Using external storage for the October update

Once again as I wait for the October Update to arrive I am concerned about my small storage (nominal 42 GB) 2-in-1 tablet PC having enough space to install it. I understand that now additional storage available on a USB flash 'pen drive' can be used, temporarily. I have some questions about this.

Does the drive have to be empty, as after a format, or will it be OK if there are other files present, as long as there is adequate space available? Also, I have come across references to this arrangement but they always refer to a USB flash drive. What about SD cards, and in particular the card in my integral slot, common with small 2-in-1 PCs. Can that be used? Although my card has almost all of my files on it, programs / apps and data, there are plenty of GBs available.

In the past I have been told that my device would not have enough storage for feature updates, but this has not proved to be the case --- I have installed and run successfully all the updates so far. Sometimes it has taken some effort, but with the help of the cloud, external drives and several cleaners (CC and others) which I use every day to keep free space above 10 CB it has paid off.

clayto said:

Once again as I wait for the October Update to arrive I am concerned about my small storage (nominal 42 GB) 2-in-1 tablet PC having enough space to install it.

My version 1803 takes up only 24.2 GB at the moment.

Thanks for the info. The 42 GB is a mistke on my part, I may have misremembered my previous tablet PC which had 32 GB. My current machine has 64 GB (nominal) and the real size is 58 GB (is a 'discrepancy' of 6 GB normal?) I think I understand that it doesn't matter if the USB drive has files on it, except that they must not be important as they will be deleted automatically.

At one stage I was advised that a minimum free space of 8 GB on the main drive was necessary for feature updates, but more recently I have gained the impression that more is required, as with with Anniversary, Creators and now presumably October, so I try to maintain at least 10 GB. At present the maximum I have is 14 GB. However , my understanding is that additional space on a USB flash drive can supplement what is available on the main drive, during the updating process. That was not the case a while back, so small storage devices like mine have been helped by this.

You have not mentioned the integral SD card, but in my case the fact that its contents would be removed by a format rules it out for me anyway.

If I have said anything here which is wrong or misleading please correct it, not only for my benefit but for anyone else who might read this thread

In fact I have 13 Partitions, though 1 or a few are for Android. Unusually for a small 2-in-1, mine is Dual Boot.