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The installation of Windows 10 depends on several factors. Hardware configuration and software configuration is just a broad classification of this dependency. Any mismatch in this configuration can cause many errors. One such error is error code 0x80300002 for We couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose. The whole error states-

We couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose. Please check your media drive. Here’s more info about what happened: 0x80300002.

This error occurs due to corruption in the partition table of the drive on which the installation is in progress. It is also possible that there is corruption on the Media Device. In this article, we will be checking out how to fix it.

Some of the working methods to fix the error code 0x80300002 for Windows Installation are:

1. Verify the compatibility between the BIOS and the installation media.
2. Recreate all the partitions.
3. Recreate the bootable USB drive.

WARNING: The steps in these processes involve the deletion of partitions. So be aware that if you have data, it would be all lost. If you can, then take a backup by connecting the hard drive to a different computer.

1] Verify the compatibility between the BIOS and the installation media

The complicated point for Windows installation is that, if your Installation media is based on GPT, you need to have a BIOS, based on UEFI. And in case you have your bootable media with MBR Partitioning, you need to have your BIOS set to Legacy.

You need to verify these parameters and check if the compatibility is satisfied. If not, you can refer our guides about toggling between UEFI and Legacy or recreate the bootable USB drive with the appropriate partitioning table from method 3.

2] Recreate all the partitions

Restart the Windows installation process, and wait till you reach the screen which says Where do you want to install Windows?

In the same screen, you have the options to delete, format, extend, create new partitions, etc. Delete all the partitions. Then use the New button to create new partitions.

Make sure you have at least one primary partition where Windows 10 can install. Continue installing Windows on the new partition.

When you create a new partition, it recreates the partition table configuration. So there is no chance of any error.

3] Recreate the bootable USB drive

There is also a possibility of corruption of data in your installation media. Create a new USB Bootable device again and start the installation process. Check if that fixes your issues.

If the second method did not work correctly, repeat the given steps after getting a new ISO image file for Windows 11/10.

Hope these fixes help you in getting rid of the error 0x880300002 for Windows Installation.

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• How To Fix We Couldn’t Install Windows In The Location You Choose

By Sarah | Follow | Last Updated August 26, 2022

You need to install Windows due to different reasons, such as reinstall operating system and upgrade system. During the installation process, you may encounter many errors. Error 0x80300002 is a common one which implies the partition errors or the Windows installation media corruption.

Many people have reported the Windows installer error 0x80300002 during Windows installation. The detailed error message is:

We couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose. Please check your media drive. Here’s more info about what happened: 0x80300002.

Fix We Couldn’t Install Windows in the Location You Choose Error

Windows installation can be a simple process with the help of Windows Installer. The interface is very user-friendly (you can see prompts in each step), so you can finish installing the OS easily and quickly.

Yet, if corruption is found in the partition table of the drive on which the installation is performed, the Windows installation can’t be completed as planned.

If partition table corrupts, you must want to recover data from the corresponding partition immediately. Here’s what you should do:

Causes of Windows Installer Error 0x80300002

There are many factors that could be responsible for the appearance of Windows installation error 0x80300002. I summarized three common reasons for you:

• Wrong partition: if you have selected the partition which can’t be used to install Windows, the prompt will appear.
• Improper changes of older Windows prior: if the older Windows prior has been modified, the 0x80300002 error could also show up.
• Corrupted Windows installation media: we couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose error will also occur when the media (CD/DVD/USB drive) you use to install Windows is corrupted somehow.

4 Solutions to Windows Installation Error

In this section, 4 methods will be introduced to fix the problem when We couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose error message pops up.

Method 1: remove external hardware.

A few users have reported that they only see the error after connecting certain external hardware to the computer on which Windows installation is in progress. The error is fixed when the external hardware is removed.

Therefore, when you see stop error 0x80300002, my advice is to try to solve the problem by removing all unnecessary external hardware temporarily.

Method 2: verify the compatibility.

If the installation media is not compatible with the BIOS of your computer, the installation error will be caused.

• The BIOS must be based on UEFI when the installation media is based on GPT.
• You need to set your BIOS to legacy when the media is partitioning with MBR.

Do remember to check these parameters to find out if there is compatibility issue or not.

How to fix if your PC is not booting after BIOS update?

Method 3: delete partitions.

Bad partitions can also cause the error, so you should cancel the installation and restart your computer. If the PC can boot, you should try deleting partition. Before deleting partitions, you should back up data in it.

How to delete (in Windows 10):

1. Right click on This PC desktop icon.
2. Choose Manage from the pop-up menu.
3. Select Disk Management under Storage.
4. Right click on the target partition and choose Delete Volume.
5. Repeat this process to delete all the partitions on your installation media.
6. Try the Windows installation again and create new partitions during the process.

If you forget to back up data until the partitions have been deleted, you may use the Partition Recovery function of MiniTool.

Method 4: try System Restore.

The System Restore feature in Windows will allow you to restore your system to an early point where the error didn’t occur. After the System Restore has been done correctly, you can try to install Windows again.

Make The Most Of System Restore In Windows 10: Ultimate Guide.

Besides, you can also try to fix We couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose issue by recreating the bootable USB drive or connecting the hard disk to a different computer.

About The Author

Position: Columnist

Sarah has been working as an editor at MiniTool since she graduated from university. Sarah aims at helping users with their computer problems such as disk errors and data loss. She feels a sense of accomplishment to see that users get their issues fixed relying on her articles. Besides, she likes to make friends and listen to music after work.