Windows needs more space on upgrade


  1. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro x64 20H2 - 19042.610
       #1

    Windows needs more space on upgrade


    Hi,

    So I was going to upgrade to Win10 today on my laptop but I received a message about Windows needing more space on my disk drive.

    8.1 is installed on my C:\, a 64Go SSD, of which 45Go is available, but only 5Go is free and Windows wants 14.8Go. I cannot create anymore space, I have tried (no hibernate, all software moved to D:\, disk cleanup etc.). However I also have another HDD in my laptop. I thought about clicking "choose an external drive to use" so I could use my 1To D:\ drive.

    If I choose this, what will it mean ? Will Windows 10 still be installed on the C:\ drive ? What will by put on to D:\ ? Will I be able to roll back to 8.1 if something goes wrong ?

    Thanks for your help.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #2

    by selecting that option - the windows.old folder will be created on external media -

    the message is you do not have enough room to upgrade OS and keep current OS in windows.old folder

    as long as you have the windows.old - windows 10 should be able to rollback the upgrade
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #3

    Not sure it will work at all. If you select D: then you are not upgrading an existing qualified OS so you will not be able to activte Win 10. At least that's what I see from your remarks. Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong though :)
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro x64 20H2 - 19042.610
    Thread Starter
       #4

    OK, so I gave it a go anyway. From what I read online, only the Windows.old folder and where Windows stores the temporary install files are actually affected by this.

    Update went smooth with no problems, although I did have to restart a couple of times because my graphics drivers were a bit wonky. I've just had a look, and things are a bit different to what I expected.

    The Windows.old file is on my C:\. On my D:\ drive is a file labeled $WINDOWS.~TMP which I hazard a guess contains everything that Windows downloaded to install 10, new drivers etc. However, Windows 10 itself is still installed on the C:\. Even stranger, I seem to have gained about 10Go space on my SSD. I had read that 10 had a lower footprint that 8.1, but I didn't think it was this much.

    TL;DR : Used D:\ drive when Windows asked for more space during upgrade to 10. Worked fine.

    Anyway, everything seems fine for now (fingers crossed !). Thanks for your input! I'm marking the thread as solved.
      My Computer


 

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