Can’t update system reserved file (updating to 2004) – need CMD advice

[Zig]

I’m in the process of updating v.1909 to v.2004. Previous attempts failed, probably due to an old chipset driver (now updated). Overnight my computer inadvertently attempted to backup files to my (EFI) system reserved partition, creating 3 new directories – let’s call them W, X and Z. This is in addition to a directory labelled “EFI” on the partition. When I now attempt to upgrade to v.2004 (going directly from a 2004 .iso file on my computer), I get the message that update failed because “We couldn’t update system reserved partition,” presumably because the partition was now full.

I attempted to fix the issue by deleting the Fonts files in the EFI directory, as described in:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3086249/we-couldn-t-update-system-reserved-partition-error-installing-windows

This left ~14 Mb free on the partition, but I still get the error message above. I suppose the best way to fix this is to delete the 3 new directories (W,X and Z) after assigning a letter to the partition, but it’s been a long time since I’ve used the CMD box for so system-critical a problem.

I’d appreciate any advice on how to delete these directories (in detail), or otherwise how to free up space on my system reserved partition.

Sorry for the long post.

Thanx,

Zig
P.S.

I  just remembered that I have a new backup of my “UnName00” partition (presumably the system reserved partition) -though I don’t seem to be able to explore it – made with EaseUS Todo Backup just before everything went sideways. ?Would this be of any help??

Z

• This topic was modified 5 days, 18 hours ago by Zig.
• This topic was modified 5 days, 18 hours ago by Zig.

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[Zig]

Progress: I further explored the new volumes (W, X and Z) and was able to find & delete many files in one of them, thus freeing up enough memory for the update to proceed. All these partitions now appear to be empty (except for . and .. which I believe are obligatory).

Though the partitions are empty, I’m unable to delete them using the RD or REMDIR commands in the command window. ?Any command-line gurus out there to help me remove the directories themselves??

Thanx,

Zig

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[Paul T]

How are you able to see the EFI partition? This is not normally assigned a drive letter. (see attached).

I would restore the EFI partition from an image backup and ensure there are no assigned drive letters.

cheers, Paul

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[Zig]

Paul,

I assigned a letter using the command mountvol y: /s in the CMD window as described in the website linked to in my original post. I then deleted the contents of the fonts folder, as well as the new files (backups of my files) in the new folders, leaving only the EFI folder with its contents. After I was done, I removed the letter using AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro 8.5. I’m still not sure what to do with the directories (as above), and am loath to restore the EFI partition from the backup unless forced.

??Is the EFI partition relatively stable over a few days??? (so that restoring the backup would not introduce other problems.)

Thanx,

Zig

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[Paul T]

The EFI partition should never change post installation. It is only there to hold the Windows boot files / initialize BitLocker, then the process is passed over to the system partition (C:).
Delete the directories if you want.

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[Zig]

Paul,

The current problem is that I can’t delete the directories, only their contents. IIRC, I went through each directory with DEL *.* but I now can’t delete the directories with RD or REMDIR. ?Any suggestions??

BTW, if I’ve used mountvol y: /s to assign a letter to the partition, can I use                   mountvol *: /s to remove the assignment?

Knowing that the EFI partition is stable after installation makes me feel more comfortable about restoring it from the EaseUS backup, which is named UnName00. EaseUS is a little obtuse as to what their System Backup actually backs up, but describes it as something like “everything you need to restore your System disk to bootable condition”. This includes a backup of C:\ and the above-mentioned UnName00. ?Is it a reasonable assumption that this is the EFI partition?? Of course, I’d reinstall it after booting into an EaseUS rescue disk.

Thanks again,

Zig

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[Zig]

Paul (or others),

With liberal application of the /S switch and quotation marks, I was able to delete the recalcitrant directories from the EFI partition.

The questions above about removing a letter with mountvol remain, though a more important issue are the questions above about restoring the EFI partition (3rd paragraph); your comments would be appreciated.

Zig

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[Paul T]

I know you can remove drive letters via Disk Management.

Your backup should list all the partitions you have backed up. Compare it to the list in Disk Management.

Given your system is working I would create a new disk backup (all partitions) and then attempt the upgrade.

cheers, Paul

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[Zig]

Paul,

Upgrade is done (successfully).

Now the issue (if any) is repair (if necessary) of the EFI partiton.

Disk Management shows may partitions, some probably superfluous from old MBR installations. I BELIEVE all I need is:

System

Recovery

EFI.

?Correct?

See attached for the current state of affairs foe my Boot disk. Note the 4 Recovery partitions.

As before, any help is appreciated.

Zig (off to bed)

 

 

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[Paul T]

Strictly speaking, you only need EFI and system partitions, and the EFI partition can probably be removed if you never use Bitlocker.

You have 3 options as I see it.

1. Do nothing. Almost no disk space is lost.
2. Delete all partitions after C: and add the free space to C:.
3. In addition to 2 above, remove the first recovery partition and move everything to the beginning of the disk (using MiniTool Partition Wizard free). This is the most risky and might be better achieved by clearing the disk and restoring partitions 2 and 3 from backup.

cheers, Paul

 

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[Zig]

Paul,

Given that I have a lot of space on my C:\ drive, I think I’ll do nothing right now with the superfluous Recovery Drive partitions.

v.2004 seems to be working well; the only thing now is to consider restoring the EFI partition from backup.

BTW, what time zone are you in? Oz? I don’t seem to see you before midnight local (Pacific Time).

Zig

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[Paul T]

I get on at various times, depending on what I’m up to, but spending more time here at present due to covid.

cheers, Paul

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