Why Does Windows 11 Setup Keep Crashing With SETUP_FAILURE Blue Screen Error 0x00000085?

What Causes the Dreaded SETUP_FAILURE Blue Screen During Windows 11 Installation?

Your computer screen turns blue. Error code 0x00000085 appears. Windows 11 setup stops working. This happens to many people trying to install or update their system.

The blue screen means something went wrong during setup. Your computer found a problem it cannot fix. Most times, this happens because of bad memory, broken files, or old drivers.

Solution 1: Check If Your Computer Can Run Windows 11

Windows 11 needs certain things to work right. If your computer lacks these, setup will fail.

What Windows 11 Needs:

• Fast processor (1 GHz or more with 2+ cores)
• 4 GB memory (RAM)
• 64 GB storage space
• Special security chip (TPM 2.0)
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot
• Graphics that work with DirectX 12

Look at your computer specs first. Compare them to this list. Missing any item? Your setup will crash.

Quick Fix Steps:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type “msinfo32” and hit Enter
3. Check your processor speed and RAM amount
4. If you need more memory or storage, buy upgrades before trying again

Some older computers cannot run Windows 11 at all. Check this before spending hours trying to fix the problem.

Solution 2: Make New Installation Files

Bad USB drives cause many blue screen errors. Even small file problems can stop setup completely.

Create Fresh Installation Media:

1. Download clean files – Get the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website
2. Format your USB drive – Use the tool to wipe and prepare your USB stick
3. Try different hardware – Use another USB port or different USB drive
4. Burn DVDs slowly – If using discs, burn at the slowest speed possible
5. Test the new media – Try installation again with fresh files

Old or damaged installation files cause more problems than people think. Always start with new, clean files when troubleshooting.

Solution 3: Update Your Computer’s Basic Software

Your computer has special software called BIOS. It controls how parts talk to each other. Old BIOS versions can cause blue screens during Windows setup.

BIOS Update Process:

1. Find your computer or motherboard maker’s website
2. Look up your exact model number
3. Download the newest BIOS file
4. Follow the update instructions exactly
5. Never turn off power during BIOS updates

Driver Updates:

• Get the latest storage drivers
• Update chipset drivers
• Install these before trying Windows setup again

Wrong or old drivers make Windows setup crash. Newer computers especially need current drivers to work with Windows 11.

Solution 4: Test Your Computer’s Memory and Storage

Bad memory sticks cause blue screens. Hard drives with errors also stop installation. Test both before continuing.

Memory Testing

1. Press Windows + R, type “mdsched“
2. Choose to restart and check memory
3. Let the test run completely
4. If errors appear, test each memory stick alone
5. Replace any bad memory before trying setup again
6. Hard Drive Testing:

   chkdsk C: /f /r

Run this command in Command Prompt. It finds and fixes drive errors. Replace drives that show many bad sectors.

Remove Extra Devices

• Unplug printers
• Remove extra USB devices
• Disconnect second hard drives
• Keep only keyboard, mouse, and main drive connected

Extra devices can confuse Windows setup. Remove them during installation.

Solution 5: Start Fresh With Clean Installation

Old files from previous Windows versions can cause problems. Clean installation removes everything and starts over.

Clean Install Steps:

1. Boot from your Windows 11 USB or DVD
2. Choose “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)“
3. Delete all partitions on your main drive
4. Select the empty space and click Next
5. Let Windows create new partitions automatically

Warning: This erases everything on your drive. Back up important files first.

Clean installation fixes most blue screen problems during setup. It removes conflicting files and drivers that cause crashes.

Solution 6: Scan for Harmful Software

Viruses and malware can corrupt system files. This makes Windows installation fail with blue screens.

Virus Scanning:

1. Boot into your current Windows (if possible)
2. Open Windows Security
3. Run a full system scan
4. Remove any threats found
5. Try Windows 11 setup again

If Windows won’t boot, use Windows Defender Offline from a USB drive. Clean systems install much better than infected ones.

Advanced Fixes for Stubborn Problems

Some newer computers have special issues. Intel 13th and 14th generation processors with Z790 motherboards often need extra steps.

BIOS Settings to Try

• Turn off CPU overclocking
• Lower CPU speed settings
• Reset BIOS to factory defaults
• Disable Turbo Boost features
• Reload security keys

Hardware Troubleshooting

• Unplug network cables during setup
• Remove network cards temporarily
• Try different memory slots
• Consider switching to AMD hardware if problems persist

High-end computers sometimes have compatibility issues with Windows 11. These advanced steps help when normal fixes fail.

Why This Approach Works

Blue screen errors during Windows setup have common causes. By checking each possible problem in order, you find and fix the real issue.

Start simple. Check requirements and make new installation files. Most problems get solved here.

Move to hardware testing if needed. Bad memory and drives cause many crashes.

Try advanced fixes only when everything else fails. Most people won’t need these steps.

This step-by-step method works because it addresses the most common causes first. Each fix builds on the previous one, leading you to a working Windows 11 installation.

Remember: patience helps more than rushing. Take time with each step. Your computer will run Windows 11 smoothly once you find and fix the real problem.