Windows 10: Using External Storage Device for Windows Update

I have Windows Update Assistant to update Windows 10. The laptop I am using has a 28 GB hard drive so even after using disk cleanup and moving files I won't be able to get 8GB free, at least without drastic changes such as uninstalling Office.. Supposedly one can attach a flash drive with 11GB of space to use in lieu of freeing hard drive space but it is not apparent how to use that, the step describing how to free drive space is an active link but there is no link or button to use the external storage.

:)

 

Update Assistant does not detect External Storage Device

I am currently facing an issue with the update assistant. The problem comes from the prompt as seen from this webpage

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-10-freeing-up-space-to-install-latest-update

The issue is in "Step 2: Connect an external storage device". It says to
"Connect your external storage device and wait until you see it in the drop-down list" but the external storage device already connected to my device (and shows up on My PC) is not shown on the drop down list. Can you help?

 

Update Assistant does not detect External Storage Device

Hi Haziq,

To further isolate the issue, kindly answer the questions below:

• Have you tried connecting your external device storage to different PC to make sure that it's not defective?

• Have you tried connecting a different external storage device to your PC to check if you're still experiencing the same issue?

• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

For the meantime, you may try suggested troubleshooting that was provided by
Andre Da Costa from this link and check if it makes any difference.

Update us with the result.

 

Update to increase the maximum transfer size of USB storage devices in Windows 7...

This is an Microsoft Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2 update that may improve performance of USB transfers. Now they do say, "for some":

How? Well per Microsoft:

Now, you do need to read the Hotfix article, here > An update to increase the maximum transfer size of USB storage devices in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

Now, after you apply this hotfix, you will need to do some registry editing.
So, back up your registry before proceeding. And, also, you do this at your own risk; as always... anything can go wrong at anytime, even in the most perfect circumstances.

This registry edit is, also, covered in the hotfix:

After you install this update, to increase the maximum transfer size of USB storage devices, follow these steps:
‪1.‬Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
‪2.‬Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
‪3.‬HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\usbstor\VVVV PPPP
‪4.‬Click Edit, point to New, and then click DWORDValue.
‪5.‬Type MaximumTransferLength, and then press Enter.
‪6.‬Click Edit, and then click Modify.
‪7.‬In the Value data box, type a value to specify the maximum transfer size between 64KB and 2MB. For example, you select Decimal and type a value between 65535 (64K) and 2097120 (2M).
‪8.‬Exit Registry Editor.

Notes
VVVV represents device descriptor idVendor in hexadecimal.
PPPP represents device descriptor idProduct in hexadecimal.

To get this update, you will need to click the "View and Request Hotfix Downloads" at the top portion of the page. Follow the instructions, like, fill out the info and check the files you want to download. They will send an email to with the links.

Happy updating and may it improve your USB storage device's performance. *Smile