{"id":47992,"date":"2023-05-22T16:45:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T11:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=47992"},"modified":"2026-03-09T12:19:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T06:49:24","slug":"setup-error-0xc1900204-program-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/setup-error-0xc1900204-program-files\/","title":{"rendered":"Error 0xC1900204 During Windows 10 or 11 Setup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When you install a feature update via the Windows Update, the error code <code>0xC1900204<\/code> may occur.<\/p>\n<pre class=\"err\">There were problems installing some updates, but we'll try again later.\n\nError 0xC1900204<\/pre>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47995\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/setup-error-programfilesdir-change-1.png\" alt=\"windows update error - programfilesdir change registry\" width=\"750\" height=\"301\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you use the Media Creation Tool to do an in-place upgrade, the only option you may get is to delete your files (which most users don&#8217;t want to do). The dialog states the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Your files, apps, and settings can&#8217;t be kept because your current version of Windows might be installed in an unsupported directory, or you&#8217;re trying to install an older version of Windows.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47996\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/setup-error-programfilesdir-change-2.png\" alt=\"windows update error - programfilesdir change registry\" width=\"702\" height=\"557\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Cause<\/h2>\n<p>The above symptoms occur if you&#8217;re redirected the &#8220;Program Files&#8221; or the &#8220;Program Files (x86)&#8221; folder using the registry. Microsoft does not support changing the location of the Program Files folder by modifying the <code>ProgramFilesDir<\/code> registry value. If you change the location of the Program Files folder, you may experience problems with some Microsoft programs or software updates.<\/p>\n<p>The Windows setup log (setupact.log) file may have the following entries:<\/p>\n<pre>Info CONX ConX::Compatibility::CSystemAbstraction::GetHostProgramFilesx86Directory: Host program files x86 directory: E:\\Program Files (x86).\nInfo CONX CNonStandardDirectoryChecker: checked NonStandardDirectory, found HardBlock.Program files x86 directory E:\\Program Files (x86) is not on system drive C:\nInfo                  CONX   ConX::Compatibility::CCompatibilityHost::SetScanResult: Provider wsc:setup: reports HardBlock\nInfo                  CONX   Reporting block for Categories: 0x00000040 \n2023-04-08 19:08:38, Info                  CONX   Reporting block for Categories: 0x00000100 \n2023-04-08 19:08:38, Info                  CONX   Compatibility scan data is saved to C:\\$WINDOWS.~BT\\Sources\\Panther\\CompatData_2023_04_08_19_08_38_3_00000140.xml.\n<\/pre>\n<h2>Resolution<\/h2>\n<p>To resolve the setup error <code>0xC1900204<\/code>, fix the Program Files path in the registry.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the Registry Editor (<code>regedit.exe<\/code>)<\/li>\n<li>Navigate to the following key:\n<pre>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>Set the data for &#8220;<code>ProgramFilesDir<\/code>&#8221; to <code><strong>C:\\Program Files<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<li>Set the data for &#8220;<code>ProgramFilesDir (x86)<\/code>&#8221; to <code><strong>C:\\Program Files (x86)<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<li>Set &#8220;<code>ProgramFilesPath<\/code>&#8221; to <code><strong>%ProgramFiles%<\/strong><\/code> (ensure that its value type is REG_EXPAND_SZ)\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/programfilesdir_registry_settings.png\" alt=\"windows update error - programfilesdir change registry\" width=\"711\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48043\" \/>\n<\/li>\n<li>Exit the Registry Editor.<\/li>\n<li>Restart Windows.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"qt\"><code>C:\\<\/code> is used in the above steps, because in most cases, Windows is installed on the <code>C:\\<\/code> drive. If your Windows drive-letter is not <code>C:\\<\/code>, use the correct drive-letter when modifying the above values. To know the OS drive letter in your computer, type the command <code><strong>echo %homedrive%<\/strong><\/code> in the Command Prompt window.<\/div>\n<p>Re-run the setup. Hopefully, it should work now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you install a feature update via the Windows Update, the error code 0xC1900204 may occur. There were problems installing some updates, but we&#8217;ll try again later. Error 0xC1900204 If you use the Media Creation Tool to do an in-place upgrade, the only option you may get is to delete your files (which most users &#8230; <a title=\"Error 0xC1900204 During Windows 10 or 11 Setup\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/setup-error-0xc1900204-program-files\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Error 0xC1900204 During Windows 10 or 11 Setup\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[962,8,869],"tags":[191,951,781],"class_list":["post-47992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ramesh","category-windows-10","category-windows-11","tag-error-messages","tag-logs","tag-windows-setup"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61391,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/feature-update-error-0x80242016-windows\/","url_meta":{"origin":47992,"position":0},"title":"Feature Update Error 0x80242016 in Windows 10\/11","author":"Ramesh","date":"September 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"When you use Windows Update to install a Feature update for Windows 10 or 11, the error code 0x80242016 may appear. The error code 0x80242016 (\"WU_E_UH_POSTREBOOTUNEXPECTEDSTATE\") means \"The state of the update after its post-reboot operation has completed is unexpected.