Fix Windows 10/11 Upgrade or Installation Error 0x8007042b – 0x4000D

In this guide, we will explain why Windows 10/11 upgrade or installation error 0x8007042b – 0x4000D occurs and the working ways to fix it on your device. Upon occurring, this bug simply prohibits users from installing or upgrading to Windows 10/11 and instead throws an error that reads the following –

Error 0x8007042B – 0x4000D
The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase with an error during MIGRATE_DATA operation

As stated in the error message, this bug arises while in the second boot phase and obstructs the data migration process. The second boot phase is basically the Out-Of-Box-Experience (OOBE) phase wherein the data migration should occur normally. Since this is failing, the update process will commence at first but then this will simply freeze and triggers a blue screen of death error. 

There are several reasons that may cause this issue like missing system files, corrupted “Windows Image”, or pending XML files. Sometimes, the presence of third-party apps or services may also trigger such errors. Whatever is the reason in your case, you may fix it by applying these workarounds –

• Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Fix Corrupted System Files – SFC & DISM
• Install The Update In Clean Boot State
• Clear Pending .XML file
• Check Windows Update Log File
• Upgrade Windows 10/11 using an ISO file

Solve Upgrade or Installation Error 0x8007042B – 0x4000D

If you are not able to upgrade to Windows 10/11 because of an error code 0x8007042B – 0x4000D, try out the below suggestions sequentially –

1] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Troubleshooting Windows Update often solves the issue or at least lets you know the reasons why it is not occurring. In case you don’t know how to use this utility program, follow the below guideline –

• Right-click on the Windows icon and select Settings.
• On the succeeding screen, navigate to the following –

Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters

• Click to expand Windows Update and hit Run the troubleshooter. 

• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the remaining steps.
• When this is over, you will get an option i.e. “Apply this fix”, click over the same.
• Close all windows and restart your device.

From the next logon, I hope you can easily install the new operating system without getting into any bugs or errors. 

2] Fix Corrupted System Files – SFC & DISM

The presence of corrupted system files or “Windows Image” may also trigger error 0x8007042B – 0x4000D when you try installing the new OS. In order to fix this problem then, you must resolve the corruption inside the core system files. SFC and DISM are the two best tools that can help to resolve such problems. Here’s how to perform these scans –

• First of all, open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
• On the elevated console, type the following and press Enter –

sfc/ scannow

• The SFC scan normally takes 15-20 minutes depending upon the level of corruption inside your device. While scanning and repairing damaged system files, this also re-generates the missing core files.
• When this is over, execute the below command –

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• The above code will run to find any issue with the Windows 10 Image. Running DISM will resolve any corruption that it finds during the above scan. 

Restart your PC so that changes made become effective. Sign back into your device and check if you can now upgrade the operating system or still not. 

3] Install The Update In Clean Boot State

At times, Windows 10/11 installation fails because of some third-party apps or services running in the background. To overcome this issue then, you should try upgrading your device by booting into the Clean Boot State. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press “Windows key + S” to invoke the Search window.
• Type msconfig in the search bar and press Enter on your keyboard. 
• When a new window appears on the display screen, head over to the Services tab.
• Check the box that says – Hide all Microsoft Services, and hit Disable all. See the Snapshot below –

• Use the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” shortcut to launch the Task Manager. 
• Go to the Startup tab, and disable all the services that show “Enabled” on the Status column.

Restart your PC next and your device will boot into the Clean Boot state. Now, check if you can upgrade your device or still not. If your system indeed upgrades, the problem was there on the third-party apps, so you must uninstall all of them. In case you do know about recent app installations, uninstall them first.

Note: The only problem is you can’t be sure of them unless you want to re-perform the Windows installation. Anyways, if you have already upgraded to the desired operating system, this really doesn’t matter. 

In case the error 0x8007042b – 0x4000D is still occurring, you may follow the below advanced solutions –

4] Clear Pending .XML file

The presence of pending .xml files may also obstruct installing a new operating system on your device. What you can do at least is rename such files using the below steps – 

• Press WinKey + R to start the Run dialog.
• Type “CMD” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter altogether.
• When the UAC prompts, tap Yes to authorize accessing administrator rights. 
• Doing so will launch the Command Prompt. 
• Copy/paste the below command and press Enter –

Ren c:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml pending.old

Now that you have renamed pending XML files, see if it helps to install Windows 10 or 11. 

5] Check Windows Update Log File

If you are still unable to install Windows 10/11 because of the error 0x8007042b – 0x4000D, go and check the Windows Update Log file. You can locate this file at the following path –

C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log

This Log basically contains all the information about a failed upgrade error. In case there are too many error codes in this file, just delete the entire file. After you successfully delete this file, restart your PC and retry installing updates. 

Since you haven’t done anything, the update should fail automatically. Now, re-visit the above path and open the Windows Update Log file. Inside this, you may see some 10-digit error code starting with “0x”.

Now that you know the exact issue because of which the update is failing, see the respective solutions here. Perform the solution as directed there and you will be able to resolve the issue. 

6] Upgrade Windows 10/11 using an ISO file

I hope the above solutions indeed work to resolve the 0x8007042b – 0x4000D issue on your device. If not, you are left with only one option and i.e. clean install Windows OS. To do so, you need an ISO file and make that bootable. 

Let’s know which solution works in your case in the below comment section.