Fix: SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085 on Windows PC

SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085 is a new bug that stops Windows Update services or prevents performing basic operations on Windows PC. When this occurs, the display screen turns Blue and displays a Setup Failure Error message. In this post, we will discuss the reasons for invoking this BSOD error, and the solutions that might address this Stop Error on Windows 11/10.

What causes this BSOD Error 0x00000085?

This Blue Screen error normally occurs when your device meets one or a combination of the following conditions on your computer –

Startup apps have been corrupted because of third-party interactions.
Corruption within the Windows 11/10 Image.
Faulty hard disk or Memory

Since this is a blue screen of death error, it prevents users from getting past this stop error screen. You must boot into Safe Mode on your Windows PC and then follow the below instructions.

Disabling third-party antivirus, stopping non-essential apps from launching during Windows startup, and deleting cache or temporary files might help you to overcome this error code. If not, run SFC, CHKDSK, DISM, or check Windows Memory using the diagnostic tool.

Fix SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085 on Windows

To solve the SETUP_FAILURE BSOD 0x85 Error, boot your device into safe mode and attempt the below fixes –

Contents List

Perform a Full Computer scan
Disconnect External Devices from your PC
Disable Non-essential Startup Programs
Update Obsolete Drivers
Delete Cache and Temporary Files
Try Blue Screen Troubleshooter
Use SFC scan to repair System files
Run the DISM Command tool
Restore Folders at their Original Location
Disconnect Multiple Hard Disks
Run the CHKDSK command
Install the latest cumulative updates
Fix corrupt memory (RAM)
Perform a system restore
Fresh Install Windows 10

1] Perform a Full Computer scan

The presence of malicious files is the prime reason that can cause SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085 to appear in the first place. As Microsoft provides a useful antivirus (receives security updates regularly), there is no need for any third-party anti-malware program. If you do have any, uninstall the same and perform the below task on Windows Defender –

Jointly press Win + I to launch Settings.
Select the Update & Security category then Windows Security.
Moving to the right side, tap Virus & threat protection thereafter Scan options.

Select the circle next to Full scan and hit Scan now.
The scanning process will start immediately afterward.
Wait till this finds any viruses present on your PC.
Lastly, tap Clean threats (if it shows any) to remove all of them.

Learn how to Disable or Enable Windows Defender in Windows 10

2] Disconnect External Devices from your PC

Look for any external device that is attached to your computer such as Printer, Scanner, etc. Such devices are known to interfere with the Startup settings and thus result in Error 0x85. In case, you also have these devices attached to your PC, disconnect all of them. After you disconnect all the peripheral devices, force boot your device, and check if the BSOD error resolves this way.

3] Disable Non-essential Startup Programs

Usually, when you start Windows OS, there are numerous apps that open up simultaneously. This includes basic apps (essential for OS), and a handful of applications that we rarely use. Since each app requires its own process to start, any corruption within these may prevent Windows to load normally. Boot into the Safe mode, and disable all third-party apps starting during Windows Startup. Here’s how to perform this task –

Search for System Configuration on the Windows Search (Win + S).
Click on the well-matching result to launch System Configuration.
Go to the Services tab and mark the box against “Hide all Microsoft services”.

Next, hit Disable all.
Henceforth, go to the Startup tab and select the “Open Task Manager” link.

Select and hit Disable for all apps that keep on running in the background.

Get back to the System Configuration window and click Apply then OK.

4] Update Obsolete Drivers

Windows function properly when all the drivers are up to date. Any corruption within a system driver may prevent Windows from loading normally or result in a SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085. So, we recommend checking all the drivers and updating them.

Press Win + R to start the Run dialog.
Type, ‘devmgmt.msc’ near the blinking cursor and press Enter.
Once the Device Manager window appears, notice if any driver contains a yellow exclamation mark.
If indeed, expand the same by clicking on the right arrow.
Next, right-click on the particular driver and select Update Driver.
A pop-up containing two options will appear, choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

At last, Reboot your system so as to save the recent changes.

5] Delete Cache and temporary files

Cache piles up over a period of time as per your usage of the Operating system and its services. This includes your daily function, the leftover files of uninstalled programs, or other residual files. When they remain unused for a long time, they might start creating a nuisance like corrupting the essential system files and folders.

Follow the below instructions to manually detect these files and delete them –

Make right-click on the Win icon and select Run.
Type cleanmgr at the void and press Enter.
Select C: drive on the upcoming window and tap OK.
When it completes the searching process, hit Clean up system files.

Choose C: drive again and press the OK button.
This will again look for the spaces that it can free up.

Note: Make sure to restore any important items if available inside Recycle Bin.

Mark all the boxes except Downloads, and hit OK.

How to Use Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows 10

6] Try Blue Screen Troubleshooter

Microsoft incorporates a blue screen troubleshooter on Windows 10 that can automatically check for corrupt files and folders and repair them. This tool will also check for other underlying causes that may result in a BSOD error. Here’s how to find and use this utility program –

Press Win + I to launch the Windows 10 Settings.
Select the Update & Security category.
Choose “Troubleshoot” and thereafter head over to the right pane.
Scroll and locate the Blue Screen option here.
Once you find it, click on the same and click Run the troubleshooter.

Upon performing the tool properly, Windows 10 will fix the 0x00000085 error automatically.

