Tips and Tricks for Resolving the SECOND_BOOT Phase Error During Windows 10 Upgrade
The Installation Failed In The Second Boot Phase: What It Means and How to Fix It
If you are trying to upgrade your Windows 10 to a newer version, you might encounter an error message that says "The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase with an error during..." followed by a specific operation and an error code. This error means that something went wrong during the second reboot of the upgrade process, and the installation could not be completed.
The Installation Failed In The Second Boot Phase
There are many possible reasons why this error occurs, such as incompatible drivers, software conflicts, corrupted system files, insufficient disk space, or faulty hardware. Depending on the operation and the error code, you might need to try different solutions to fix it. In this article, we will show you some of the most common fixes that can help you resolve this error and successfully upgrade your Windows 10.
Fix 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
One of the first things you should do when you encounter this error is to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This is a built-in tool that can detect and fix common problems with Windows Update. To run it, follow these steps:
Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Troubleshoot in the left pane.
Click on Additional troubleshooters.
Click on Windows Update and then click on Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
After running the troubleshooter, restart your computer and try to upgrade again. If the error persists, move on to the next fix.
Fix 2: Update Your Drivers
Another possible cause of this error is outdated or incompatible drivers. Drivers are essential software components that allow your hardware devices to communicate with your operating system. If they are not up to date or compatible with the new version of Windows 10, they might cause conflicts or errors during the upgrade process. To update your drivers, follow these steps:
Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the categories and look for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark next to them.
Right-click on each device and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for Windows to find and install the latest drivers.
Repeat this process for all devices with a yellow exclamation mark.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party tool that can automatically scan your system and update all your drivers with one click. This can save you time and ensure that you have the best drivers for your hardware devices.
After updating your drivers, restart your computer and try to upgrade again. If the error persists, move on to the next fix.
Fix 3: Perform a Clean Boot
Sometimes, this error can be caused by software conflicts between third-party programs that are running in the background. To eliminate this possibility, you can perform a clean boot, which means starting your computer with only the essential services and programs. This way, you can isolate and identify any problematic software that might interfere with the upgrade process. To perform a clean boot, follow these steps:
Press Windows key + R to open Run.
Type msconfig and click OK.
In the System Configuration window, click on Services tab.
Check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services and then click on Disable all.
Click on Startup tab and then click on Open Task Manager.
In the Task Manager window, click on Startup tab.
Right-click on each enabled program and select Disable.
Close Task Manager and go back to System Configuration window.
Click on Apply and OK.
After performing a clean boot, restart your computer and try to upgrade again. If the error is gone, it means that one of the disabled programs was causing it. You can then enable them one by one until you find the culprit and uninstall it or update it. If the error persists, move on to the next fix.
Fix 4: Repair Corrupted System Files
This error can also be caused by corrupted or missing system files that are essential for the upgrade process. To repair them, you can use two command-line tools: DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker). DISM can scan and restore the health of your system image, while SFC can scan and repair individual system files. To use them, follow these steps:
Press Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
Wait for DISM to complete its scan and repair process. It might take some time depending on your system condition.
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Wait for SFC to complete its scan and repair process. It might take some time depending on your system condition.
After running these commands, restart your computer and try to upgrade again. If the error persists, move on to the next fix.
Fix 5: Use an ISO File or a USB Flash Drive
If none of the above fixes work for you, you can try to use an ISO file or a USB flash drive to perform a manual upgrade of your Windows 10. An ISO file is a disk image file that contains all the files and folders of an operating system installation media. A USB flash drive is a portable storage device that can be used as a bootable media. To use them, follow these steps:
Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Run the tool and accept the license terms.
Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) for another PC.
Select your language, edition and architecture preferences for Windows 10.
Select either USB flash drive or ISO file as your media type. If you choose USB flash drive, make sure you have a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space plugged into your computer. If you choose ISO file, make sure you have enough disk space to save it.
Follow the on-screen instructions to create your media.
