correction.
Problem solved. It had to do with the BIOS. See my last post below.

The process keeps running into this error, with * Windows update could not be installed because of error 2149842967 "" (Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe" *

It acts like there's some competing Windows Update being done, with Microsoft Office... but there is not. I ran Windows Update and it's all up to date, rebooted clean... Still keep getting this error.

On my other laptop, Windows would place the install files on my Recovery D: drive... which ends up running out of space. I was not given a choice for where Microsoft should put the files. Excuse me Microsoft, but don't you bother to detect how much free space is available and allocate accordingly so you don't run out? Why I can't I tell Windows where to put the install files? My C: drive has several hundred gigabytes free.

I was able to create a USB install of Windows 10 and it wouldn't work if I let it search for updates first. It would demand my Windows product key... which is an OEM one for Windows 8... and that was rejected. However, if I opted not to download any updates and proceed, it went through OK. I'm going to have to try this method on my other laptop once the installation completes.

I got past this... but still stuck with:
0xC1900101 - 0x2000C
The Installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during APPLY_IMAGE operation

cytherian said:

I set up my machine for a "clean boot", by disabling all services that are non-Microsoft, then shutting down those that persisted in starting up. I disabled my anti-virus for 1 hour.

Previously, my install would fail at somewhere between 2% and 5%. This time it goes to 48%. Same error. I can't for the life of me figure out what to do... any suggestions?

If you have 3rd party AV uninstall it. When just disabled they can still keep service running. To uninstall, use particular AV's uninstaller program, they all have one.

cytherian said:

Thanks for your advice, CountMike. Is it a pretty common thing for Anti-virus programs to cause interference with Windows 10 installations, to the point of requiring that they be uninstalled?

Yes sir, it happened to me personally with Avast and Avira.

Hello @cytherian,

cytherian said:

Finally completed the installation. The culprit? It would appear to be the BIOS.

Excellent news.

cytherian said:

Now to hunt down all of the workarounds to turn off Microsoft spying and any other system bloatware that may affect performance.

Here is something to get you started . . .

> How to Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10
> How to Optimize the Performance of Windows 10

There are MANY MANY .REG files [ and GPO ] that can be found in the Tutorials that can customise what you want to do, as well as third-party applications. Depending on how far you want to go with this, it could take a while!

I hope this helps.

After over 4 years of the problem I'd have junked the computer in favor of a new one.