Solved Disk Cleanup does not delete windows update files

Laffer · Feb 23, 2015

Hi!

The windows directory on my installation has gotten extremely bloated and I would like to free up some space. The Disk Cleanup utility nicely offers to free up 7 GBs of windows update data. However, when I run it, I only see a progress bar for a while and then it disappears. The amount of free space is the same. When I run Disk Cleanup again, it offers to free up the same 7 GBs again. I have tryed running it in safe mode, but the results are same. The user running the Disk Cleanup utility has administrator privileges. The utility itself gives no error messages whatsoever.

Any ideas on what might be causing this behaviour and how to solve it?

richc46 · Feb 23, 2015

Did you check clean up system files?
If that does not work, download the free Ccleaner, it works even better than disc cleanup

Layback Bear · Feb 23, 2015

Disk Cleanup many times will not complete unless you reboot.

Here is a nice little tutorial by Bare Foot Kid.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html

Another one by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/818-disk-cleanup-open-use.html

Laffer · Feb 23, 2015

richc46 said:
Did you check clean up system files?
If that does not work, download the free Ccleaner, it works even better than disc cleanup

I agree, CCleaner is great, however I'm not sure if I dare to use it for deleting windows update data yet.

Layback Bear said:
Disk Cleanup many times will not complete unless you reboot.

Here is a nice little tutorial by Bare Foot Kid.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html

Another one by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/818-disk-cleanup-open-use.html

I have tryed rebooting after running the disk cleanup utility, no results. I also tryed running the command as administrator in the 2nd tutorial and cleaning windows update files then, made no change.

richc46 · Feb 23, 2015

Go to search
type %temp%
Then delete the ones you are comfy with
To be more comfy make a system restore point first
You can make a system restore before Ccleaner, too. Which is the way I would go.

Laffer · Feb 23, 2015

richc46 said:
Go to search
type %temp%
Then delete the ones you are comfy with
To be more comfy make a system restore point first
You can make a system restore before Ccleaner, too. Which is the way I would go.

I am really only talking about the windows update data here, not temporary files etc. It seems CCleaner has removed the feature to remove old windows update data all in all.

Callender · Feb 23, 2015

Why do you think that Windows Update files were not cleaned? If it's because you expect to see an option showing how much space will be freed - you won't see that. You need to run disk cleanup extended (with all required options checked other than Windows Update) then make a note of free space. Then run disk cleanup extended again to include only Windows Update. Then you need to compare space before and after cleanup.

Laffer · Feb 23, 2015

Callender said:
Why do you think that Windows Update files were not cleaned? If it's because you expect to see an option showing how much space will be freed - you won't see that. You need to run disk cleanup extended (with all required options checked other than Windows Update) then make a note of free space. Then run disk cleanup extended again to include only Windows Update. Then you need to compare space before and after cleanup.

Actually it does show me about 7GB of disk space will be cleaned. When I run the tool later, it still shows me 7 GB of space can be freed. Clearly it's doing nothing.

Laffer · Feb 24, 2015

I made some screenshots just to clarify what the issue is since there seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding, I hope this will clear it up.

Callender · Feb 24, 2015

Extended Disk Cleanup

So you are running disk cleanup as admin correct? (Right click options)

Try Steps 1,2 & 3 here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html

A reboot is required after cleanup.

Laffer · Feb 24, 2015

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.

Callender · Feb 24, 2015

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.

Layback Bear · Feb 24, 2015

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.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Are you using some sort of Raid?

Have you moved the Update files to some other location other than where Windows 7 put them?

Laffer · Feb 25, 2015

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:.

DavidE · Feb 25, 2015

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
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

To mark a partition not active see this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

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:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

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.

billmcct · Feb 25, 2015

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/

Layback Bear · Feb 25, 2015

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.

ShoTTaS · Feb 26, 2015

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

Laffer · Feb 26, 2015

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.

DavidE · Feb 26, 2015

Laffer said:
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.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Solved Disk Cleanup does not delete windows update files

New member

My Computer

Moderator

My Computer

3 Brain Cells

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Moderator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

Attachments

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

3 Brain Cells

My Computer

New member

Attachments

My Computer

____________

My Computer

New member

My Computer

3 Brain Cells

My Computer

{ BANANA }

My Computer

New member

Attachments

My Computer

____________

My Computer

Similar threads