Disk cleanup does not remove Windows Update Cleanup

Question

Trying to remove Windows Update Cleanup files either using Settings windows or Disk Cleanup, it displays 4 GB of occupied space by Windows Update Cleanup but I cannot remove it either way. I tried:
Running Disk Cleanup as administrator,
Running Disk Cleanup in SafeMode,

Manual removal of SoftwareDistrubution folder,
"cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535" command,

but no success!

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/4efe6fab-1cb0-4bdf-80d5-e5310c91754e?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/8f80e041-7365-4940-a752-0d443af3472d?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">

Answer 1

I see. Can you run Treesize on C drive and send a screenshot?

https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free

Feel free to run the portable one instead of setup.

Standard 3rd party link disclaimer:

There may be links to non-Microsoft websites that would provide accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the websites which are frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). There is no need to buy paid products to fix your computers as they do more harm than good sometimes.

Answer 2

Thanks Hamed, I think the space accounts for WinSxS folder.

Can you execute

dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup in an elevated CMD and let us know the outcome.

Answer 3

Using Powershell:

Wininit:

Checking file system on C:

The type of the file system is NTFS.

A disk check has been scheduled.

Windows will now check the disk.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...

506624 file records processed.

File verification completed.

Phase duration (File record verification): 12.37 seconds.

17421 large file records processed.

Phase duration (Orphan file record recovery): 0.00 milliseconds.

0 bad file records processed.

Phase duration (Bad file record checking): 1.52 milliseconds.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...

48305 reparse records processed.

681854 index entries processed.

Index verification completed.

Phase duration (Index verification): 1.87 minutes.

0 unindexed files scanned.

Phase duration (Orphan reconnection): 2.02 seconds.

0 unindexed files recovered to lost and found.

Phase duration (Orphan recovery to lost and found): 26.96 seconds.

48305 reparse records processed.

Phase duration (Reparse point and Object ID verification): 209.06 milliseconds.

Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...

Cleaning up 3116 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.

Cleaning up 3116 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.

Cleaning up 3116 unused security descriptors.

Security descriptor verification completed.

Phase duration (Security descriptor verification): 132.88 milliseconds.

87616 data files processed.

Phase duration (Data attribute verification): 1.76 milliseconds.

CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...

36943304 USN bytes processed.

Usn Journal verification completed.

Phase duration (USN journal verification): 550.13 milliseconds.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.

No further action is required.

40856596 KB total disk space.

30828460 KB in 206788 files.

190576 KB in 87617 indexes. 

     0 KB in bad sectors. 

609632 KB in use by the system. 

 55328 KB occupied by the log file. 

9227928 KB available on disk.

  4096 bytes in each allocation unit. 

10214149 total allocation units on disk.

2306982 allocation units available on disk.

Total duration: 2.58 minutes (155248 ms).

Internal Info:

00 bb 07 00 0f 7e 04 00 c5 18 08 00 00 00 00 00 .....~..........

f0 00 00 00 c1 bb 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

Chkdsk:

Chkdsk was executed in read-only mode on a volume snapshot.

Checking file system on C:

The type of the file system is NTFS.

WARNING! /F parameter not specified.

Running CHKDSK in read-only mode.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...

506624 file records processed. File verification completed.

Phase duration (File record verification): 19.06 seconds.

17421 large file records processed. Phase duration (Orphan file record recovery): 0.00 milliseconds.

0 bad file records processed. Phase duration (Bad file record checking): 0.69 milliseconds.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...

48302 reparse records processed. 681850 index entries processed. Index verification completed.

Phase duration (Index verification): 33.05 seconds.

0 unindexed files scanned. Phase duration (Orphan reconnection): 2.61 seconds.

0 unindexed files recovered to lost and found. Phase duration (Orphan recovery to lost and found): 0.63 milliseconds.

48302 reparse records processed. Phase duration (Reparse point and Object ID verification): 290.37 milliseconds.

Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...

Security descriptor verification completed.

Phase duration (Security descriptor verification): 144.09 milliseconds.

87614 data files processed. Phase duration (Data attribute verification): 2.17 milliseconds.

CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...

36694152 USN bytes processed. Usn Journal verification completed.

Phase duration (USN journal verification): 1.22 seconds.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.

No further action is required.

40856596 KB total disk space.

30876316 KB in 206755 files.

190592 KB in 87615 indexes. 

     0 KB in bad sectors. 

609636 KB in use by the system. 

 55328 KB occupied by the log file. 

9180052 KB available on disk.

  4096 bytes in each allocation unit. 

10214149 total allocation units on disk.

2295013 allocation units available on disk.

Total duration: 56.41 seconds (56417 ms).

Answer 4

Hi Summit

Thank you for the reply and here is the result of check disk:

Answer 5

Hi Hamed,

I am Sumit, an Independent Advisor here to assist you.

Post the results of CHKDSK command:

How to do a Disk check of System drive in Windows 10 and interpret the logs

https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2018/04/how-to...

Disclaimer:

There are links to non-Microsoft websites which would provide accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the websites which are frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). There is no need to buy paid products to fix your computers as they do more harm than good sometimes.