Windows 10: In-Place Upgrade fails with message "not enough disk space"

Ok.....don't see any additional explanation, but ok, maybe I missed it........

 

The one that was specified further up.

I downloaded the 64bit version of Windows 10 (not the N or the single language version) in German.

Since I have the same problem with the ISO version as with the previously downloaded USB installation (using the installation disk creation tool by Microsoft), I do not think it is related to the installer or the installer medium...

 

Which of your partitions do you have the ISO physically on? The C: partition (your OS) or the other Data Partition?

EDIT: @markrosa ... reason I'm asking is the space. If you have the ISO on that other data partition, it may be a problem. That partition is at 91% full. Only 9% available. The process requires temporary file space to "do it's thing". 9% is not much and MS may be balking at it being less than 10% available. This is not to be confused with the Windows.old folder that will be created on your C: drive. If the process wants to create it's temp working files on the same partition it was executed from, it may not see enough room to do that, and give you that error message. This is only a S.W.A.G. on my part, but you could try moving that ISO to the C: partition, where's there's plenty of room, and trying again. Only a guess at this point.......

 

The .iso is on the P: partition (sorry, just wanted to make it simpler by naming it D for data in my comment; I failed in that attempt ;-)) which has plenty of space as well (30 GB free on a 48 GB partition; and that is 30 GB free with the .iso already on it). So I doubt, that this could be the reason. But nevertheless, I will try it from the C: partition as well later on...


EDIT: Just tried it. Same result even when .iso is on C: partition and mounted from there...

 

@markrosa

Your specs say you are running win 10 pro on a surface pro 3. I also am running win 10 pro on a surface pro 3. I am on build 14393.447. What is your build number? WIN KEY + R, enter WINVER.

Your MiniTool partition display is far different than mine. I'm at a loss to explain that. The position of the partitions and the size of your Recovery Partition does not make sense to me. Maybe to someone else.

Here is your Minitool & mine.....

Yours:




Mine:




I'm running UEFI, it appears you are not. This is a little out of my league, but that 360MB recovery may need to be 450MB and windows has no room to expand it.

I'm gonna ask for some input on this one, @essenbe. It just doesn't look right.

 

@Brink - Shawn, you can move this whole thing somewhere else if you want. Wasn't my intention to clutter the tut.

 

@f14tomcat, it doesn't look right to me either. He can't be running an MBR install on a GPT disk, I don't believe. The sizes of the partitions are wrong, it seems and he looks to be missing the 16MB partition. I am not sure what is on Partition 1 either. If it is a recovery partition, he has 2 of them, which isn't uncommon, as you know. The first partition reads Windows RE tools, which may be a partition he created. I have never see that partition on an install.
In the FWIW dept, here is mine.

 

The size of that recovery at the end looks a lot like an OEM recovery partition, or some other non-windows install. I can't make sense of it. Yours looks like mine.
@markrosa - can you take a look at my posts and Steve's and shed some light on this? It's baffling.

 

@f14tomcat and @markrosa

No problem. Thread moved. *Smile

 

Thank you, Sir! *Smile

( @essenbe Steve, we moved.....)

 

Got it.

 

Hi @tomcat @essenbe,

thanks for your help!

Here is the history of my laptop:
1. bought the Surface 3 Pro in 2015 (spring) with Windows 8 (or 8.1, not sure any more) preinstalled. If I remember correctly there was always a "recovery partition" of multiple GB at the end of the disk (and is still there) and the small one (350 MB) at the beginning.
2. I split the original one big C: partition into 3 partitions (C:, R: and P*Smile for Windows&Programs, private data, business data respectively. I have been using MiniTool Partition Wizard (free) for that.
3. Since the front glass delaminated in May 2015 I had to move to a replacement Surface 3 Pro using Macrium Reflect (free) and an external disk to mirror my original disk.
4. Upgraded to Windows 10 in Summer 2015.

As far as I know I am still using UEFI (which seems to be shown by the active&boot partition labeled "SYSTEM", showing "EFI System Partition" in the partition type column).

Do you think it would help to try to repartition (i.e. increase the size of the 350MB recovery partition at the beginning to be 450MB large)?

 

@markrosa, Good morning, Mark.

Thanks for the history, it helps.

I'm going to be on and off today doing some repair work of my own. There are some other options, but first we need a few answers to some questions. Based on the steps you've done in the past, you are obviously not a novice, so please excuse if I over-explain steps. Not suggesting yet to take any steps, just investigating.

1. What build are you currently running? Hold Win Key and press "R", type WINVER and enter. Post the screen.

2. Have you ever successfully done an in-place repair?

3. Do you have a current, verified full system backup stored off-line? (Macrium)

4. Have you done a Disk Cleanup, including system files, on your C: drive?

5. Do you have your product key written down? Any/all activation keys for apps you have purchased?

6. Could you explain briefly a little more about your statement in the first post... to "repair" my system (there are some quirks I want to get rid off)

I'll check back later. Thanks, TC...

 

hi tc,

sorry, but since i am located in germany, my replies might be delayed a bit ...

here the answers to your questions:

1. What build are you currently running? Hold Win Key and press "R", type winver and enter. post the screen.





2. Have you ever successfully done an in-place repair?

No, I never did (with Windows 10, at least and I cannot remember ever doing an in-place repair with a previous Windows version on another computer). Mostly I took the hassle to do a clean installation to get rid of the acquired "grime". Just wanted to do it different this time and save some time this time (the "saving some time" part has already failed miserably ).

3. Do you have a current, verified full system backup stored off-line? (Macrium)

Yep I have a series of them on my synology NAS.

4. Have you done a Disk Cleanup, including system files, on your C: drive?

Yes, I did run the disk cleanup (chkdsk with /F) on C:, P: and R: but no errors were found. I did not try on the other (hidden) partitions, since they are not NTFS in most parts (as far as I know).

5. Do you have your product key written down? Any/all activation keys for apps you have purchased?

I have copies of the product key and hopefully all of the application keys

6. Could you explain briefly a little more about your statement in the first post... to "repair" my system (there are some quirks I want to get rid off)

I experience trouble with some applications to start (for example iTunes, Partition Wizard, ...). They sometimes start, sometimes not and most of the times when they start they take a long time and start in the background.

 

@markrosa, Good morning, Mark. Thanks for all the answers, that was very detailed and a good job! Not often that the answers come back so quickly and detailed. Very much appreciated. One thing, the Disk Cleanup I was referring to (#4) is this one:





then check off everything.





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Your statement here: "Just wanted to do it different this time and save some time this time (the "saving some time" part has already failed miserably )." kinda tells the tale. When it gets to a point where you're spending way too much time on a solution that gets you nowhere, it's time to look at other options.

There is a middle of the road solution we could try. Not an in-place repair and not a total clean install. Windows 10 has a Reset function that will keep all of your personal files, pics, etc. , remove all apps and programs you have installed and all their settings, and re-install a fresh copy of Windows, based on what you already have installed. You're up to date on the Anniversary Edition, have good backups, have all your keys, etc. You're in good shape to try it. I've done it before, and it's totally automatic. It has a side benefit of giving you the chance to review what you really want/need installed for your apps/programs. And they (your apps) will be a clean install.

here's where to find it, and a link to the tutorial for it. let me know what you decide. tc

Refresh Windows Tool - How to Use in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums