Help with "Windows 10 installation has failed" at 73% on Windows 8.1 Pro

I had the same problem. There is a dialog somewhere at the start of the install process that gives you the option to install Windows 10 without updates. I tried installing again, this time i chose to install Windows 10 without updates. It worked for me. After my computer rebooted, updates started installing automatically anyway. There was a minute when the screen went black, so if that happens to you don't freak out. It will come back on. I hope this works for you.

This worked for me! Thank you so much. For those of you who want to try this method, here is what to look for:

When you are upgrading to Windows 10, one of the first screens that you see is titled "Install Windows 10". This has a paragraph explaining updates. Look below this paragraph for the link (in blue letters): "Change how Windows Setup downloads updates". Click on this link.

This brings up a screen titled "Get update, drivers and optional features." Select the "Not right now" option.

This way you can do the upgrade without first downloading the updates. If the upgrade is successful, then the follow-up updating can take place. In my case this updating began automatically, and it took quite a while, more than one hour.

I was having the same issue, i.e., the installation failed at 73%. I spoke with Tech Support at least 4 times and never got anywhere but one of their techs provided me the URL to this Community group. And there was the solution as noted above by Howard White1. However, when launching the download file, MediaCreationTool21H2.exe, that prompt was not provided. So I launched the installation from the setup.exe file on a USB media I had created and there was the option. Interesting. Anyway, Windows 10 installed over my 8.1 laptop and things are rolling right along...till the next release. Thanks, Howard!

There has been some great advice here, thanks heaps guys. I had the same issue with the install failing at 73%. I also noted that the install tool initially offered the option "Change how Windows Setup downloads updates" however after my first run the tool had changed and did not offer the option anymore. Instead it opted to automatically download updates, which I interrupted by disabling my wifi - indeed as mentioned before this worked, with a bit of patience. It took about 5 mins before the installer decided to move on, and the the installation worked perfectly with updates loading past the successful install. Thanks to those who pointed out the update issue!

Hey Eprigon, right, you didn't upgrade from win 7,8 to win 10, but you installed win 10 on a pc without existing system? BR us

I have a AMD motherboard and I was told I cannot upgrade to windows 10 because of my motherboard.

When you are upgrading to Windows 10, one of the first screens that you see is titled "Install Windows 10". This has a paragraph explaining updates. Look below this paragraph for the link (in blue letters): "Change how Windows Setup downloads updates". Click on this link.

This brings up a screen titled "Get update, drivers and optional features." Select the "Not right now" option.

Worked for me, thanks. I have Win 8.1 Pro, on a Mic Surface (ironically). After a failed media creation tool upgrade, I ran it again from the \ESD directory it had created, then selected Not Right Now. Around 37% I heard a "device disconnect" sound from the computer, then at 73% it only stayed there for 2 seconds, then continued on. It's been continuing to install like a champ ever since. Let's hope 22H2 does not have these "updates" baked in.

Leave it to good'ol Microsoft to make updates that break things. I thought they wanted everyone to upgrade to Win 10? Not when they're making it this difficult.