Windows 11 Reinstall Stuck at 99% – How To Fix ?

If you’ve been trying to reinstall or update Windows 11 and the progress has been stuck at 99% for hours, you’re not alone. Many users report this exact issue when updating from older versions like 21H2 to 24H2 or performing a repair installation.

Let’s explore why this happens, what’s normal, and how to fix it safely without losing your data.

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Why Windows 11 Gets Stuck at 99%

When the Windows setup appears frozen at 99%, it’s usually not completely stuck — it’s often still working in the background. However, it can take several hours due to:

• Driver conflicts (especially Realtek audio or network drivers)
• Corrupted system files from older installations
• Disk read/write errors on HDDs
• Network dependency if the installer is still checking for updates
• Windows Update cache corruption

If your PC has been sitting at 99% for more than 3–4 hours, it’s likely a hang rather than slow progress.

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What Other Users Experienced

“I had this problem two weeks ago. Uninstalling Realtek audio drivers fixed it completely. After removing them, Windows installed perfectly and quickly.”

“Five hours in and it’s still at 99%. I restarted and re-ran the setup from the ISO, and it worked immediately.”

“Not a clean install — I was keeping my files. Left it overnight, still 99% in the morning. Eventually had to restart and use the media tool.”

Windows 11 Reinstall Stuck at 99% – How To Fix ?

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Fix 1: Uninstall Realtek Audio Drivers

This has solved the issue for many users.

1. Boot into your existing Windows (if accessible).
2. Press Win + X → Device Manager.
3. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
4. Right-click Realtek Audio → Uninstall device.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Run the Windows 11 setup again.

Once installation completes, reinstall the drivers from your laptop or motherboard manufacturer’s website.

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Fix 2: Use the “C:$GetCurrent” Folder Trick

If the setup freezes at 99%, this method can restart the installation from the correct state.

1. While the setup is stuck, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Type C:\$GetCurrent and hit Enter.
3. Copy the Media folder to your desktop or USB drive.
4. Reboot your PC.
5. Delete the existing Media folder in C:\$GetCurrent.
6. Paste the old folder you copied back in.
7. Open C:\$GetCurrent\Media\Setup.exe and relaunch installation.

Users report that this forces setup to resume and complete properly.

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Fix 3: Try a Clean Installation (if possible)

If the upgrade keeps hanging and you don’t mind reinstalling apps:

1. Create a bootable USB with the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool.
2. Boot from it and choose Custom: Install Windows only.
3. Select your main drive (SSD recommended).
4. Proceed with installation — it should finish in 20–30 minutes on an SSD.

This is the fastest and cleanest way to fix recurring upgrade issues.

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Fix 4: Check for Update-Loop Bugs

If Windows Update or the setup shows “Checking for updates” endlessly:

• Disconnect from Wi-Fi or Ethernet before running setup.
• Restart and run the installer offline.
• After installation, reconnect and run updates manually from Settings → Windows Update.

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Fix 5: Clear Corrupt Update Files

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc → Enter.
2. Stop Windows Update and BITS services.
3. Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
4. Delete all files inside.
5. Restart your PC and try again.

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When to Wait vs. Restart

If:

• Disk activity light is blinking → Wait. It’s still processing.
• No disk or CPU activity for over an hour → Force restart and reattempt install using ISO.

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Final Thoughts

A Windows 11 reinstall stuck at 99% for hours is a common glitch — often related to drivers or corrupted installation files. In most cases, uninstalling problematic drivers or rerunning setup from the Media Creation Tool resolves it.

If you’re still stuck after trying all fixes, back up your files and perform a clean install — it’s faster and more reliable than hours of troubleshooting.