W7 to W10 upgrade fails – can't update the system reserved partition

Apologies for the length of the post but I wanted to pre-empt requests for info.

Dell E5450 laptop; Windows 7 SP1; Samsung 250 SSD

W7 updates have all been applied other than the August monthly security update. I have cloned the SSD to another Samsung 250, in case the upgrade corrupts the installed SSD.

Attempted to upgrade from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro. I cannot perform a clean install because I need the laptop/data for urgent work and want to keep as many programs and as much data as possible.
I followed the MS instructions to upgrade system, downloaded, received message ‘Creating Media’ and ‘Getting Updates’. Installation failed with ‘This PC can’t run Windows 10’ and ‘We couldn’t update the system reserved partition’. The process hadn’t yet requested the serial number.

Downloaded the ISO file and ran this because, in another query I had read that there is an option to keep programs and data and that this can create the partition (only for a clean install?). Following the message ‘Checking your PC’ the same above error appeared, again before requesting a serial number.

I read much about increasing the size of the partition and also EasyBCD being used to move boot details to the C: drive, but I’m not sure that it applies and does seem rather iffy.

The disk management info is show below. The layout of the SSD and data is the same as on my desktop, which also has a Samsung 250 SSD.







I realise that a clean install is recommended but is there any way that I can go through the upgrade process?

Increase the size of your system reserved partition.

The error report "we couldn't update the system reserved partition" can be fixed by temporarily removing unneeded files (languages and fonts) which are reinstalled after a successful upgrade.

It is easier to perform on UEFI/GPT.
There is a different method to perform on Legacy/MBR.
The GPT method I've performed approximately ten times.
However the MBR method I've not yet performed.
If you make a backup image then you can try this method.
Microsoft also has provided free support for failed upgrades.
This may no longer be available for Windows 7.
Years ago Tier 1 and 2 did not have the training and Tier 3 India was used.


Run setupdiag > post a share link using one drive, drop box, or google drive
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...rade/setupdiag

Search for these Panther logs > post share links into the thread

setuperr.log
setupact.log

Firstly, thanks for the replies and suggestions I have received – most useful, especially when following the link explaining the use of Minitool Partition Wizard.

The Dell laptop is on the ‘approved’ list.

The simplest option would appear to be:

Download and install Minitool Partition Wizard.
Back up the disk using EaseUS. (I bought, and have used for some time, EaseUS Todo Backup Home.)
Disable Norton Security and enable Windows Defender (necessary?).
Using Minitool Partition Wizard (for NTFS partitions):
Reduce the size of the C: partition by 0.5Gb (from 232.78Gb to 232.28Gb), with the freed space being before the C: partition.
Increase the size of the data partition by 0.5Gb, from 0.1Gb to 0.6Gb.
Back up the disk with new layout.
Download and upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in situ, keeping programs and data.
Confirm that system loads OK.
Back up disk.

Please respond with comments.

The logs should indicate the size deficiency.
If it is displayed then the adjustments can be made accordingly.
When removing files with GPT it is typically < 10 MB needed with a temporary goal of 20 MB.
Without viewing the logs .5 GB should be more than enough free space.
If the size deficiency is the only problem then you are set.

To all - Short version.
I ran on an EaseUS clone of the original SSD. I have used the clone facility a number of times on my desktop and three laptops (replacing HHD with SSD and replacing SSD with larger- all W7) without any problems.
I then attempted a number of MPW partition size adjustments (reduced C: partition before and increased Data partition to max space allowed) but there were multiple and different errors on the reloads, including access to Office programs, failed loads and finally I have an apparently corrupt disk.
I cloned my original SSD to the copy between each run, recreating the original partition sizes.
I can post full details, including MPW screen dumps before and after re-size and/or enter the full details as a query in Minitool.

I sent the details to Minitool, including screen dumps of the before and after disk details. They replied that some errors had occurred during the process of resizing the partitions and suggested using the bootable version of MPW, which is chargeable. I don't have an issue with that (I have the paid version of EaseUS) other than wasting money if this option also fails. Has anyone tried this version?
I have seen a similar product to MPW, AOMEI Partition Assistant SE, and will look into this.
Hopefully I can get back with a successful upgrade to W10!