Startcomponentcleanup not working

Question

We got a problem with one of our Windows server 2016 OS.
The system gives an error when we try to run the startcomponentcleanup from the task scheduler. It says that the component is damaged.

I already tried the following actions:

• System cleanup
• SFC /scannow
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup (gives an error that the component is damaged. See log file)115035-dism-log-stooff.txt

Unfortunaly nothing is fixing the problem. The reason that we want to run the startcomponentcleanup is that the WinSxs folder is 18GB in size.

Is there a fix for this problem.

Answer 1

Hello there，

I am afraid debugging windows log is beyond scope of forums support，so if further assistance were needed you could open a request ticket with Microsoft support.
https://support.serviceshub.microsoft.com/supportforbusiness

DISM is related to windows update, so you can try resetting Windows update components to see if that help:
How to: Reset Windows update components in Windows
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-toreset-windows-update-components-in-windows/14b86efd-1420-4916-9832-829125b1e8a3
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-reset-windows-update-components/b7399f55-2d29-472d-a4c2-10ca70dcaa3e

Here are some similar cases for your reference:
Unable to cleanup WINSXS/temp/PendingDeletes
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/267498/unable-to-cleanup-winsxstemppendingdeletes.html

And for To clean WinSxS：
Clean Up the WinSxS Folder
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/clean-up-the-winsxs-folder
Installer and WinSxS folder huge size
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/106233/installer-and-winsxs-folder-huge-size.html
Is it safe to cleanup WINSXS folder before inplace upgrade from Windows server 2008 R2 STD to 2012 R2?
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/307895/is-it-safe-to-cleanup-winsxs-folder-before-inplace.html

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Best Regards,
Samson Peng