USB Update to 1709 from 1703 "cannot update system reserve partition"

Hi, probably means you don't have any unallocated space on your system drive to allow Windows to create (or extend) your existing system reserved partition.

Use a partition manager to make sure you have, say, 1.2Gb of unallocated space. And make sure you don't have unallocated space on other drives, as Win 10 can and will create OS partitions on other drives. That's not desirable.
Please have a look at the links below before proceeding.


Searching for the message
We couldn't update the system reserved partition
is of course a very useful thing to do....
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...alling-windows
Fix: Windows 10 upgrade couldn Buck Hodges
Best Fix: "We Couldn't Update System Reserved Partition" Windows 10

Upgrading will probably fix your update problem if the reason for it failing is minor. However also note (see forum) some issues have been noted with respect to build 1709 by a number of people, whilst others are happy.

As your existing Windows is damaged, you may have a further problem upgrading, depending on the extent of the problem. If you wished to fix your existing windows build you could e.g.
- Check your disk (no good using a failing disk)
Hard disk Sentinel (trial)
- Run the Windows update troubleshooter
- from an admin command prompt run
chkdsk C: /F
- from an admin command prompt run
SFC /SCANNOW

Post image of your disk partitions.

When you attempt an upgrade and see the failure message that we could not upgrade the system reserved partition (MSR) this can be fixed by multiple methods.

First you want to know the insufficiency amount.
Typically it is < or = 4 MB.

This failure can occur when the end users computer has a history of any 1 or more of the following:
1) a prior upgrade from windows 7 or 8 to windows 10
2) multiple bios upgrades
3) download of multiple languages and fonts
4) installation of UEFI hardware diagnostics
5) any software/firmware which is installed on the EFI partition instead of the C drive data partition
Any 1 or more of the above consume space in the EFI partition size and available free space in the MSR.

This failure can be fixed by:
1) removing unneeded files (software and firmware) that was/were installed in the EFI partition.
2) enlarging the size of the EFI partition.
3) creating an image of the drive > saving the image to another drive > clean install of the drive > restoring the image back to the drive.


2) Download everything: voidtools
This software will index everything on all drives.
It can be set to launch on boot or launch when you need it.
As you enter a character it will immediately display results.
The more characters that are entered the narrower the search results.
It is much more efficient than file explorer search.

3) Search for the following folder/files and post any files that are found into the thread using one drive or drop box share links:
$Windows.~BT\Sources\Panther
setupact.log
setuperr.log
$Windows.~BT\Sources\Rollback
BlueBox.log

4) In the left lower corner search type: winver > view the pop up about windows > post an image into the thread
Had you had a problems with any prior upgrades? windows 7 or 8 to 10? Windows 10 version 1511 > 1607 or 1607 > 1703?

5) Open disk management > widen the volume and status columns so that the contents in each row are in full view. > post an image into the thread

6) Download and install Minitool partition wizard:
MiniTool Partition Wizard | Best partition magic alternative for Windows PC and Server

7) launch the minitool partition wizard > post an image into the thread

How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums Tutorials
If you have any problems posting images into the thread please use one drive or drop box share links:
Share OneDrive files and folders - Office Support

8) Before modifying the drive files or partitions perform the following steps:
a) chkdsk /x /f /r to fix and recover files
b) HD Tune or HD Sentinel to evaluate the drive health (SMART), benchmarks, and full error (surface) scan.
c) sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth to check the integrity of the operating system

9) And before attempting the next upgrade plan to remove all non-windows antivirus products, and remove all attached unnecessary hardware (printer, xbox, headset, etc)

10) Open the website for the computers drivers and post a URL or hyperlink into the thread.

Thank you, I'll give this a shot directly.



If so, does this mean I substitute "2" for "1" in the cmd prompt inputs?