32GB laptop - install updates on external drive

Hi there guys,

I bought a cheap 32GB Acer laptop recently and it's been quickly filled with Windows updates to the point where the largest program i have installed is the Chrome browser at 387MB. I need to free up 8GB for the latest round of Windows updates but that's just not possible as i dont actually have anything installed. I've been trying to install the updates onto an external drive but i don't get the option. Can anyone help at all?

Welcome to the forum. What update are you trying to do if its the latest 1803 get the iso free from Download Windows 10 you can then run it from dvd/usb which will save a lot of space as there isnt the same download.. Other than that you can right click on folders choose properties advanced and commpress them to gain space.

Another way is to mount and external device as a folder on c How to mount a hard drive as a folder in Windows 10 | Windows Central

Hi guys thanks so much for your help and apologies for the delay in replying. I followed your advice and downloaded the Media Creation tool to get the latest update. I select "Create Installation Media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) for another PC". I then select Language: English, Edition: Windows 10, Architecture: 64-bit (x64) and click next. It says "8GB of free disk space needed on (C:)".

The reason i'm doing it is that I don't have 8GB on the C drive - it's all taken up by Windows! I do however have a 1TB external drive ready and waiting.

Any suggestions appreciated guys. Thanks.

Run a thorough disk cleanup:
Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

I prefer option 2. Select everything on the list.

Then make sure the OS is in the compact state on your drive. In a command prompt (admin) or powershell (admin) run:

compact /compactos:always

Finally, as a last resort, you can image the laptop drive to the external drive using a program like Macrium Reflect Free, then look at all the partitions on the laptop and delete recovery partitions and add that space to C: drive. You'll lose the ability to do a factory restore, likely, though. I also recommend exporting the drivers onto an external drive using the command:

dism /online /export-driver /destination:d:\destinationfolder

change D:\destinationfolder to whatever driver letter is the external drive and folder name that you create on it to hold the drivers. That way if you have clean re-install Windows for some reason, you will have the drivers available that may not be online.

I've got a couple of 32GB devices and with careful management it is possible to keep enough space free for updates/upgrades. I also move all my user data folders to micro-SD cards inserted in them.

If it was mine, I look on ACER website to see if they have Win10 for that laptop, if it does, download all the driver software and place then on a USB, then download the Media Creation Tool, then get a larger hard drive.. Then do a clean install, install those driver softwares, then connect to the internet to check for updates.
With Win10 you get quite a bit of updates that will take up space,, There is Delivery Optimization downloads, Cumulated Updates, Driver Updates cause ACER wont stay on top of their updates.

Most of the 32GB and 64GB devices do not have traditional SSD's that can be upgraded easily. They have eMMC memory instead.