Skip to main content
  • Place orders quickly and easily
  • View orders and track your shipping status
  • Create and access a list of your products
Some article numbers may have changed. If this isn't what you're looking for, try searching all articles. Search articles

Insufficient Storage Error When Performing a Windows Update on Systems Configured with 32gb eMMC Primary Drives

Summary: This article describes how to manage system storage space on systems configured with 32gb eMMC primary storage drives.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

Storage requirements for modern computers have increased as computers have become more powerful and applications have become more complex. Data files like music, photographs and videos have become larger as internet bandwidth has increased and source files have increased in quality. As a result, systems that are configured with 32gb eMMC storage drives can quickly become filled with applications and data. This will cause slow system performance and prevent the storage of additional data.

Systems that are configured with a 32gb eMMC are not intended to store large amounts of data locally, they are designed as cost-effective solutions that store data in cloud services or optionally, on external drives. To manage a 32gb eMMC system, users are encouraged to follow these guidelines to ensure their system runs optimally and performs as intended:

  • Ensure the system storage is used for the operating system and critical applications only (antivirus, email clients, media players etc)
  • Utilize cloud storage services for large files like photos, video, etc. Cloud-based solutions may include:
    • Popular third-party cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive.
    • Personal Cloud devices that combine cloud services and external storage in one device that you own and manage.
  • Use an external storage device (hard drive, flash drive, network attached storage (NAS) etc) to store non-critical applications and large files.
  • Ensure regular maintenance is performed in the operating system to clear temporary files, empty the recycle bin and to uninstall any unused applications.

Following these recommendations will help to ensure the system will continue to perform at peak efficiency.

For situations where Windows Update fails to run because of limited space, Microsoft provides instructions on how to use an external drive to assist in the update: How to Upgrade to the latest Windows 10 Feature Update on a Drive with Limited Space

Affected Products

G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Inspiron 11 3162/3164, Inspiron 11 3168, Inspiron 11 3169, Inspiron 11 3179, Inspiron 11 3180, Inspiron 11 3185 2-in-1, Inspiron 3195 2-in-1
Article Properties
Article Number: 000120155
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 22 Aug 2024
Version:  8
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.