DISM, unexpected behavior

When you previously said, "If it really bothers you - you can do an in-place repair, upgrade or a system Refresh.." I thought that those procedures delete all installed programs because you also said, "keeping your files and settings.." You do not say that it keeps my installed programs.

Before posting here, someone else told me that I could use DISM for these issues I am having--sorry for not explaining that at first, but that is the why not.

I would just like to confirm...by "apps", do you mean installed programs, for example, Firefox, Open Office...things like that? Please, also confirm whether this procedure, "Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade", keeps these installed programs or it does not. It is still not clear.

I would just like to confirm...by "apps", do you mean installed programs, for example, Firefox, Open Office...things like that? Please, also confirm whether this procedure, "Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade", keeps these installed programs or it does not. It is still not clear.

Yes, all Windows Store apps and any other programs you have installed will be kept during the in-place upgrade, as I said in my earlier post just make sure you have the Keep personal files and apps option selected.

I started the procedure. It said that Windows needs more space, and also gave the option to attach an external hard drive with at least 10gb of free space. This machine came with a very small hard drive. I connected an external hard drive with over 500gb of free space, but it seems to be ignoring that and keeps saying that it needs more space. (?)

Try and clean up as much space as possible on your system: remove all documents, photos, music, data to the external drives, delete any downloads you no longer need, remove any programs you no longer use and follow the following two tutorials to clean out temporary files and other unnecessary stuff.

Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10

Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10

Hopefully this will create enough space for you to continue.

I do disk cleanups regularly. I do not have any files to move because I store everything on an external drive already because it is not big enough. I don't know why it will not do the install using the external drive like it offers the option to.

Have a look at this thread - Reduce Windows size in HDD - it might give you some ideas. Check out the CompactOS link.

Otherwise if you are so short of space then you will never be able to upgrade W10 through the normal Windows Update and your only option will be a clean install.

Does this mean that my only option is to wipe the drive and start over?

Hi,

Sooner or later you'll run into the same problem, no ?
What's the size of that drive anyway ?

Cheers,