How to Fix Error 0x80300024 When Installing Windows

Error code 0X80300024 is one of a number of different error codes that you can run into while trying to install any version of the Windows Operating System on a computer. Error code 0X80300024 is accompanied by an error message that says something along the lines of “Windows is unable to install to the selected location”. Error code 0X80300024 points towards some kind of an issue – software or hardware – with the hard disk partition that is the destination of the Windows installation in question. Error code 0X80300024 can be caused by anything from insufficient disk space on the destination drive or damaged/corrupted installation media to a damaged, dying or otherwise corrupted hard drive.

In addition, error code 0X80300024 has also followed the Windows Operating System through all of its iterations, so both Windows 7 and Windows 10 users are susceptible to running into it while trying to install Windows. Thankfully, error code 0X80300024 is not the end of the world – the following are some of the most effective solutions that you can use to try and get rid of error code 0X80300024 and successfully install Windows:

Solution 1: Remove any unnecessary hard drives

If you have more than one hard disk drive connected to your computer and are trying to install Windows on one of them, the other hard drive(s) might be interfering with the installation, resulting in the installation failing and error code 0X80300024 being displayed. To make sure that this is not the case, remove any hard drives that you do not want to install Windows on from your computer and retry the installation to determine whether or not the issue persists.

Solution 2: Try plugging the installation media into a different USB port

If you are trying to install Windows from a USB with the appropriate installation media on it, as most people do, the cause of this problem might simply be the USB port the installation media is plugged into. Try installing Windows with the USB with the installation media on it inserted into a different USB port – switch from a USB 2.0 port to a USB 3.0 port or vice versa, and see whether or not that allows Windows to be successfully installed.

Solution 3: Make sure the target drive is at the top of the computer’s boot order

You might be seeing error code 0X80300024 because the hard drive you are trying to install Windows on is not at the top of your computer’s boot order. On startup, every computer has an order of sources it tries to boot the Operating System from, and this order is configured through the average computer’s BIOS. To remedy this problem, all you need to do is make sure the target hard drive is at the top of your computer’s boot order:

  1. Start your computer up.
  2. On the first screen that you see when your computer boots up, you will find instructions to press a specific key – which, in most cases, is Delete, F1 or F2 – to enter your computer’s BIOS/Setup. Press the key specified to enter the BIOS.
  3. In the BIOS, locate your computer’s boot order/configuration. In most cases, the boot order is located under the BIOS’s Boot tab.
  4. Adjust the boot order so that the hard drive that you are trying to install Windows is at the very top.
  5. While in the Bios, also ensure that you have selected “UEFI” as the boot mode. The option should be in the “Boot” section of Bios.
    Setting the boot mode to UEFI
  6. Exit the computer’s BIOS, but be sure to save the changes that you have made to it before doing so.

Once done, restart the Windows installation and see whether or not it goes through successfully.

Solution 4: Format the installation location

If the partition of the hard drive you are trying to install Windows in has been in use before and is not a freshly created partition, some of the data on it might be interfering with the Windows installation. This is why it is always recommended to format the installation location before installing Windows on a computer. If the data in the installation location is what is causing this problem in your case, completely formatting the installation location should resolve the problem.

  1. Insert the bootable Windows installation media into your computer and restart it. If you do not have Windows installation media ready, you are going to have to create one.
  2. When your computer starts up, choose to boot from the inserted installation media.
  3. Configure your language, keyboard layout, and other preferences.
  4. When asked what kind of Windows installation you want, click on Custom.
  5. When asked where you want Windows to be installed, first click on Drive options (advanced).
  6. Click on the partition of your hard drive that you want to install Windows on to select it, and click on Format.
  7. Confirm the action.
  8. Wait for the drive partition to be completely formatted, and then click on Next to carry on with the installation.
  9. If that doesn’t work, select the drive and click on “Delete” instead of “Format”.
    Deleting primary partition
  10. This will convert the hard drive into unallocated space and you can further allocate it again.
  11. Create the partition again and install Windows on it.
  12. If the error still persists, click on “Delete” again and let it stay as unallocated space.
  13. Boot from the installation media and select this unallocated space to install Windows.
  14. Check to see if the issue persists.

Solution 5: Replace your hard drive

If absolutely none of the solutions listed and described above have worked for you, you might just have a dying or already dead hard drive. A dying hard drive can certainly prevent an Operating System such as Windows from being installed, so if all else fails, replace your hard drive with a new one and that is bound to get rid of error code 0X80300024 for you.

Solution 6: Using DiskPart

In some cases, the error might be triggered if there is corruption in the partition tables of the drive. Therefore, in this step, we will be using DisakPart to fix this issue. For that:

  1. Identify the “System” partition when the setup lists all the partitions and note its name.
  2. Press “Shift” + “F10” and then type in “Diskpart”.
    Opening the Diskpart tool
  3. Now, type “List disk” to list all the partitions.
    Listing available disks in DISKPART
  4. Type in “Select Disk (The number of the partition, if it was 1 then you would type Select Disk 1)“.
  5. Now type in “Clean” and press “Enter”.
  6. Check to see if the issue persists.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.