System Reserved Partition

[ThisIsDon]

I am not able to get the windows update 24h2. Error says "we couldn't update the system reserved partition".

From the investigation I have done, it probably is the partition is too small. I have tried to enlarge it with freeware partition tools but they won't allow access. They also seem to show the partion is empty. I am at a loss what to do.

[banhien]

@ThisIsDon 

Please use the following way from Microsoft

          https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/-we-couldn-t-update-system-reserved-partition-error-instal...

and :  https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/We-couldn-t-update-system-reser...

Regards.

[ThisIsDon]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I'll give it a try later today.

[ThisIsDon]

The first option shown does not work now or the several times I tried using it previously. The second option refers to "The location of the EFI partition"

"What did I do to have Windows 24H2 update successfully. Mounted the EFI partition (no matter what letter - e.g. mountvol y: /s). Moved y:\EFI\HP\BIOS\* to c:\EFI\HP\BIOS\* - there are 3 sub-folders named "Current", "New" and "Previous" with heavy load. Then freed up some more space deleting Windows boot fonts from y:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\Fonts…"

I am confused by this as I can only see the C: drive in file explorer and don't know what drive letter to use. Attached is a picture of my file system. as you can see there are no drives shown except the C: drive. I also need to know how to gain access to this EFI drive if it is a system drive, i presume,

and may lock me out.

[tk_srq · Accepted solution]

@ThisIsDon,

The EFI system partition (ESP) stores Windows boot system files. They are so critical that Microsoft keeps the ESP hidden to prevent it from being accidentally deleted or modified.

The screenshot you posted shows your ESP has only 15 MB free, and obviously you need to delete some files to create more free space to update to W11 24H2.

You said the MS troubleshooting method didn't work, so you can try something else.

what you can do is to check if the ESP has an HP folder, and if it does, it may store some files that you can delete.

See this thread for how to find and delete files in the EFI partition.

Solved: Re: F.23 BIOS update can't be done due to EFI GPT System Par... - HP Support Community - 920...

Once you assign a volume letter to the ESP and run notepad in command prompt, you can easily view the content of the ESP in File Explorer in graphic mode. You can then check if the EFI\HP folder stores any bios files.

If you see bios files, you can safely delete them to free up some space and try the 24H2 update.  A bios .bin file is 18 MB in size, so even deleting one .bin file may provide enough space for the 24H2 update.

If the EFI\HP folder has no bios files, you may need to delete the HP folder. Let us know what you find.

[ThisIsDon]

Thanks for the solution. I removed both the previous and current. Now in the process of updating to 24H2 as I write this. You made my day. Great to deal with someone who knows what he is talking about!