How can I fix the Windows Update error message, “We couldn't update the system reserved partition?”












2















I am unable to update Windows. When Windows Update tries to run, I get an error message that has a "Fix issues" button.



Windows update error message with "Fix issues" button



Pressing that brings up a process that eventually gives the error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



"We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



It turns out I didn't have a System Reserved partition. I figured it might work to create it, so I did, using Option 1 from this link. Now my partitions look like this, but I still get the same error as above.





Most of the information surrounding this error refers to increasing the available space on the System Reserved partition, but as the screenshot shows, there's plenty of space on the partition.



How can I debug this update error?










share|improve this question

























  • Have you tried enlarging it? I ran into the same issue when I did the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After I increased the size of the system partition, the upgrade completed successfully.

    – Charles Burge
    Feb 7 at 2:24











  • @CharlesBurge I mean, in some sense yes, in that it wasn't there, and now it is. So it went from zero space to 188MB free.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 2:50











  • Kris - Have a look here on the MS KB, there is the answer in here based on which option of either GPT or MBR

    – Pimp Juice IT
    Feb 7 at 3:19













  • Your System Reserved partition is not large enough - it's only 200 MB, but Windows 10 needs 500 MB.

    – harrymc
    Feb 7 at 9:21











  • @PimpJuiceIT That link says to cd BootFonts but that directory does not exist on my System Reserved partition.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:50
















2















I am unable to update Windows. When Windows Update tries to run, I get an error message that has a "Fix issues" button.



Windows update error message with "Fix issues" button



Pressing that brings up a process that eventually gives the error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



"We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



It turns out I didn't have a System Reserved partition. I figured it might work to create it, so I did, using Option 1 from this link. Now my partitions look like this, but I still get the same error as above.





Most of the information surrounding this error refers to increasing the available space on the System Reserved partition, but as the screenshot shows, there's plenty of space on the partition.



How can I debug this update error?










share|improve this question

























  • Have you tried enlarging it? I ran into the same issue when I did the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After I increased the size of the system partition, the upgrade completed successfully.

    – Charles Burge
    Feb 7 at 2:24











  • @CharlesBurge I mean, in some sense yes, in that it wasn't there, and now it is. So it went from zero space to 188MB free.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 2:50











  • Kris - Have a look here on the MS KB, there is the answer in here based on which option of either GPT or MBR

    – Pimp Juice IT
    Feb 7 at 3:19













  • Your System Reserved partition is not large enough - it's only 200 MB, but Windows 10 needs 500 MB.

    – harrymc
    Feb 7 at 9:21











  • @PimpJuiceIT That link says to cd BootFonts but that directory does not exist on my System Reserved partition.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:50














2












2








2


0






I am unable to update Windows. When Windows Update tries to run, I get an error message that has a "Fix issues" button.



Windows update error message with "Fix issues" button



Pressing that brings up a process that eventually gives the error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



"We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



It turns out I didn't have a System Reserved partition. I figured it might work to create it, so I did, using Option 1 from this link. Now my partitions look like this, but I still get the same error as above.





Most of the information surrounding this error refers to increasing the available space on the System Reserved partition, but as the screenshot shows, there's plenty of space on the partition.



How can I debug this update error?










share|improve this question
















I am unable to update Windows. When Windows Update tries to run, I get an error message that has a "Fix issues" button.



Windows update error message with "Fix issues" button



Pressing that brings up a process that eventually gives the error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



"We couldn't update the system reserved partition."



It turns out I didn't have a System Reserved partition. I figured it might work to create it, so I did, using Option 1 from this link. Now my partitions look like this, but I still get the same error as above.





Most of the information surrounding this error refers to increasing the available space on the System Reserved partition, but as the screenshot shows, there's plenty of space on the partition.



How can I debug this update error?







windows-10 partitioning windows-update






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Feb 9 at 15:58







Kris Harper

















asked Feb 5 at 1:42









Kris HarperKris Harper

4443823




4443823













  • Have you tried enlarging it? I ran into the same issue when I did the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After I increased the size of the system partition, the upgrade completed successfully.

    – Charles Burge
    Feb 7 at 2:24











  • @CharlesBurge I mean, in some sense yes, in that it wasn't there, and now it is. So it went from zero space to 188MB free.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 2:50











  • Kris - Have a look here on the MS KB, there is the answer in here based on which option of either GPT or MBR

    – Pimp Juice IT
    Feb 7 at 3:19













  • Your System Reserved partition is not large enough - it's only 200 MB, but Windows 10 needs 500 MB.

