Easily Fix "We Couldn't Update the System Reserved Partition" Error

This article provides comprehensive solutions for resolving the "We Couldn't Update the System Reserved Partition" error on Windows systems. It offers insights into the causes of the error and practical steps to fix it effectively.

By @Miya Last Updated May 28, 2024

What does "we couldn't update the system reserved partition" mean?

Windows users may be upset when they encounter the "We can't update system retained partitions" error. This error often occurs during the system update process and prevents users from making critical system changes. 

"we couldn't update system reserved partition" errors are usually due to a variety of reasons. First, inadequate disk space for the system-specific partition prevents the update process from completing smoothly. In addition, corrupted system files or outdated device drivers can also cause this error, thus disrupting the update process.

How to fix "We couldn't update the system reserved partition"

To solve the "We can't update the system retained partition" error, consider implementing the following solution.

Tip: To avoid data loss due to misoperation, please back up your system and important data before fixing this problem.

Solution 1: Release disk space

When your disk storage is running out of space, the system can't update the system-reserved partition. Here are some tips helping you release disk space.

► Delete unnecessary files and programs to create more space in the system-specific partition.

►Move large files to external storage devices to ease space constraints.

►Use the disk partition tool to resize the partition and allocate more space according to the system-specific partition.

To easily resize partitions, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to perform it. It is a professional and easy-to-use partition manager helping you easily reallocate your storage.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

► Disable Hibernation mode and restore extra disk space.

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:

powercfg -h off

3. Press Enter. This command will disable hibernation and delete the hiberfil.sys file from your system drive.

► Use Disk Cleaner to delete temporary files and restore disk space.

1. Press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup in the search bar, and press Enter.

2. A dialog box will appear asking you to select the drive you want to clean up. Typically, you should select the C: drive where the system installed.

3.  The Disk Cleanup will calculate how much space you can free up. This may take a few minutes.

4. A list of file types will appear. Check the boxes next to Temporary files and any other types of files you wish to delete.

5. Click OK and then Delete Files to confirm.

Solution 2: Repair corrupted system files

If there are some corrupted system files, you may get the "We couldn't update system reserved partition" in Windows 11/10/8/7. Here are how to check your system files and repair.

1. Start Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Type the "sfc / scannow" command and press Enter.

3. Then it will start to scan and repair corrupted system files.

Then you can restart the system after the repair process is completed.

Solution 3: Update Device Drivers

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu. 

2. In Device Manager, find and expand the Disk drives category. You should see a list of all the disk drives connected to your computer.

3. Right-click on the disk drive that is unable to create a new partition. Select the "Update Driver" option.

4. Select the “Search automatically for drivers” option. Please wait patiently.

Tip: Always back up your Windows computer

When you encounter a problem, it is necessary to create a backup for your computer, especially if you don't know IT tech. To make things easier, you can turn to AOMEI Backupper. It is a free backup utility that backs up the operating system, files, partitions, and the entire disk with a few clicks.

You can download and install this software. We will walk you though how to backup system partition with this tool.

AOMEI Backupper

Best free Windows backup software.

Step 1. Install and launch the software. You can click Backup > System Backup.

Step 2.  Select a destination path to save the system backup images.

Step 3.  Confirm all your operations and click Start Backup button.

Conclusion

Finally, solving the "Cannot update system reservation partition" error requires a system approach, including managing disk space, repairing system files, and updating device drivers. By following the solution shown in this guide and taking the necessary precautions, users can overcome this error and ensure seamless updating of the Windows system.

And remember to backup your system when you try to fix this problem. AOMEI Backupper is a great backup software enabling you easily protect your system and important files.