Windows cannot install required files, Error Code 0x8007025D

If when you try to update Windows with a new Feature Update you encounter the error code 0x8007025D or 0x80070003 with the accompanying error message Windows cannot install required files, then this post is intended to help you. In this post, we will identify the possible causes of this update error, as well as provide solutions that you can try to help you mitigate this issue.

When the update fails, you will receive the following error message prompt:

Windows Setup
Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation
are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x8007025D

On investigation, the error code 0x8007025D = ERROR_BAD_COMPRESSION_BUFFER, which translates to the specified buffer containing ill-formed data.

USB 3.0 uses the Message Signaled Interrupt (MSI) mode for communications with the system. Whereas, USB 2.0 uses the much older Interrupt Request (IRQ) system. One feature of the new MSI system that USB 3.0 devices use is asynchronous handling of data transfer between the device and system. This requires a buffer through which data is streamed at high data rates, which is then decoded by the system. If you receive error 0x8007025D during the feature update process, then it’s likely your PNY devices are sending bad or corrupted data to the buffers, your device’s buffers are choked or your device can’t decode the data properly.

Corrupt data on the USB drive means that this data cannot be decoded properly thus throwing this error. Corrupt data may be from the corrupt ISO image file used to create the bootable USB drive. If the file that should be copied is missing or corrupt, you will get this error. The issue might also arise from a bad flash drive that is corrupt of unreadable at a certain section. In the case where you might have plugged in another USB device that is read as another disk drive, the data sent to the buffer by these devices might cause the error.

Also, if the HDD or SSD has a bad sector or record and the Windows installation tries to copy files to this space, an error is returned to the buffer, which in turn displays error 0x8007025D. A bad RAM is also likely to be a cause of this error. If data is copied to a bad section of the RAM, then the buffering technology will receive an error, therefore, displaying error 0x8007025D.

Why Windows cannot install required files?

The error will occur when reinstalling or updating the operating system. This issue can occur if your installation media is damaged. Make sure that your DVD disc isn’t damaged. You may create an installation media on USB flash drive and install Windows again.

How to fix the Error Code 0x8007025D in Windows?

The first thing to do is to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter and see if that fixes the problem. Troubleshoot Your RAM. You may also check and update your BIOS. If that doesn’t work, you may create a bootable Windows 11/10 image on another flash drive.

Windows cannot install required files, Error Code 0x8007025D

If you’re faced with error code 0x8007025D or 0x80070003, you can try our recommended solutions below in no particular order and see if that helps to resolve the issue.

Unplug any external devices
Reduce the size of HDD or SSD disk space and format it
Download a fresh Windows 10 ISO image and create a bootable drive on another USB
Run a memory diagnostic on your RAM and replace a bad RAM stick (if applicable).

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved in relation to each of the listed solutions.

1] Unplug any external devices

This solution requires you to unplug all your USB devices and other peripheral devices including the internet cable. Most of the time the Windows installation will throw the error 0x8007025D because of bad hardware drivers or outdated drivers.

It also turns out that after copying the files to your computer, Windows installation might not need your USB drive anymore. Just unplug your drive and see if the installation will continue from where it left off.

If still faced with error, continue with the next solution.

2] Reduce the size of HDD or SSD disk space and format it

You only need around 20GB of space to install Windows. So, if you encounter this error while installing the new feature update from USB drive, you can try reducing your installation partition to around 125GB. This will reduce the chances that the space you are copying to is corrupted.

You can reduce the disk space by clicking on the Extend option after choosing the Custom Install option in Windows 11/10. Make sure, however, that your hard drive is healthy and not damaged in any way.

If you are performing a clean install, make sure that you format the partition you intend to install on. This will iron out the bad sectors and records. You can format the partition, by clicking on the Format option and accepting to format, after choosing the Custom Install option

Afterward, retry the installation. If the issue persists, you can proceed with the next solution.

3] Download a fresh Windows ISO image and create a bootable drive on another USB

There is a possibility that Windows ISO image you downloaded has a corrupt file that would not be decoded or copied. It is entirely possible that the file is missing from the USB drive or the disk especially if you downloaded the file via image creation.

Additionally, it’s possible that your USB drive is corrupt or has an unreadable section, then the buffering technology will detect this error and you’ll receive 0x8007025D – Windows cannot install required files error message.

In this solution, you will need to download a fresh Windows ISO image, create a bootable drive on another USB drive and then retry the installation. If the installation still fails with the error, continue with the next solution.

If you were using USB 3.0 earlier, you could try using a USB 2.0 port since it uses a different technology from USB 3.0 to read the data.

4] Run a memory diagnostic on your RAM and replace the bad RAM stick (if applicable)

You might be experiencing this error message because Windows 11/10 setup would rather not install Windows on your device if it finds a bad RAM than crashing all the time after installation.

So, if you have two RAM sticks, each of at least 1GB, you can try removing either and trying the installation (swap if the first one returns an error). You can also check for RAM errors using the inbuilt Memory Diagnostics Tool. Replace any bad RAM and then retry the installation.

Related reads: Windows cannot install required files:

Hopefully, one of these solutions will work for you!

Obinna@TWC

Obinna has completed B.Tech in Information & Communication Technology. He has worked as a System Support Engineer, primarily on User Endpoint Administration, as well as a Technical Analyst, primarily on Server/System Administration. He also has experience as a Network and Communications Officer. He has been a Windows Insider MVP (2020) and currently owns and runs a Computer Clinic.