7] Use SFC scan to repair System files

System File Checker is a built-in tool on Windows 10 that you might use to find and repair broken or damaged files and folders. If you don’t know how to proceed, here are the required steps to follow –

Hit the Start button and type “CMD“.
From the list of options, make right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator“.
If the UAC window appears, tap Yes.
Next type the following command in the elevated console and press Enter –

sfc /scannow

This will take approximately 10-15 minutes to scan and repair the corrupt files, hence wait till this gets over.

8] Run DISM Command Tool

DISM is yet another useful tool that looks for any corrupt Windows image and repairs the same (if it finds some). For this, you need to follow these steps –

Open Command Prompt as an Admin.
If UAC prompts, tap Yes.
Type the following code near the blinking cursor –

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Press Enter and wait till this completes the whole task.
Do Reboot your Windows 10 Device so as to save the changes performed so far.

9] Restore Folders to their Original Location

Although Microsoft states that changing folder location is compatible with Windows 10 systems, there are cases where it causes unwanted errors. The BSOD Error 0x00000085 is a direct result of moving system folders from their original location to a new path. To overcome this issue, one should restore the moved folders to their default location. Here’s how to perform this task –

Open File Explorer.
Copy/Paste “shell:UsersFilesFolder” at its address bar and press the Enter key.
Here, make right-click on the folder that you have dislocated previously and select “Properties“.
Now, tap the Location tab and hit Restore Default thereafter OK.

Note: If a pop-up appears asking to move all the files to their default locations, click Yes.

10] Disconnect Multiple Hard Disks

If you are fond of using more than one hard drive so as to get more storage, you should try disabling the extra ones temporarily. In case, it does solve the problem, one of the additional drives might contain some malicious files that interact with OS and lead to setup_failure BSOD error. If not, keep using them after executing the CHKDSK command on each one of them.

Note: Furthermore, while disconnecting extra hard disks, make sure to remove External hard drives as well.

11] Run the CHKDSK command

If you have already removed any extra hard disk yet receiving the 0x85 issue, you should check the prime hard drive for any internal error. Here are the steps to work upon –

Launch Command Prompt as administrator first.
If UAC appears, hit Yes to go ahead.
Type the following command line and press Enter –

chkdsk C: /f /r /x

The Disk Checking Utility will immediately begin the scanning process.
This process will take a few minutes to complete, so wait till this finishes.

Restart your device and when it does, check if you can boot into your Windows PC normally.

12] Install Latest Cumulative Updates

Microsoft keeps on updating the existing Windows 10 version with monthly patches. One should enable auto-updating of his/her Windows operating system to avoid compatibility issues in the future. Here’s how to check and install the latest cumulative updates on Windows 10 –

Open Windows 10 Settings.
Navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update.
Even if it displays the “You’re up to date dialog”, hit Check for updates.
The system will now search for any available updates for your respective Windows 10 version.
A list of available updates will appear on the display Screen after the search process completes.
Click the Download button and wait for this patch to install successfully.

Note: If you are encountering this error on Windows 11, read this guide on how to manually download and install Windows 11 Updates.

13] Fix corrupt memory (RAM)

The presence of faulty or damaged memory on your Windows 11/10 may also cause this SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085. You may have a look at the available RAM by following these easy steps –

Hit the Win icon and type memory in the search bar.
Select the top result and hit Enter to launch the Windows memory diagnostic.
Here, click Restart now and check for the problems (recommended).

Windows 10 will automatically start the first cycle of rebooting.
Once it powers up, you will notice a blue screen displaying several memory issues.
When the above task reaches 100%, the device will eventually restart again.
To see the error results, sign back into your Windows 10 PC.

Note: If you haven’t got any diagnosis report, you may access the reports manually as well. For that –

Start Run (Win + R) and type “eventvwr.msc” on it, and hit OK.
Next, browse Windows Logs thereafter System.
Press Ctrl + f, type MemoryDiagnostic, and press Enter.
At last, click Find Next to see the entire report.

14] Perform a system restore

In case, if you have ever created a system restore in the past, this is the perfect time to revert back your operating system to that point when it was working completely fine. If not, skip this workaround and proceed to the next one –

Press the Windows button and type rstrui.
Select the top result to start the System Restore window thereafter Next.

This will automatically display the available restore points on your Device.
Check the box against Show more restore points.
Choose the recently created Restore Point on your computer.
In the end, hit Next then Finish initiating this task.

Learn how to Create a System Restore Point using Command Prompt or PowerShell

15] Clean Install Windows 11/10

When you install Windows 11/10 ISO via the Media Creation tool, there is a possibility of downloading a corrupt driver or even a faulty operating system. If that’s the case, your device might encounter this SETUP_FAILURE BSOD Error 0x00000085 time and again.

Since you have already tried the above solutions but apparently still encountering the BSOD error, we suggest visiting the Windows 11 official site and re-downloading the latest Windows ISO image. In case you want to remain on Windows 10, go to this website instead.

Note: The previously generated bootable media is of not any use as it can’t deploy and further change. So, whenever you use the same ISO image to fresh install Windows, the error 0x00000085 eventually arises.

This is why we recommend downloading a new Windows 11/10 installation file on a separate disk and using the same to reinstall Windows OS. While performing a clean install, just make sure to format all the partitions that pre-exist on your device.

Read: Create a full Windows 10 backup using the System Image Backup tool