    – harrymc
    Feb 7 at 9:21











  • @PimpJuiceIT That link says to cd BootFonts but that directory does not exist on my System Reserved partition.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:50



















  • Have you tried enlarging it? I ran into the same issue when I did the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After I increased the size of the system partition, the upgrade completed successfully.

    – Charles Burge
    Feb 7 at 2:24











  • @CharlesBurge I mean, in some sense yes, in that it wasn't there, and now it is. So it went from zero space to 188MB free.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 2:50











  • Kris - Have a look here on the MS KB, there is the answer in here based on which option of either GPT or MBR

    – Pimp Juice IT
    Feb 7 at 3:19













  • Your System Reserved partition is not large enough - it's only 200 MB, but Windows 10 needs 500 MB.

    – harrymc
    Feb 7 at 9:21











  • @PimpJuiceIT That link says to cd BootFonts but that directory does not exist on my System Reserved partition.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:50

















Have you tried enlarging it? I ran into the same issue when I did the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After I increased the size of the system partition, the upgrade completed successfully.

– Charles Burge
Feb 7 at 2:24





Have you tried enlarging it? I ran into the same issue when I did the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After I increased the size of the system partition, the upgrade completed successfully.

– Charles Burge
Feb 7 at 2:24













@CharlesBurge I mean, in some sense yes, in that it wasn't there, and now it is. So it went from zero space to 188MB free.

– Kris Harper
Feb 7 at 2:50





@CharlesBurge I mean, in some sense yes, in that it wasn't there, and now it is. So it went from zero space to 188MB free.

– Kris Harper
Feb 7 at 2:50













Kris - Have a look here on the MS KB, there is the answer in here based on which option of either GPT or MBR

– Pimp Juice IT
Feb 7 at 3:19







Kris - Have a look here on the MS KB, there is the answer in here based on which option of either GPT or MBR

– Pimp Juice IT
Feb 7 at 3:19















Your System Reserved partition is not large enough - it's only 200 MB, but Windows 10 needs 500 MB.

– harrymc
Feb 7 at 9:21





Your System Reserved partition is not large enough - it's only 200 MB, but Windows 10 needs 500 MB.

– harrymc
Feb 7 at 9:21













@PimpJuiceIT That link says to cd BootFonts but that directory does not exist on my System Reserved partition.

– Kris Harper
Feb 8 at 0:50





@PimpJuiceIT That link says to cd BootFonts but that directory does not exist on my System Reserved partition.

– Kris Harper
Feb 8 at 0:50










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















0





+50









The error message is correct : Your System Reserved partition is not large enough.



Your partition has 200 MB, but for Windows 10 the recommended size is 500 MB.



If this does not work, I think that the System Reserved partition you created
manually is not used because of the way in which the disk was partitioned
and Windows installed.



The simplest solution would be to delete the System Reserved partition,
then do Startup Repair.
If that doesn't help, then I can only think of
Repair Install Windows.






share|improve this answer


























  • Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 14:48











  • I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:48











  • I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

    – harrymc
    Feb 8 at 7:52













  • Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 13:04






  • 1





    I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

    – harrymc
    Feb 9 at 8:01



















0














On my 10 PC (which was updated from 7), the system reserved is the first partition on disk 0 (may not matter) and has attributes in Disk Management of Active (like yours) but also System and Primary. This may be vital.



Setting the partition as active is done by right clicking it in Disk Management and choosing the option. Putting the boot information on the reserved partition and marking it system (Microsoft switched the terms for some reason) is more involved. It is late here, but I will return if that is needed for it to work.






share|improve this answer























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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    0





    +50









    The error message is correct : Your System Reserved partition is not large enough.



    Your partition has 200 MB, but for Windows 10 the recommended size is 500 MB.



    If this does not work, I think that the System Reserved partition you created
    manually is not used because of the way in which the disk was partitioned
    and Windows installed.



    The simplest solution would be to delete the System Reserved partition,
    then do Startup Repair.
    If that doesn't help, then I can only think of
    Repair Install Windows.






    share|improve this answer


























    • Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 7 at 14:48











    • I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 0:48











    • I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

      – harrymc
      Feb 8 at 7:52













    • Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 13:04






    • 1





      I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

      – harrymc
      Feb 9 at 8:01
















    0





    +50









    The error message is correct : Your System Reserved partition is not large enough.



    Your partition has 200 MB, but for Windows 10 the recommended size is 500 MB.



    If this does not work, I think that the System Reserved partition you created
    manually is not used because of the way in which the disk was partitioned
    and Windows installed.