\" Resolution 0x80242016 is a Windows Update client error rather than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"disable dynamic update windows 10","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/windows-10-setup-dynamic-updates.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/windows-10-setup-dynamic-updates.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/windows-10-setup-dynamic-updates.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/windows-10-setup-dynamic-updates.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19513,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/windows-update-error-0xc19001e1-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":47992,"position":1},"title":"[Fix] Windows Update Error 0XC19001E1 in Windows 10","author":"Ramesh","date":"October 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"On some systems, the error 0XC19001E1 may occur when installing a Windows 10 feature update -- e.g., when upgrading from version 1903 to 2004, 2004 to 20H1, etc. The 0XC19001e1 error is one of the vaguest error messages of all the Windows Update errors. Feature update to Windows 10, version\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"windows 10 inplace upgrade","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w10-inplace-upgrade.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w10-inplace-upgrade.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w10-inplace-upgrade.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w10-inplace-upgrade.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":76742,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/error-this-pc-cant-be-upgraded\/","url_meta":{"origin":47992,"position":2},"title":"0xC1900209: This PC can&#8217;t be upgraded to this version of Windows (24H2)","author":"Ramesh","date":"October 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"When you install a feature update in Windows 10 or 11, the following error message may appear. What needs your attention The following things need your attention to continue the installation and keep your Windows settings, personal, files, and apps. This PC can't be upgraded to this version of Windows.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"setup blocked by voicemeeter driver","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/setup-attention-needed-voicemeeter-driver.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/setup-attention-needed-voicemeeter-driver.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/setup-attention-needed-voicemeeter-driver.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80494,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/feature-update-software-license-terms-error-encountered\/","url_meta":{"origin":47992,"position":3},"title":"Windows 11 Upgrade: Software License Terms &#8211; Error encountered","author":"Ramesh","date":"March 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"When you install the latest Windows 11 Feature Update via Windows Update, the following error message may occur: Software License Terms Error encountered. The above error likely occurs because EULA.txt couldn't be opened due to a corrupt setup image. Resolution Option 1: Reset the Windows Update cache Resetting the Windows\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 11&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 11","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-11\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Windows 11 Installation Assistant","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows_11_installation_assistant.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows_11_installation_assistant.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows_11_installation_assistant.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/windows_11_installation_assistant.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19552,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/error-0x80073712-windows-update-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":47992,"position":4},"title":"How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80073712","author":"Ramesh","date":"October 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When installing a cumulative update, .NET framework update, or a feature update, the error 0x80073712 occurs and stops the installation process. Here is the full error message verbatim: Some update files are missing or have problems. We'll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80073712). Cause The error\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"80073712 windows update error","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/80073712.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/80073712.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/80073712.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/80073712.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80630,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/windows-10-setup-media-center-installed\/","url_meta":{"origin":47992,"position":5},"title":"Windows 10 Setup: Windows Media Center is installed on this PC","author":"Ramesh","date":"April 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"When you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8, the setup may fail with the following error: What needs your attention The following things need your attention to continue the installation and keep your Windows settings, personal files, and apps. Windows Media Center is installed on this PC\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"windows 10 setup - windows media center is installed","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/windows_10_setup_error_media_center.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/windows_10_setup_error_media_center.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/windows_10_setup_error_media_center.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/windows_10_setup_error_media_center.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47992\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}