How to fix Windows 11 error code 0x800f0955?

Some Windows 11 users have recently reported about a weird problem that they receive an issue with an error code “0x800F0955 – 0x20003” error message all the time while attempting to reinstall the operating system.

On analyzing different reports from different users experiencing the issue, we identified some common reasons what could lead into this issue. Here the list of the common culprit that might cause Windows 11 error code 0x800f0955:

• Insufficient storage on OS partition: There is certain threshold of free space you need to reinstall Windows 11. You should request at least 35 GB of space to be able to reinstall without any trouble.
• Conflict caused by Developer Mode Package: The Developer mode package can conflict with a lot of procedures and so make sure you disable it before re-installing Windows when you are not actively relying on additional deployment options for debugging.
• Migration file glitch: The issue can also be caused by glitches due to older migration files used to upgrade Windows 11 previously. You should rename the old migration file in this case to avoid the conflict.
• Failing storage sectors: sometimes, one or more storage sectors of the active drive might be responsible for the issue under discussion. Deploying CHKDSK scan is the best option to replace the failing sectors of drive with unused ones.
• System file corruption: Chances are also that the installation fails because of system files corruption. In this case, deploying SFC and DISM scan will fix the problem. You should use clean install if the problem persists.
• Secure boot interference: Many users have reportable that this feature is conflicting with the installation of Windows 11. So, disable it for temporary period and see if this provides you the fix.
• Conflict with third party component: if you are using 3^rd party firewall, you should disable it or uninstall it before deploying the reinstalling procedure as it might cause conflict while performing an in-place reinstall.
• Conflict with 3^rd party disk encryption software: Other 3rd party software components might be causing the problem. To avoid the conflict, you should uninstall the 3^rd party encryption software prior to performing the reinstallation process.
• Different 3^rd party conflict: According to some users, several third party servicers are known to be causing the program and the possible solution in this case is to boot the device in Safe Mode before attempting to reinstall Windows 11.
• Conflicting information inside the NGC folder: You might deal with the issue in a scenario when your PC contains conflicting information inside NGC folder. The possible solution in this case is to delete the contents of the NGC folder before reinstalling Windows 11 once again.

Let’s revisit these every possible fix that are already confirmed by the users and see how to operate such steps on Windows 11.

Possible fixes for Windows 11 error code 0x800f0955

Fix 1: Free up at least 35 GB of Space on Windows Partition

The first thing you should do is to is to make sure you give an enough space to the system partition to perform the operation. We already said, you need at least 35GB of free space to perform the operation:

• Press Win+ E to open File Explorer and click on This PC,
• Right-click on Windows partition and select properties,
• On the properties screen, access to General tab and click on available Free Space,
• If the available space is under 35GB, then, go to the Storage usage under Properties screen of Windows partition,
• Click on Temporary files on the top and select which files you want to delete on the next screen,
• Check the associated box and then click on the Remove button.

In case, this step did not give you 35 GB of space, go to the Apps & Features and uninstall a series of unnecessary native Windows apps. Once you fulfill the required condition of at least 35GB of space for Windows partition, try reinstalling the Windows again and see if the problem persists.

Fix 2: Remove Developer Mode Package

As said, this feature is unnecessary for you when you are not using any deployment tools for debugging. If this feature kept enabled sometimes before you just forgot to disable it, you might receive windows 11 error code 0x800f0955 while trying to reinstall the Windows 11. You can disable it from the below steps:

• Press Win+ I to open Settings,
• Go to Privacy and Security,
• Now, click on For developers under security,
• Under For Developers tab, disable the toggle for Developer Mode,
• Confirm the action in the next window,
• Once done, restart the device and reinstall Windows once again and see if the problem continues.

Fix 3: Remove Old Migration Files

If you have previously upgraded to Windows 11 from older Windows 10 instead of clean install, then the more probable reason why you are receiving the issue is because of glitches affecting the migration files previous used for the upgrade. You should remove the old migration files in that case and here are the required steps:

• Press Win + R, type in cmd and press Ctrl+ shift + Enter to open elevated Command Prompt window,
• If received UAC, click YES to grant the permission,
• Once inside, elevated Command Prompt window, type the below commands and hit Enter on each time:

ren C:\Windows\System32\migration migration.old

ren C:\Windows\System32\migwiz migwiz.old

Once doing that, close the elevated CMD window and reboot the device. Then, try with reinstalling Windows 11 again and see if the problem is resolved.

