Disk Cleanup does not remove files from Windows Update Cleanup on Windows Server 2019 OS

Question

Disk Cleanup does not remove files from Windows Update Cleanup on Windows Server 2019 OS

Вадим Дубенко 20

Hello everyone!

I have a problem where I am unable to delete 16Gb of the really needed space on my VPS from the Windows Update Cleanup.

System is running under Windows Server 2019 Standard; Version 1809; OS build 17763.4499.

I spent hours trying to find a solution on the internet but all the given advices failed. Here what I tried and what didn't resolve the issue with Windows Update Cleanup stuck.

Search for kb3194798 update in attempt to uninstall it - failed as there is no such update on my list.
Delete contents of SoftwareDistribution folder manually.
Delete of SoftwareDistribution_1 folder.
Delete contents of Windows.old folder manually - failed as there is no such folder on the disc.
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.
Run DISM to fix Component Store Corruption.
sfc /scannow.
Run Disk Cleanup in Clean Boot State or Safe Mode.
Deleting shadow copies with "vssadmin delete shadows /all" command - failed as no such copies were found.

Files are really somewhere there and they hold vital disc space. Maybe someone have another idea how to fix this problem? Thank you in advance.

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Answer accepted by question author

3 additional answers

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Answer 1

Anonymous

Also try the steps below.

Stop the Automatic Updates service by running sc stop wuauserv from a Command Prompt.
Rename the software distribution folder (for example, C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution).
Restart the Automatic Update service by running sc start wuauserv from a Command Prompt.
From a Command Prompt, run wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow.
- From a Command Prompt, run wuauclt /reportnow.
after reboot you could delete the renamed folder.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/mem/configmgr/update-management/troubleshoot-issues-with-wsus-client-agents#rebuild-the-automatic-update-agent-store

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-26T09:08:38.9433333+00:00

Good morning. Followed these steps. And situaton made another turn of events. Renamed folder appeared to weight just 38MB. Unfortunately I deleted it before the thought that I should make a screenshot of it. So now the main folder has 7.52MB

But in the list of remained temporary files we have such a report:

So now I have no idea where these files are. And they exist somewhere, because this disk space is occupied.

I'm completely lost in this issue. Do you have any suggestions?
Steve Farrer 0 Reputation points

2024-05-17T14:46:49.5233333+00:00

Thanks! This worked like a charm! 😁

Answer 2

Anonymous

The user running Disk Cleanup operation may not have permissions to some locations. May need to ask the host provider for assistance.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-26T14:03:05.6066667+00:00

Good point. Called to provider - I have and login under Administrator right that allow me to perform all possible actions to manage the server. I tried after your hint to perform the Disc Cleanup from the Server Manager. Same result as from Settings. Maybe there is something in the policies that I should do? Or use any of these provided tools?
Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-26T14:05:56.06+00:00

Disk Cleanup operation may not have permissions to some locations.

The new problem I'm facing now is that I don't know which place I need to access...
Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-26T14:20:11.6066667+00:00

I don't know if my thought has anything to do with reality, but I'll ask anyway - do Recovery Windows Update files have some specific extension, thanks to which I can search for ".something" and find in which folder the system threw them?

Answer 3

Anonymous

You can follow along here.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/deployment/additional-resources-for-windows-update

after the rename (step 4) and possibly after reboot you can delete the renamed folders.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Anonymous

2023-06-25T23:40:20.7733333+00:00

Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-25T23:45:42.95+00:00

Sorry for this delay - I had to step away from the computer. I will come back shortly and go through each step very carefully in the instructions you offer. Thank you for giving me hope. I hope I can solve the problem as well. I will let you know right away.
Anonymous

2023-06-25T23:59:34.8166667+00:00

Ok, sounds good.
Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-26T02:38:42.3666667+00:00

To my great regret, there was no positive result. I made two "circles" of the steps described. The first with option "B" of step 4. And then with option A from step 4. The damn files remain untouched. Maybe there are more options?

By the way, if it matters, here is a list of dlls I had errors with loading or entry points:

regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll

regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll

regsvr32.exe browseui.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml.dll

regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll

regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll

regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll

regsvr32.exe initpki.dll

regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll

regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll

regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll

regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll

regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll

regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll

regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll

regsvr32.exe muweb.dll

regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll

Answer 4

Anonymous

I have a problem where I am unable to delete 16Gb of the really needed space on my VPS

What files or from what location on disk?

Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-25T22:49:42.7366667+00:00

What files or from what location on disk?

Temporary files from the Windows Update Cleanup.
Anonymous

2023-06-25T22:52:50.22+00:00

What does this mean? Where are the files located?
Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-25T22:54:49.97+00:00

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
Вадим Дубенко 20 Reputation points

2023-06-25T23:01:45.6033333+00:00

What does this mean?

I got unexpected notification that disc space is getting low. I went to Start-Settings-System-Storage-Free up space now. 16GB are shown as Temporary files from the Windows Update Cleanup. I mark them to be deleted but they stay.

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Disk Cleanup does not remove files from Windows Update Cleanup on Windows Server 2019 OS

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