Windows 10: fall creators on small 32gb ssd, not enough space

The latest win 10 upgrade requires a minimum of 8gb free space on the C: drive.

This is a problem for those with a small storage media, ie typically 32gb.

Perhaps Microsoft needs to reconsider how these upgrades are implemented?

It shouldn't be necessary to have to move stuff off and uninstall stuff to achieve the upgrade.

Even removing the previously saved Windows.old file is not simple, and only freed 2-3gb. Am I wrong but I thought that the Windows.old folder is supposed to be automatically deleted after 30 days?

Some of the "enhancements" introduced, and not announced, such as introducing times when updates should not be installed are better, but as a Windows practician I know this but 95% of win 10 users aren't aware. I think these are just patching over a basic flaw in the whole concept/design of Windows updates in Win10. Really suggest that MS should go back to the drawing board on this, as really this is one thing in Win10 that is really turning people away from Windows.

:)

 

Can't install updates, have tried everything

Hi Evaana,

Is the problem that you don’t have enough space to download the fall creator update, or is it erroring out in a different way. I’ll do whatever I can to try to help.

32gb or 64gb Cloudbook?

Let me know!

- C

 

Updates to windows 10

Hi Anthony, that update that needs 8GB pf space is the Fall Creators Update - it is more of a system re-write than an update . . .

What size is your Hard drive?

If it is a 32GB SSD, the like thousands of other users, you will never get enough room to install this update. The only options is to backup your data and clean install the new version of Windows 10

If your Hard drive is larger, Windows and indeed Windows Explorer is useless when it comes to working out where your hard drive space is being used . . .

Click the link below to download a small free utility called Treesize. Using that tool, you will instantly see where this space is being used

TreeSize Free - Quickly Scan Directory Sizes and Find Space Hogs

Once you have worked out where this space is being user, please let us know so we can advise on what is safe to remove . . .

 

Maybe this can help*Smile(and maybe not*Sad):
Watch the first 14 minutes of this video at Channel 9, and go to the links in the description at the bottom.

Defrag: Windows 10 Creators Update Updating, Fixing a Win10 Homegroup, Star Trek VR and more... Channel 9

 

Thanks made me chuckle - impressed that he got it onto a 16gb device!

Nevertheless, irrespective of how you do it, it is over complex, and really creating an unnecessary problem (maybe always would be for a 16gb device); just demonstrates where MS is going wrong and how novices get really frustrated with MS, among many other unnecessary changes that MS makes.

Note this isn't a problem for enterprise users just the ordinary punter, some who know a bit and others who are clueless.

 

Before criticising things, you could ask how to do it properly.

1) Run disk cleanup, and make sure you select remove old system installation files, and check all boxes in popup list.

2) Move data in users directories to sd card

3) Temporarily disable hibernation

4) Download iso and store on sd card

5) Attach a usb flash drive with at least 8GB spare capacity

6) Mount iso on SD card and run setup.exe.

 

Please don't be so arrogant, people like you think you know everything and that everyone else is a fool.*Rolleyes

As it happens this was achieved using previous experience (50 years, including windows 1 upwards), and a dash of common sense. Your advice may help many who read this, however many users don't get this far - my comments are aimed at MS who seem to believe that the process of update/upgrades is a step forward. Well I'm sorry for most non-tech punters its a total anathema.

 

This issue is Storage Space for which MS has no control

 

Maybe, but isn't this part of the problem? Microsoft isn't considering its client base, just to ignore users with typically 32gb storage, many sold in this format by companies such as Lenovo, Asus, etc., who apparently work closely with MS (note these smaller systems have SS which is not readiy upgraded).
In systems I used to develop we had to think about the constraints and design around them.
This idea that the upgrade needs a 8gb free space is not the only way it could be done, the design should (i) check the space (which is does), (ii) remove stuff that ain't necessary (warning first), eg Windows.old, temp files etc. and install in different ways depending on the constraints/limitations.
One solution that fits all, isn't the best design in the world, I would say its cheap and nasty. We've moved on from Model T Fords, any colour as long as its black!
I bet you could do a better job, or at least design one!

 

As far as I remember it already does - if you haven't enough space upgrade will recommend disk cleanup or connecting an external drive. For this reason I increased size of my VMs from 20GB to 32GB so they would upgrade without bugging me.

32GB is still a bit tight though I agree if you actually want to use the thing for anything - perhaps MS shouldn't license Windows on such small devices - but then if the minimum sold was 64GB people would still fill it full of junk (or data, call it what you will).

 

I understand @robmar0se's point of view and I wouldn't be surprised if, for example, HP weren't a little miffed that they're stuck with 32GB Stream support for customers who don't even know about support forums such as this.

It's a bit concerning that they are still being sold even though some (many) users are now finding them 'not fit for purpose' (a consumer legislation term here in the UK) when forced updates occur but fail.

It just turns it into a 'duck responsibility' merry-go-round for many people who don't understand what's happening, don't actually want to know what's happening but just want their purchase to work.

 

These ultra compacts are designed for several reasons Portability, yes, like a big phone, Yes, for serious use, No

Most of the sellers of these units will also produce more conventional units with more realistic storage size options

They are built down to a price and some do come with a copy of windows installed - mostly older versions but even these can soon run out of Space.

What I have found with these units is that they , at least the few that I have dealt with, (when clients have problems updating, receiving the "not enough space" warnings as above), if you add a reasonably fast USB storage device, this is added to the available storage, on the same Drive letter as the original storage so the system is easily, and reasonably cheaply expandable, for updates and even initial installation

One other cost restriction on the devices that I looked at was the a the storage module although a standard unit as fitted to many modern devices was soldered to the motherboard rather than socketed *Banghead

I cannot confirm that this type of expansion is standard across the ecosystem for this type of device, I cannot even remember the badging on the units I worked with, but it may be worthwhile checking

 

Currently on sale in Currys/PC World with Win 10 pre-installed. (Doubt I'll be buying one any time soon, even if only £199.)

 

There are even cheaper "No Name" brands available. I consider them as the latest iteration of the old "Netbooks" we saw towards the end of XP and the explosion of the web.

The HP at PC World comes with 1TB of storage (as long as you have internet access) so for a lot of young people ( AKA Kids), It would probably be great for a first "Real" computer but the price will attract the non computer literate on a low budget which is a shame as it is not going to be a valued purchase - Refurb conventional PCs are available for reasonable cost, and although not New will far outperform these units Morgan Computers - for cheap computers, printers, digital cameras and accessories

 

I agree on many counts. I have one which I use when travelling around just for email and using the net for info etc. Mine as an Asus Transformer TA100 which actually came with Windows 8.1 and Office 2013, & 32Gb ss (these Asus Transformer models are quite popular, I've seen quite a few). I never get on with Smart phones, yes for emergencies and calls. The upgrade to Win10 was a piece of cake. I do have an 64gb SD card inserted but the Windows upgrade didn't naturally use it (unless you scroll down an adopt a certain update option, again not intuitive). I had to transfer stuff over.The others I've seen are typically used for light usage, emailing and browsing, they're not intended for serious computing, but do "fill-up" quite quickly with only 32gb.

Windows Upgrades for most non techies, is not intuitive or automatic. Hence my reason for the original post, as these guys are forgotten by MS. Windows 10 is like Marmite, more so than Windows 7 for example, love it or hate it. MS has got ways to go before I am in the former category.