12.3 Common Windows Operating System Problems
12.3.1 Troubleshooting setup (installation) problems
Most setup problems are errors that occur during the installation phase of the operating system. The early versions of DOS required simple installations. However, with the latest versions of Windows, setup procedures have become a complex issue that requires running an install or setup program. Therefore, technicians will spend more time than ever before troubleshooting setup problems.

One of the most common types of installation problems occurs while attempting to install the operating system on the hard drive. The error message will state, "The system hard drive does not have enough space to carry out the installation process". When this happens, either delete obsolete files until there is enough space or add another hard drive to the system to increase the available space.

Other installation issues that are commonly found are hardware issues. These are identified by "insufficient memory" and "incompatible device driver" errors. The best way to begin to resolve hardware problems is to consult the Microsoft website to see if the hardware is compatible with the operating system that is being installed. If the hardware is no longer supported, it should be replaced.