System partition full

[jbradt]

Hi all,

I know I've read a thread about this not long ago, but I couldn't find it after several searches so I thought I'd just post the question...

I have a user who after the last big windows update, has gotten a message that the E: drive is full. Turns out that the E: drive is a system reserved partition of some 490mb and shouldn't even have a drive letter. Most of the time I can solve issues like this by searching here or on the googs, but I'm coming up short.

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be most grateful.

TIA

 

[MichaelBits]

Just go into disk management and remove the drive letter....

 

[jbradt]

Since it was added automatically by the system, I thought that it would just be re-added, but I'll give it a shot.

Thanks!

 

[Diggs]

Just go into disk management and remove the drive letter....

I thought Windows argues when you try to delete this partition which is when a quick boot with Linux is a quick option to delete it.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Don't delete it; just remove the drive letter.

 

[fincoder]

Since it was added automatically by the system, I thought that it would just be re-added

It was the upgrade process itself that added the drive letter, so it won't come back... not until the next feature update anyway!

 

[frase]

Yes I posted about this -

I used DiskPart command to remove drive letter

open CMD prompt as admin and enter the following -

• diskpart
• list volume
• select volume <number of your volume> this being the hidden OEM Partition in your case E:
  
• remove letter=<drive letter of your volume>
• exit

 

[glricht]

... I used DiskPart command to remove drive letter ...

The above works fine, but why not use Disk Management? (diskmgmt.msc). On the same menu where you can change the drive letter is also a "Remove" button which removes the drive letter. Less chance for error.

 

[frase]

Disk Manager sometimes does not work - no remove button on hidden OEM partitions, Diskpart for me is easy to do and works.

 

[NJW]

The above works fine, but why not use Disk Management? (diskmgmt.msc). On the same menu where you can change the drive letter is also a "Remove" button which removes the drive letter. Less chance for error.

A small sample, but on the one machine that I have seen with this problem, the system (should-be-hidden) partition doesn't have a drive letter in Disk Management – everything looks normal there – but does in File Explorer. I haven't had the opportunity to use Diskpart.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I prefer using AOMEI Partition Assistant for such tasks (if Disk Management doesn't work).

 

[Diggs]

I prefer using AOMEI Partition Assistant for such tasks (if Disk Management doesn't work).

The thing that's irked me about Aomei lately is that you need to buy a separate tool of theirs for everything. Backupper (6 different versions) for backups but if you need to change your disk from GPT to MBR before cloning then you need Partition Assistant (7 different versions). It goes on but I suppose it's more my issue than theirs. I've also struggled with Aomei cloning EUFI 5-partition disks successfully when Macrium Reflect handles those perfectly (thanks @Moltuae ).

 

[jbradt]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll see the user tomorrow. I'll plan to remove the drive letter in diskmgmt... if that doesn't work, I'll go the diskpart route. Hopefully that will take care of it.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Of course the partition software can be avoided if you already own parted magic as part of your kit perhaps... Since the partition software should be included on that.

If you don't have parted magic, very helpful in my opinion, has saved my bacon a few times.