Resolved Issue: Error 2024: Unable to recover your computer. Insufficient system space.

So the other day I turned on my computer and it said that it was missing the file \Windows\System32\Config\System, and it tried to recover from the recovery drive. It told me to wait a moment and then the screen said, "Unable to recover your PC. The system drive is too small..." and now I don't know what to do, so I came here for help.

If your system crashes unexpectedly, you can rely on a system image that creates a complete copy of everything on your computer – files, system settings, and Windows. You need to start with the Windows System Image Recovery tool. However, the recovery process might be hindered by an unfriendly error message: “We can't restore your PC. The system drive is too small.” How can you fix this annoying error? In this article, we'll show you some solutions to this problem.

Causes of the "Insufficient Disk Space" Error

In the process of starting to address the problem, we can first identify the cause of the error, and then find the appropriate solution based on that cause.

Let's start with the cause, and see what might be causing the error.

• Insufficient disk space: The target disk you want to restore the system image to doesn't have enough space.
• System image issue: There's an issue with the system image you created. This means you need to recreate a system image.
• Hard drive issue: Existing partitions on the hard drive might be causing the error. Alternatively, there could be a conflict between your original disk and the target disk.

With the causes identified, we can get to the business of effective remedies.

Solutions to "We couldn't restore your PC. The system drive is too small"

Here, we have gathered four approaches to getting it wrong.

Option 1: Check Disk Capacity
Option 2: Format and Delete Target Disk Volume with Partition Master
Option 3: Modify the Minimum Size Requirement
Option 4: Recreate System Image via Control Panel

Option 1: Check disk capacity

When this error occurs, the easiest way to fix it is to check your disk space. You need to make sure that the target disk has a capacity that is greater than or equal to the source disk.

How to Check Hard Drive Capacity

- Right-click on the hard drive. - Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu. - You can view the capacity of the hard drive in the “General” section.

If that option doesn't fix the error, try the next one.

Option 2: Format and delete the target disk partition using a Partition Master tool.

If the disk to be restored has partitions and an error occurs while restoring the system image, you should use a tool to format the hard drive. Note that formatting will delete data on the target disk.

Formatting a partition means that the data on it is erased, but the partition and drive letter are retained. Deleting a partition means removing the volume, eliminating the drive letter assigned to the partition, and making the space unallocated.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a user-friendly tool for formatting, deleting, resizing, and merging partitions. Connect the target hard drive to your computer and download AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Step1: Run Partition Master, right click the partition you want to format and choose “Format”.

Step 2: In the pop-up window, set the "Volume Label", "File System" (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT) and "Cluster Size" of the partition to format, then click "OK".

Step 3: You'll see a warning; click “Yes” to proceed.

Click the “Perform 1 Task” button to check for changes, and then click “Apply” to begin formatting the hard drive partition.

When it's done, right-click the drive and choose "Eject."

Option 3: Modify the minimum scale required

After you create the system image, your minimum size requirements are saved in a file named $PBR_ResetConfig.xml.

Open it, and you'll see the “MinSize” value, which represents the minimum amount of space required on the target disk. If your target disk is smaller than the “MinSize” value, you'll need to modify it.

How to edit MinSize: Navigate to sources > Open $PBR_ResetConfig.xml in Notepad > Reset > System Disk > MinSize.

Option 4: Re-create the system image through Control Panel

Step 1: Type “Control Panel” in the search box and open it.

Step 2: Click on Backup and Restore, then select Create a system image on the left-hand side.

Step 3: Choose the location where you want to save your backup, then click Next.

• On a local hard disk. • On one or more DVDs. • On a network location.

Step 4: Review your backup settings, and then click the Start Backup button.

Waiting for Windows to prepare the backup...

Step 5: Save the system image.

Tip: Restore your computer from a system image you created

Step 1: Open Control Panel > Backup and Restore

Step 2: Click Restore your computer or your system settings.

Step 3. Under the System Restore section, click on Advanced recovery methods.

Step 4: On the next page, click Recover from an earlier created system image.

5. Before restoring the system image, the program asks whether you want to back up your files. Click **Back Up Now** if you need to back up your files. Otherwise, click **Skip**.

Step 6. Click the Reboot button to restart your computer and continue with the recovery process.