Windows 8: Disk Cleanup - Windows Update Cleanup

[RastaManBob]

Hello!

This evening I ran 'Disk Cleanup' on Windows 8. One of the new options is 'Windows Update Cleanup'. I left this selected along with all other options. 'Windows Update Cleanup' was the lions share at 151 MB.

I left 'Disk Cleanup' doing its thing but it was taking ages on 'Windows Update Cleanup' and I wanted to leave it for the evening so I clicked 'Cancel'. The hard drive was still being thrashed even a number of minutes after clicking 'Cancel' despite the 'Disk Cleanup' dialog having closed.

Upon rebooting the machine a 'Configuring Windows. Do not power off.' or words to that effect. At the time I could not put my finger on what I could have done that caused this (this is typically shown if you add/remove Windows features). After a good fifteen minutes it had still not shut down and appeared stuck (though hard drive still thrashing) and so I held the power button and hard powered off the computer. (It was showing the usual signs of something that was not progressing and stuck - I'm sure we've all experienced this before).

I am not sure if the above is relevant but now each time I run 'Disk Cleanup' there is still an entry for 'Windows Update Cleanup' at 151 MB and it now gets past this option very quickly (~30 seconds), almost as though it is either not working or it is not really 151 MB.

Are you aware of any way to fix this? Is it possible to 'refresh' the Windows Update database for example? Any ideas? I take it that this is not common behaviour others are noting too?

Also - Can anybody confirm it was the 'Disk Cleanup' (specifically, at a guess, 'Windows Update Cleanup' which caused the 'Configuring Windows' screen? Note that now I do not see this screen when shutting down after a 'Disk Cleanup' (irrespective of whether I select 'Windows Update Cleanup' or not).

This is not something that is particularly causing trouble and so I'd rather not format Windows 8 and start from scratch but I'm also convinced this is not quite right and I'd like to fix it!

Thank you!

 

[RastaManBob]

Please Help!

 

[this_is_gav]

I can't say if this is the same for Vista, 7 and 8, but with XP you could stop the Windows Update service (Administration Tools > Services > Windows Update), then delete the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.

I assume that's no different with Windows Vista onwards, but obviously don't come back screaming and shouting at me if your computer jumps out of your window, kidnaps your daughter or otherwise doesn't behave as expected.

 

[RastaManBob]

Thank you for your advice.

I have followed the instructions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

And also completed the 'Troubleshoot' for Windows Update built into Windows 8. It finds a problem and corrects it. Running the tool again finds the exact same problem again.

Checking for C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution as per your recommendation I noticed a number of backups created (no doubt from one of the above processes), such as C:\Windows\softwaredistribution.bak .bak2 etc etc. The actual SoftwareDistribution folder is now 11 MB rather than ~600 MB as it was last night.

Even so, Disk Cleanup still shows that 151 MB can be freed but even after running it continues to show the same thing.

It is almost as though something is wrong with Disk Cleanup... Any ideas if that has only configuration I can delete?

Having said this, it does not explain why the Troubleshooter finds a problem and fixes it but shows the exact same issue (and can fix it) each subsequent run...

However, Windows Update is cotinuing to work so I am not too worried. I am not 'really' missing space and WU is working so it seems it's just the output of Disk Cleanup which is confusing. Don't get me wrong, though, I'd still like it fixed!

Any ideas?

 

[sanwablo]

each time I run 'Disk Cleanup' there is still an entry for 'Windows Update Cleanup' at 151 MB and it now gets past this option very quickly (~30 seconds), almost as though it is either not working or it is not really 151 MB.

I have exactly the same issue! 151 MB that would not be deleted. Have you found a way of fixing this? May I also ask if your computer is a Toshiba and/or if you have run CCleaner Registry Cleaner?