Fix: Windows Could Not Prepare the Computer to Boot Into the Next Phase of Installation

Windows failed to get the machine ready to boot into the next phase of the installation process.

Whenever you try to upgrade your Windows build or reinstall the current Windows version, you will receive an installation error and will need to restart the installation process.

Without resolving the underlying cause of this problem, the installation cannot proceed.

Windows Could Not Prepare the Computer to Boot Into the Next Phase of Installation

While restarting the installation is recommended by the error message, doing so is usually fruitless. This is because your faulty disc drive is most likely to blame for the failed installation.

Therefore, alternative technical repairs must be attempted if restarting the setup procedure does not work.

Method 1: Disabling all Unnecessary Hardware

When the “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation” error appears, disabling or removing any unused devices is the best solution.

This works wonderfully whenever the user attempts to upgrade an already-installed version of Windows. A flawed BIOS release, according to some users, could be to blame for the problem on older PCs.

It’s been said that this only happens when a computer has a lot of external devices and accessories plugged into it.

As such, you should disconnect any peripherals that aren’t absolutely necessary, such as any USB drives, network adapters, sound cards, serial cards, etc.

Disconnect any hard disc drives or solid-state drives (SSDs) that won’t be used during the installation process.

Take the extra step of turning off your computer’s optical drives as well.

Once you have your system down to its minimal essentials, restart it and begin the installation process again. With any luck, you won’t have to deal with that problem again.

Method 2: Prepare the Installation Media Properly

Another factor that could bring on this problem is improperly written installation media.

Since it has been established that the “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation” error may occur if the media was not prepared properly.

Attempting the installation from a different media may remedy the problem.

Method 3: Verify Whether BIOS Supports the Windows Version

It’s possible that your laptop’s or desktop computer’s BIOS model doesn’t support the version of Windows you’re attempting to install if you’re using an older operating system.

There are a lot of recorded incidents with this occurring on Mini-PC devices. Almost no modern devices work with earlier versions of Windows than 8.1.

If you suspect that this is your circumstance, you should check with the manufacturer’s support team.

Or conduct an online search to verify if your computer’s BIOS is compatible with the version of Windows you’re attempting to install.

In the alternative, you might try upgrading to a newer version of Windows and see if that fixes the “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation” error.

Method 4: Deleting all Partitions

Some users who encountered the “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation” error stated.

That they were able to proceed with the installation and finish the procedure only after they wiped all partitions and reinstalled the operating system from scratch.

Of course, this can be a major inconvenient if you were simply trying to upgrade an existing Windows installation.

But if you’ve come this far without a result you don’t really have any other choice.

But just in case things go wrong, we advise you to create a Windows System Image backup before you proceed with the deletion of all available partitions.

Once you’ve completed the backup, you can restart your computer and select to boot from the installation disc.

When prompted to choose a location on which to install the operating system, remove all existing partitions and replace them with chunks of Unallocated space.

Conclusion

Error “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation” may appear during Windows installation if the procedure fails.

MiniTool Partition Wizard creates a straightforward manual where user-submitted solutions are provided to assist you in resolving this matter.