Fix 4: Run CHKDSK scan

As per some users, this problem can occur because of bad sectors on your HDD and the possible fix in this case is to run CHKDSK to check your drive to resolve the issue:

• Open Command Prompt as Admin,
• Inside the command line, type the below command and hit Enter:

Chkdsk /f

• Wait for the process to complete, then restart the device and see if this provides you the fix for the issue.

Fix 5: Deploy SFC and DISM scan

Under certain circumstances, Windows 11 error code 0x800f0955 issue can also occur due to system files corruption. In this case, you will be able to get the fix by running a couple of utilities that are included by default on the Windows installation – SFC and DISM. The SFC scan will replace corrupted files by using locally cached copy whereas the DISM scan relies on the WU component to download healthy copies to replace the corrupted files:

• Open Command Prompt as Admin,
• In the Command line, type in sfc/ scannow and hit Enter,
• Once the scanning process is complete, type in the below commands in the command line to run DISM scan (do not forget to hit Enter on each time):

Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

• Reboot your device and initiate the reinstallation process and see if the problem continues.

Fix 6: Disable Secure Boot

Make sure that the Secure Boot is disabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings. Many users have blamed it being the reason for the issue with the reinstallation:

• Start your PC and press on Setup key soon you see the initial screen,
• Once in the BIOS or UEFI settings, select the option Secure Boot and check if it set Disabled,
• If not, disable it and save the changes and boot the device normally.
• Once the PC boots back up, attempting to reinstall Windows 11 and see if still windows 11 error code 0x800f0955 appears.

Fix 7: Uninstall or Disable Non-Microsoft AV or Firewall components

The issue can result in due to conflicts caused by 3^rd party security suite and a kernel process used by the Windows 11 install agent. Many users reported about the culprit being the Comodo AV for the issue, but the issue could be some other suites. In that case, you should disable the real-time protection and see if the issue stops.

However, the antivirus could have no role in the error, if it has a firewall component and you need to uninstall the security program and remove any remnant files. Start with disabling the real-time protection and leave it disabled for a while and see if the issue occurs while installing Windows 11. If yes, try uninstalling the security tool altogether and remove the remnant files.

Fix 8: Uninstall all non-Microsoft disk encryption software

There is also an entire category of 3^rd party encryption software that can cause the issue under discussion. The reported culprits include VeraCrypt, AxCrypt, Folder Lock, FileVault, DiskCryptor, BitLocker, BoxCryptor. Temporarily uninstall the encryption tools if you are using and then try reinstalling the windows 11 and see if the problem occurs.

Fix 9: Reinstall in Safe Mode

There is also a possibility that windows 11 error code 0x800f0955 results in due to different processes interference that are other from antivirus component and encryption tool. In that case, we recommend you boot your device in Safe mode and do the reinstallation of the Windows in this environment:

• Press Win key to open Start menu,
• Click on power icon and hold the shit key and select Restart to force your system to boot in Safe Mode,
• The computer will restart in recovery mode. Under the Recovery menu, click on troubleshoot,
• Go to Advanced Options and then click Startup Settings,
• In the next screen, press F5 to boo the system in Safe Mode with Networking,
• Wait till the PC boots in the Safe Mode and then reinstall Windows 11 and see if you are able to complete the procedure without any issue.

Fix 10: Delete NGC folder

As said, the issue can occur due to some conflicting information when you coming to Windows 11 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 and in this scenario, the possible fix are to complete the reinstallation process after deleting the contents of the NGC folder:

• Press Win+ E to open File Explorer,
• Navigate to the below location:

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\ngc

• Inside NGC folder, press Ctrl+ A to select everything inside it and right-click on the selected item and choose Delete,
• After that, reboot the PC and reattempt to reinstall Windows 11.

Fix 11: Perform a clean install or repair install

If none of the methods work, you should reset every OS component. You can do this in two ways -you can either perform repair install or clean install. Clean install requires a few clicks and no installation media. However, there is a downside that it will make you lose all your personal data if you don’t have backups.

Another effective way is to perform repair install. This will require compatible Windows 11 installation media but this will allow you to keep your personal data including apps, games, user preferences and personal media. The process will just touch the OS components and leave the rest things intact.

Conclusion

That’s all! We have provided all possible fixes for Windows 11 error code 0x800f0955. Hope so, this method works. If the problem continues, we recommend you employ PC Repair Tool to look for the possible PC related issues to get their automatic fix.