Not enough space for latest windows 10 update?

johngorno

SW5 111 with a 32 GB system SSD plus 500 GB HD.  I updated *to* Windows 10, but the November 2015 (Windows 10 Home v. 1511) update *of* Win 10 complains about insufficient space, even after I tell update to use the near-empty HD.  I've used almost none of the system disk for other stuff (apps or documents), used disk clean-up (there's nothing to clean up), but it complains that I need almost 2 more GB on the SSD!  I've tried repeatedly, hoping it was some transient issue with the update, but always get the same failed result.  Many Win 10 machines have 32 GB SSD's, so it's hard to believe I can't keep my system updated.

 

Thanks,

JF

billsey

Any chance Windows.old is still there?

johngorno

A necessary question... no, I deleted Windows.old before trying.  There is a 7 GB recovery partition, though.  (I broke down and went through the risk/trouble of backing that up, then deleting it and moving/resizing the remaining partitions to permit the install, then restoring that partition, but it would be nice if there were a simpler way.)  120 GB SSD's are only $50 now, so once I can get the tablet open, I could replace it, still, I can't be the only person with this problem, so it would be nice if we can find a simpler solution.

 

JF

billsey

Actually, IIRC the SSD is soldered to the motherboard, so no swapping for a bigger one.

johngorno

(Thanks for the tablet chassis opening instructions!)  Your memory is correct:  the only thing that could be an

SSD (or its housing?) appears to be built in (and a non-rectangle).  I'm not brave enough to mess with it to see if there's a replaceable SSD hiding inside (not that anyone should have to go to that extreme to keep Win 10 up to date).

 

JF

johngorno

If anyone is wondering, the update didn't have any noticeable effect, so I don't know if it's worth bothering with;  I was hoping it might have fixed some of the obvious flaws of Windows 10 (unresponsive task bar, etc., etc.).

 

Here's how I got around the space problem this time, using free software from CNET.  I don't know if this is a wise or risk-free procedure, but it's what worked for me.  I used EaseUS ToDo Backup to back up (and verify) the 7 GB restore partition onto another drive, then (after carefully noting its exact size) used MiniTool Partition Wizard to delete it from the system drive.  Inconveniently, there was another, smaller recovery partition immediately after the system partition that I needed to expand, so I backed this up too.  Then I used P. Wiz. to move that partition to the end of the drive space, then resized the system partition to include the now-contiguous, now-unallocated 7 GB.  Then I performed the update without a problem.  Then I backed up the latest Windows.old and used Disk Clean-up to delete it.  Finally, I resized the system partition back down to its old size, re-creating the un-allocated block into which I restored the 7 GB recovery partition.  I don't know if shuffling the recovery partitions like this affects the recovery system:  it might have been better to shift the smaller recovery partition back where it was originally, but I didn't feel like repeating these extra steps every time I update Windows.

 

JF

johngorno

I should have said this:  make a permanant, dedicated Windows Recovery USB drive before messing with the partitions!

 

JF