Windows 10 updates not installing because system partition is locked by Dell

Daisy Dawson.

Click the link below to try the steps listed to resolve the error.

We couldn’t update system reserved partition” error installing Windows 10

If this is not the error reply back.

Dear Jesse:

Thank you.

This article is for people unable to Upgrade to Windows 10 ("When upgrading to Windows 10,. . .")

I have upgraded to Windows 10, but the computer won't update to new releases of Windows 10.

Microsoft has diagnosed the problem that the system reserved partition can't be updated. They have tried to increase the size of the system reserved partition, but it is locked. Microsoft has said that the partition can only be unlocked by Dell.

Thank you,

Daisy Dawson

DaisyDawson,

Cliick the link below for resolving this error.

Windows 10 Anniversary update "we could not update system reserve file

Hi Jesse:

Thank you for the link.

The steps in the solution are ones that Microsoft used when they "took over" my computer.

The step:  "Download Ease us partition manager and resize it to 300 to 450 MBs." was done, but the partition cannot be re-sized using the EaseUs Partition Manager program. The partition is locked.

This is why Microsoft has said that Dell has to unlock the partition so that it can be increased to allow the partition to be increased to accommodate Windows 10 updates.

Thank you,

DaisyDawson

DaisyDawson,

Can you please explain why you are trying to install Windows 10 updates on a reserved partition

The System Reserved partition is created automatically while Windows is installing. It contains boot data. The OEM partition is the manufacturer's (Dell etc.) recovery partition. It's used when you restore/reinstall Windows with the OEM disk or from bios.

You may want to roll back to Windows 8 and then reinstall Windows 10 on the Primary "C" Partiton. Information to do this is listed below.

How to roll back Windows 10 upgrade to a previous operating system

Windows Operating Systems Support

Dear Jesse:

Situation:

I am trying to update Windows 10.

Windows 10 is running on my machine but updates are not installing.

Your question:

"Why you are trying to install Windows 10 updates on a reserved partition?"

1.  I am not trying to install Windows 10, I am trying to update Windows 10

2.  In addition to updating Windows 10 vs. upgrading to Windows 10, I am too ignorant to know how to target a partition for an update on the operating system.

Link "How to roll back Windows 10 upgrade to a previous system"

I referred to you sent, but this is not an option as the instructions say "After 28 days the old version of Windows is removed to free up space on the hard drive."

I upgraded to Windows many months ago, so this is not an option.

Microsoft's diagnosis and solution:

Is it possible to implement the solution proposed by Microsoft after they did several remote sessions on my laptop?

Here is their email again with the diagnosis and solution:

This is XXXXX from Microsoft escalation team. We had a conversation regarding the case number: XXXXX,

and we tried to Upgrade to the Anniversary update using the ISO, but unfortunately it failed with the error

"We could'nt update the system reserved partition" .

So we would not be able to Extend the system reserved partion as we do not have the access and it needs to be done by Computer manufacturer.

So please conatct Dell and ask them to Extend the system reserved partion.

====================================================================

Thank you,

Daisy Dawson

DaisyDawson,

You can click the link below for information extended the reserve partition. 

2 Solutions: Windows 10 Upgrade Couldn’t Update System Reserved Partition

Thank you.

I will give it a try.

Clean install Windows 10 RS1 wiping out all the old partitions. See here for details:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-oem-and-retail-iso/ 

Hi, have you solve the issue? You can please check the following link and hope it helps you:

www.eightforums.com/.../62245-dell-660s-wont-boot-hard-drive-locked-how-do-i-unlock.html

Hello,

I have been having the exact same problems and have tried the same solutions as Daisy Dawson a year ago..  Although the original version of Windows 10 has worked fine, I have never been able to install the first feature upgrade and now cannot install the second feature upgrade.  As with Daisy Dawson, Microsoft took remote control of my computer and was not able to extend the system reserve partition.  The technician said it was locked and only the manufacturer could unlock it.  Third party software cannot change the size of the partition; nor can it be done with device manager.  There must be more than two people who have had this problem.  It is somewhat important because Microsoft is going to stop security updates for the first version of Windows 10.  I don't know anyone with a computer from other manufacturers who has this problem.   Has anyone come up with a solution?

It would be nice to know the history of the system as far as OS installs, original Win 10?  

A picture of your Disk Management window would help.  Make sure it is expanded so we can see the partition descriptions and the graphical illustration of the partitions.  You can attach if you use the rich formatting.

A System Reserved partition is normally on a Legacy install of an OS.  If the message is correct, it may be trying to make another one which was done in prior OS installs.  If you have a MBR drive it may not be able to do so depending how many partitions are already on the drive.

My pc is a XPS 8700, purchased in July 2015, with Windows 7 installed.  I installed Windows 10 about 2 months after it was released.  There were no problems with the installation or with the functioning of the computer after that.  When the first new version of Windows 10 appeared, the pc tried to install in repeatedly but always failed.  I got various messages with different Microsoft error codes and including a message that appeared a few times, saying the pc did not meet the requirements for Windows 10 (even though it was already running Windows 10).  It continued to install security updates for the first version of Windows 10.   I tried all the fix-its, including restoring the computer to a prior date.  Nothing worked.   Now the second new version of Windows 10 has been released and Microsoft says they will stop doing security updates for the original version.  But I cannot update the Windows 10 version.  I get various error messages but no help other than to contact Microsoft, which I did.  They told me it was a problem (locked system reserve partition) for the manufacturer to solve.  I have tried everything I know of short of a clean installation of Windows 10, which I am reluctant to do unless there is a reasonable chance that it will solve the problem.   Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I do not know what the purpose of the Fat32 active partition is on drive 1.  Because it might be interfering with the FAT 32 EFI system partition, can you disconnect the other two drives and try the install.  If you have problems booting, replace the Drive 1 in case there are boot files on it.

If the system came with Windows 7, it was probably installed as Legacy.  So when you moved to Win 10, how did you get the UEFI configuration?  A Legacy system can only boot from an Active partition.  Hopefully, your boot options in the Bios show the Windows Boot manager as Primary boot device.