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I can't upgrade to windows 11. It comes up with a partition error message. I've followed the steps on https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/-we-couldn-t-update-system-reserved-partition-error-installing-windows-10-46865f3f-37bb-4c51-c69f-07271b6672ac#:~:text=Go%20back%20to%20the%20Disk,Change%20Drive%20Letter%20and%20Paths.
but when i tell the cmd prompt to add a y drive it doesnt seem to work - i dont understand the returns in the cmd window. i dont know where to go from here
thank you
Please open an admin Command Prompt window (instead of PowerShell) and run these commands one by one:
mountvol Y: /s
del /q Y:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\Fonts\*.ttf
powershell -command "GCI Y:\ -File -Recurse | Sort Length -descending | Select FullName, Length, Mode -first 10"
dir Y:\
Post the output here.
thank you. output is:
C:\WINDOWS\system32>dir Y:\
Volume in drive Y has no label.
Volume Serial Number is FC98-464E
Directory of Y:\
30/09/2025 09:04 am <DIR> EFI
0 File(s) 0 bytes
1 Dir(s) 27,599,872 bytes free
The output for the commands #2 and #3 is missing.
Anyway, it's no longer needed because there is sufficient free space in the EFI partition.
Please try rerunning the Windows 11 upgrade now.
ok thank you. ill try rerunning the upgrade now. the output for #1, #2 and #3 was:
C:\WINDOWS\system32>mountvol Y: /s
C:\WINDOWS\system32>del /q Y:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\Fonts*.ttf
C:\WINDOWS\system32>powershell -command "GCI Y:\ -File -Recurse | Sort Length -descending | Select FullName, Length, Mode -first 10"
FullName Length Mode
Y:\EFI\dell\bios\recovery\BIOS_PRE.rcv 14758678 -a----
Y:\EFI\dell\bios\recovery\BIOS_CUR.rcv 14757802 -a----
Y:\EFI\dell\SOS\Fonts\cht_boot.ttf 3878309 -a----
Y:\EFI\dell\SOS\Fonts\chs_boot.ttf 3695830 -a----
Y:\EFI\dell\SOS\Fonts\kor_boot.ttf 2372900 -a----
Y:\EFI\dell\SOS\Fonts\jpn_boot.ttf 1985767 -a----
Y:\EFI\Boot\bootx64.efi 1604024 -a----
Y:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi 1604024 -a----
Y:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgr.efi 1587608 -a----
Y:\EFI\dell\SOS\bootmgfw.efi 1558864 -a----
Ok, let me know how the upgrade went.
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Hi (same person with new registration as can't get on computer at the moment). The download and installation went ok, but then it asked me to restart - it's now been stuck on 0% working on updates on the black boot screen for quite awhile. Maybe an hour. What should I do? Could it be because I've got an external harddrive plugged in? (During installation I was told to plug one in for temporary space, then I didn't know if it was still needed) Worried about turning off but I think it's stuck. Thank you
@bece: is there hard disk activity?
I'm not sure. The light is solid, not flashing. But it's a new one so I don't know if it usually flashes or not
Ok, then it's running.
So should I unplug it and see what happens or try turn comp off first?
No, I wouldn't interrupt the setup if it's running.
Just realised. Did you mean computer harddrive not external. The external is making the noise, the laptop doesn't have any lights showing except keyboard and is quiet
During installation I was told to plug one in for temporary space, then I didn't know if it was still needed
Maybe the setup is reading and writing files to the external drive. Please leave it for say 2hrs or so.
same person as before - my laptop has been fine on windows 11 until now, but windows is trying to update again - and is again having a partition error : this pc doesnt currently meet windows 11 system requirements. we couldnt update the system reserved partition. do i do the same work around as last time (as above)? thank you