Not enough memory for pending updates

Question

My laptop does not have a lot of memory storage, and a lot of it is being taken up by pending updates, however, there is not enough storage to actually execute those updates, so my laptop is stuck. I have tried to delete everything physically possible, but there is still not enough memory; too much is being taken up by pending updates and system and reserved. I was wondering if there was a way to store all the updates on an external drive and free up space, or even cancel these updates altogether and remove them from my device.

Answer 1

Hi SansRice, you would be amazed how many users with 32GB of internal storage ask the exact same question here on Community each day . . .

Honestly, there is only one answer, backup your data and perform a clean install of the 32Bit version of Windows 10 - that will give you more internal storage space - I know this is not the answer you are looking for, but it is the only and best Answer. You will then have enough space for the next year of Windows 10 updates and your system will be faster . ..

Any device with a 32 GB SSD is not good enough to run Windows 10, regardless of the system specs put out by Microsoft.

I honestly don't know why the manufacturers produced these devices.

The Windows 10 folder with a couple of updates will very quickly eat up 20 - 25GB of your hard drive, mine is currently 23GB

You can reinstall Windows 10 at any time and it will not cost you anything, however you will not have enough space to create the bootable Windows 10 media, you will need to do that on another working PC

Since you previously had Windows 10 installed and activated on that PC during the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers

Make sure you install the same Edition of Windows 10 (Home, Pro . . . etc.) you previously had installed to avoid Activation issues

Click this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool

Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 10

Answer 2

Thanks... as you said, it wasn't the answer I was looking for, but I guess nothing in life comes easily. I'll try this and see how things go. Once again, thank you for the help

Answer 3

Yes, it is 32 GB (29.1 usable)

If it helps, the updates are currently taking up 7 GB worth of space, the rest is in system and reserved. I have been systematically trying to clear up as much space as possible, but every time it just adds to the amount of space that the updates are taking up. Last night they were only taking up 3 GB, and now its 7

Answer 4

Hello SansRice

What size storage do you have on your PC, is that a 32GB (29.1GB usable) SSD or does your system have more storage than that?