Solved Can't boot after extended Disk Cleanup

[Mike8615]

I used built it extended Disk Cleanup to remove 6 GB of Windows Update files and when I rebooted it stayed stuck at "Configuring Windows Update 100% Do not turn off your computer" for an hour. I did a hard reboot and now its stuck at 35%. I tried booting into Safe Mode and it stays stuck on the same screen. Anybody have a fix for this? I have a dual boot system so can I delete any files in the Windows 7 folders to fix it?

 

[SIW2]

1. You could try F8 repair my computer which should boot to winre.
Otherwise use installation media and select repair my computer

Do system restore


2. If system restore isn't possible:
open command prompt in winre. Find windows drive e.g. C or D depending on your partition layout

Then type

mkdir <drive letter which holds the Windows directory>\Scratch

DISM /image:<drive letter which holds the Windows directory>\ /ScratchDir:<drive letter which holds the Windows directory>\Scratch /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions.

e.g. If your windows partition is D ( as seen from winre)

DISM /Image:\ /ScratchDir:\Scratch /Cleanup-Image /RevertPendingActions

 

[BisVal]

Made same mistake on Saturday - exactly the same behavior from the PC . Tried to make restore with the install disc - no success. I made a clean install of the the PC.

 

[Mike8615]

Its fixed. I just had to wait it out. It took 4 hours to complete

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Mike8615,

Its fixed. I just had to wait it out. It took 4 hours to complete.

It has been know to take several hours!

 

[Brds7t7]

MS updated the disk cleanup wizard sometime in 2016 to better clean-up older updates.

The downside of this is that it sometimes takes forever to cleanup after reboot now. I don't run it very often anyway, so I've only had to wait a couple of times.

Glad you resolved it anyway.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4009438

 

[JamesinUK]

Just to say thanks.

I had exactly the same problem, and I did what you suggested and waited it out. Eventually it booted up OK. Took about a couple of hours with mine.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Over the past 40 years, I've messed up my own PC many times, just experimenting with something I read on the internet (usually).
I even ran CCleaner, which totally disabled my PC's ability to boot up. I'll never use that POC again!

It's now been many years, since I developed my own strategy for fixing my own screw-ups.

I think I have that strategy outlined in my Signature Line.

If I update any of my data files, or create new ones, like new saved pictures, I do an immediate DATA Backup to a USB 3.0 Flash Drive.
And then, at least once a week, I back up my entire C: drive, to a 1TB External USB 3.0 HD.

Now, when I mess up my C: drive, I just take a deep breath and reboot to my Ghost Backup CD, and perform a Ghost Restore of my last backup file. I keep about six backup files, just in case the last one won't do the restore. I've actually NOT experienced that problem, because GHOST is an extremely reliable backup program. I've been using DOS Ghost, since 1997.

For just the quickie restore, I use System Restore. I force a new System Restore point, every time I boot up my PC, with a script in my Startup folder. (Thank you, Shawn). I always have several Restore Points to choose from.

Happy Computing!
Cheers Mates
TM