I have tryed running disk cleanup as administrator and I also tryed the method from the extended tutorial. If I'm correct, the extended method just gives you a bit more options to delete. Anyway, it didn't work. I have also tryed rebooting after cleanup, no effect.
Okay try it this way:
Start> Run
then type
cleanmgr
Press Enter.
In the window that opens select your windows partition - ususally C drive.
Click on "Clean up system files"
Scroll down to Windows Update Cleanup and make sure it's selected.
Click OK.
Reboot when complete.
Let us know what happens.
I know both the tutorials I posted work if done correctly and that the other information that has been suggested works because I use the same methods several times a on two different computers.
It might help if we see a little more information. Please post this information as per this tutorial by Golden.
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
Are you using some sort of Raid?
Have you moved the Update files to some other location other than where Windows 7 put them?
The system files seem to be divided among 2 partitions. However, Disk Cleanup specifically asks which partition to clean up, it doesn't offer to clean up windows update files on other partitions than C:.
You have 2 Active partitions and that is a problem, there should only be 1 Active partition.
Your DM screen print doesn't show everything.
Post a new DM screen print using the instructions in Step 5 of
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
To mark a partition not active see this tutorial:
Partition - Mark as Inactive
Make sure you have a bootable disc or OEM preinstalled recovery options before making any changes so you can do a Startup Repair. See this tutorial:
Startup Repair
If you do have update files in each of the Active partitions you might need to mark each partition as the only Active partition and run the cleanup.
I'm just guessing with that, I've never had 2 Active partitions.
Wait for others with more setup knowledge than me to advise with the best approach, I'm not a installation/setup expert.
If you use CCEnhanser with Ccleaner you can get the Windows updates option back plus many, many more cleaning options. Just be careful.
https://singularlabs.com/software/ccenhancer/
Okay now 2+2 is getting closer to 4.
I request this tutorial because we need to see the whole picture not just part of it.
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
Please read post #15 by DavidE. Lot of good information.
How about cleaning it up manually?
run this commands on an elevated command prompt.
net stop wuauserv
rmdir %windir%\softwaredistribution /s /q
net start wuauserv
exit
but before you do that, let's ask some experts here if it is safe.
please take down this reply if it is not helpful.
thanks
I did not include the other partition on the screenshot, because it was not relevant (merely primary partition, no additional statuses). Anyway, I acted as was recommended: set the W: partition as inactive, so only C: remained active. Windows wouldn't boot anymore so I had to copy the boot files to the windows partition again (using bcdboot C:\Windows) after which it booted again. I tryed running the cleanup utility as administrator again with a restart after, but it still wouldn't actually remove anything. I have included a screenshot of the current status.
I don't know why you're saying it was not relevant and no additional statuses.
It's obvious the "status" of [W] did change, and that did make a difference.
Why won't you post the full screen print of Disk Management as requested ?
How and why was [W] an Active partition, and had the Boot code earlier ?
Anyway, now that you have 1 Active partition and can boot, run a System File Check.
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Quote