Install Games for Windows Live

When you install a game or a game demo that you downloaded from the Games for Windows Marketplace software, you receive the following error message:

“Installation failed”

Here are some things to try.

To install game software or downloads, you must be logged on with an Administrator or Standard user account.

If you are logged on to Windows with a restricted user account, you won’t be able to install a game or demo. For more information about account types and how to change your account type, see User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide.

One reason you might receive this error message is because you don’t have enough disk space for the game or demo you’re trying to install. Here’s how to check for disk space:

1. Click Start, and then click Computer.
2. Right-click the destination drive that you selected for your game or download, and then click Properties. On the General tab, you’ll see the amount of disk space that you have available.
3. Make sure that you have enough free disk space for the download.

Note When installing a program, you need to have two times as much space as was indicated during installation. After the installation is complete, the installer files are removed.

The BITSAdmin tool can clear any file transfers that might be interfering with the Games for Windows Marketplace software. Here’s how to use it:

Before you start, make sure Windows is up to date by running Windows Update.

1. Complete any pending downloads or file transfers.
2. Do one of the following things:
   • In Windows 8, open the Start screen and type Run.
   • In Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, and then click Run.

     Note If you do not see the Run command, click Start, type Run in the Search box, and then click Run in the search results.

   • In Windows XP, click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type cmd.exe, and then click OK.
4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter:
   bitsadmin.exe /reset
5. When the code finishes running, close the command window.

You might need to cancel all active downloads, empty the cache for the Games for Windows Marketplace software, and then redownload the game or demo that could not be installed. Here’s how:

1. Close all browser windows and programs that are currently connecting to the Internet except the Games for Windows Marketplace software.
2. In the Games for Windows Marketplace software, click Downloads. Cancel all pending downloads, and then exit the program. If the download that you are having problems with is listed as installed, remove it.
3. Empty the Games for Windows Marketplace software download cache. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Do one of the following things:
      • In Windows 8, open the Start screen, and then type Run.
      • In Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, and then click Run.

        Note If you do not see the Run command, click Start, type Run in the Search box, and then click Run in the search results.

      • In Windows XP, click Start, and then click Run.
   2. Do one of the following things:
      • In Windows Vista or Windows 7, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\GFWLive\Downloads in the Run box, and then click OK.
      • In Windows XP, type %USERPROFILE%\local settings\application data in the Open box, and then click OK.
   3. When the Downloads folder opens, delete all the files from the folder.
   4. Close all windows.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Open the Games for Windows Marketplace software, and then try to download and install the game or demo again.