Can't Update - No Free Space - Flash Drives Don't Help

[LaraR4444]

This laptop is trying to install an important update that requires 8gb of free space, but I don't have 8gb of free space. I'm not even sure this laptop came with that much space, and I've deleted everything I can think of, including some apps it came with and HP Support Assistant. 

So, I bought two flash drives, SanDisc Cruzer Glide 16gb. That was over a week ago. I still can't update my computer because the screen that says Windows 10 Setup with the option to clear space or update with an external drive won't appear again and nothing else I try works. I tried downloading HP Support Assistant again to see if I could do it from there. Even downloading the Media Creator Tool didn't help. Everything I can find that says I can update pops that same screen back up about needing to clear space.

How can I get that screen back? Or do I need to format the flash drives?

Warning: whatever this update is must be really important and old because my OS seems to be really behind. If I go to my Settings and then System, I have the following options:

• Display
• Apps & Features
• Default Apps
• Notifications and actions
• power and sleep
• battery
• storage
• offline maps
• tablet mode
• multitasking
• projecting to this PC
• Apps for websites
• About

[visruth · Accepted solution]

Yes it is a pity you can't upgrade Windows or even do basic HP factory reset in these budget oriented notebooks that comes with very minimal resources such as 32gb eMMC storage capacity.

Trying media creation tool method using this notebook will not yield success in upgrade.

You can try the below suggestion to clean install Windows 10,
Follow option 1 here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html

This will allow you create bootable Windows 10 (build 1709) USB using Microsoft windows media creation tool from ANOTHER WORKING computer

Next disable secure boot from BIOS, plug in the installation USB, change boot order to USB, then proceed with clean installation of Windows 10

Disable secure boot:
https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c04784866

Change boot order to USB: https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c01443326

Clean install:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Windows will be automatically activated on installation while connected to internet

I must say that you have to back up, copy all the necessary files to external USB before clean installation.

[EddyK]

Hello LaraR4444,

Sorry to hear that you're not able to update your laptop. I believe the newer Windows updates cannot utilize external storage to assist the update.

I recommend doing a clean install of Windows 10.

First backup all important data on the HP Stream.

Now using a different computer, create a bootable USB with the Windows Media Creation Tool. Select Download Tool now and ensure you have a USB Flash Drive of at least 3GB. 

When running the Media Creation Tool, make sure you select the specifications according to the HP Stream, not the computer you are using the create to the bootable USB. This means you have to select Create installation media for another PC. Do not tick Use the recommended settings for this PC.

Insert the USB Flash Drive after selecting USB Flash Drive on the Choose which media to use page.

Let the installation finish. 

To boot from the USB on the HP Stream, repeatedly press F9 upon startup to access the boot options. Select the USB Flash Drive.

If the Windows installation ever asks for a product key, select I don't have a product key to automatically bypass and activate Windows 10. Windows 10 activation will occur once connected to the Internet.

I ultimately recommend opting for the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) and deleting every partition (including the recovery partition) until you only have unallocated space. Install Windows 10 there.

Let the installation finish.

You should then have the latest version of Windows 10.

Let me know how it goes; ask further questions if needed.

Hope this helps,

Eddy

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[LaraR4444]

Thank you both. The main reason I want to do the upgrade is because I fear that my OS being behind is impairing my internet speed. Do you think an upgrade could make enough difference in internet speed to be worth an entire reinstallation? Or is it a hardware issue?

[visruth]

It is not a hardware issue, rather hardware limitation.

I'll definitely go for a clean install of latest build of Windows 10 as the whole idea of Microsoft doing away with any more operating system with Windows 10 was based on the fact that they would release 6-monthly feature upgrades to Windows 10, which is basically an entire new version of Windows 10 with new feature, security, user interface and many more.

The update you're going on getting notified about is this Feature Upgrade. The latest one is build 1709. And if you wait, you should be getting build 1803 from within next 2 weeks onwards.

Regarding internet speed, you can definitely reinstall latest wireless LAN driver downloading it again from your HP support page if that is the issue you are facing.