Removing a WSUS server?

Keith Hampshire 96 Reputation points
2022-02-08T14:57:02.517+00:00

Working as a Systems Administrator, I have inherited an environment that is using an old WSUS server 2019. I say old because it looks like there hasn't been any maintenance done on this thing in years. For instance, I tried running the cleanup wizard to remove old updates and flush out old stale items, but it keeps failing with an error message stating, "Error: Database Error". I have more than enough space on the hard drive with 71% free. I even tried going one by one checking off one box at a time, but it still errors out. Even working on common stuff other than the cleanup wizard it will fail.

My question is can I just delete/remove this server completely and start all over and rebuild another one? I know I would need to adjust my GPO to using the new WSUS.

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Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Other
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  1. Adam J. Marshall 10,356 Reputation points MVP
    2022-02-08T20:12:59.937+00:00

    WAM can usually take a seemingly messed up WSUS situation and bring it back to life and better than what it was at the beginning (as long as WSUS actually works immediately after a restart of the server).

    You can always uninstall/reinstall WSUS
    https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-remove-wsus-completely-and-reinstall-it/

    Or you can migrate it to another server
    https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-migrate-or-upgrade-wsus/

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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