    The simplest solution would be to delete the System Reserved partition,
    then do Startup Repair.
    If that doesn't help, then I can only think of
    Repair Install Windows.






    share|improve this answer


























    • Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 7 at 14:48











    • I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 0:48











    • I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

      – harrymc
      Feb 8 at 7:52













    • Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 13:04






    • 1





      I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

      – harrymc
      Feb 9 at 8:01














    0





    +50







    0





    +50



    0




    +50





    The error message is correct : Your System Reserved partition is not large enough.



    Your partition has 200 MB, but for Windows 10 the recommended size is 500 MB.



    If this does not work, I think that the System Reserved partition you created
    manually is not used because of the way in which the disk was partitioned
    and Windows installed.



    The simplest solution would be to delete the System Reserved partition,
    then do Startup Repair.
    If that doesn't help, then I can only think of
    Repair Install Windows.






    share|improve this answer















    The error message is correct : Your System Reserved partition is not large enough.



    Your partition has 200 MB, but for Windows 10 the recommended size is 500 MB.



    If this does not work, I think that the System Reserved partition you created
    manually is not used because of the way in which the disk was partitioned
    and Windows installed.



    The simplest solution would be to delete the System Reserved partition,
    then do Startup Repair.
    If that doesn't help, then I can only think of
    Repair Install Windows.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Feb 9 at 19:03

























    answered Feb 7 at 14:10









    harrymcharrymc

    262k14271577




    262k14271577













    • Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 7 at 14:48











    • I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 0:48











    • I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

      – harrymc
      Feb 8 at 7:52













    • Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 13:04






    • 1





      I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

      – harrymc
      Feb 9 at 8:01



















    • Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 7 at 14:48











    • I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 0:48











    • I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

      – harrymc
      Feb 8 at 7:52













    • Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

      – Kris Harper
      Feb 8 at 13:04






    • 1





      I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

      – harrymc
      Feb 9 at 8:01

















    Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 14:48





    Cool. I will try resizing it when I get home tonight.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 7 at 14:48













    I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:48





    I resized it so now it's 1GB, but I still get the same error message, "We couldn't update the system reserved partition."

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 0:48













    I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

    – harrymc
    Feb 8 at 7:52







    I think your System Reserved partition is badly created. Can you take a screenshot of Disk Management with the Status column fully displayed? Is your Windows 64-bit? Do you have BIOS+MBR or do you have UEFI+GPT?

    – harrymc
    Feb 8 at 7:52















    Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 13:04





    Here's a screenshot of the full Status column. My disk is MBR, although I boot using UEFI since this is not my primary boot device.

    – Kris Harper
    Feb 8 at 13:04




    1




    1





    I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

    – harrymc
    Feb 9 at 8:01





    I'm handicapped by not knowing the history of your disk. I think you will need to delete the System Reserved partition, then do Startup Repair. If that doesn't help, then I can only think of Repair Install Windows.

    – harrymc
    Feb 9 at 8:01













    0














    On my 10 PC (which was updated from 7), the system reserved is the first partition on disk 0 (may not matter) and has attributes in Disk Management of Active (like yours) but also System and Primary. This may be vital.



    Setting the partition as active is done by right clicking it in Disk Management and choosing the option. Putting the boot information on the reserved partition and marking it system (Microsoft switched the terms for some reason) is more involved. It is late here, but I will return if that is needed for it to work.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      On my 10 PC (which was updated from 7), the system reserved is the first partition on disk 0 (may not matter) and has attributes in Disk Management of Active (like yours) but also System and Primary. This may be vital.



      Setting the partition as active is done by right clicking it in Disk Management and choosing the option. Putting the boot information on the reserved partition and marking it system (Microsoft switched the terms for some reason) is more involved. It is late here, but I will return if that is needed for it to work.






      share|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0







        On my 10 PC (which was updated from 7), the system reserved is the first partition on disk 0 (may not matter) and has attributes in Disk Management of Active (like yours) but also System and Primary. This may be vital.



        Setting the partition as active is done by right clicking it in Disk Management and choosing the option. Putting the boot information on the reserved partition and marking it system (Microsoft switched the terms for some reason) is more involved. It is late here, but I will return if that is needed for it to work.






        share|improve this answer













        On my 10 PC (which was updated from 7), the system reserved is the first partition on disk 0 (may not matter) and has attributes in Disk Management of Active (like yours) but also System and Primary. This may be vital.



        Setting the partition as active is done by right clicking it in Disk Management and choosing the option. Putting the boot information on the reserved partition and marking it system (Microsoft switched the terms for some reason) is more involved. It is late here, but I will return if that is needed for it to work.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Feb 7 at 2:44









        K.AK.A

        5,41221132




        5,41221132






























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