If you created a USB flash drive, plug it into your computer and restart it. Make sure you change your boot order in BIOS settings to boot from USB first. If you created an ISO file, mount it or burn it to a DVD using a third-party tool like Rufus or ImgBurn.
When you see the Windows Setup screen, select Upgrade this PC now option.
Select Keep personal files and apps option when prompted.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade process.
This method should bypass any errors that occur during Windows Update and allow you to upgrade your Windows 10 successfully.
Conclusion
The installation failed in the second boot phase is a common error that many users face when trying to upgrade their Windows 10 to a newer version. It can be caused by various factors such as incompatible drivers, software conflicts, corrupted system files, insufficient disk space or faulty hardware. However, there are also various solutions that can help you fix it such as running Windows Update Troubleshooter, updating your drivers, performing a clean boot repairing corrupted system files or using an ISO file or a USB flash drive.
We hope this article has helped you understand what this error means and how to fix it. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to leave them in comments below.
Fix 6: Free Up Disk Space
Another possible cause of this error is insufficient disk space on your system drive. Windows 10 requires at least 20 GB of free space to upgrade to a newer version. If you don't have enough space, the upgrade process might fail in the second boot phase. To free up disk space, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool or delete some unnecessary files and folders manually. To use the Disk Cleanup tool, follow these steps:
Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Right-click on your system drive (usually C:) and select Properties.
Click on Disk Cleanup button under the General tab.
Select the files and categories that you want to delete and click on OK.
Click on Clean up system files button to delete more files such as previous Windows installations, Windows Update files, etc.
Select the files and categories that you want to delete and click on OK.
After freeing up disk space, restart your computer and try to upgrade again. If the error persists, move on to the next fix.
Fix 7: Check Your Hardware
The last possible cause of this error is faulty hardware that might prevent your computer from booting properly. This could be due to a damaged hard drive, a loose cable, a faulty RAM stick, or a corrupted BIOS. To check your hardware, you can use some diagnostic tools or perform some physical inspections. For example:
To check your hard drive for errors, you can use the CHKDSK command or a third-party tool like CrystalDiskInfo.
To check your RAM for errors, you can use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool or a third-party tool like MemTest86.
To check your cables and connections, you can open your computer case and make sure everything is plugged in securely and correctly.
To check your BIOS for corruption, you can access it by pressing a specific key during startup (usually F2, F10, F12 or Del) and look for any signs of damage or inconsistency.
If you find any hardware issues, you might need to replace or repair them before attempting to upgrade again. If you don't find any hardware issues, you might need to contact Microsoft support or a professional technician for further assistance.
Conclusion
The installation failed in the second boot phase is a common error that many users face when trying to upgrade their Windows 10 to a newer version. It can be caused by various factors such as incompatible drivers, software conflicts, corrupted system files, insufficient disk space or faulty hardware. However, there are also various solutions that can help you fix it such as running Windows Update Troubleshooter, updating your drivers, performing a clean boot repairing corrupted system files or using an ISO file or a USB flash drive.
We hope this article has helped you understand what this error means and how to fix it. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to leave them in comments below.
Conclusion
Upgrading your Windows 10 to a newer version can bring many benefits such as improved performance, security, and features. However, sometimes you might encounter an error that says "The installation failed in the second boot phase" and prevents you from completing the upgrade. This error can be frustrating and confusing, but it is not impossible to fix.
In this article, we have explained what this error means and what causes it. We have also provided you with seven possible fixes that can help you resolve it and successfully upgrade your Windows 10. These fixes include running Windows Update Troubleshooter, updating your drivers, performing a clean boot repairing corrupted system files or using an ISO file or a USB flash drive. We have also suggested some diagnostic tools and physical inspections that can help you check your hardware for any faults or damages.
We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have followed our instructions and tried our solutions, you should be able to upgrade your Windows 10 without any errors. If you still have any problems or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below or contact Microsoft support or a professional technician for further assistance. ca3e7ad8fd