Failed Windows update has messed up my hard drive

[STEVE_1979]

Hello. 🙂

My HP Pavilion X2 10-N 10.1" laptop has developed a major problem when Windows 10 attempted to install an update.

Windows gave a message saying that I needed to clear some space on my hard drive to allow a large update to install. So I uninstalled all of the Steam games and any unneccessary bloatware from my PC to clear as much space as possible resulting in 6GB of room on the 32GB hard drive.

Windows then started downloading the update but stopped halfway through displaying a message saying that there still wasn't enough space for the update to install. So I canceled the update but now the 6GB of hard drive space had dropped to just 2.5GB even though there's nothing been installed.

Is there any way to get back the lost 3.5GB?

[Huffer]

Yes. Right click on the disk in "This PC". Select properties/disk cleanup/clean system files. Put a check in all the boxes and run the cleanup. Should remove the downloaded Windows update files.

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.  

[STEVE_1979]

Thank you for your quick reply. Unfortunately cleaning up the system files has not worked as there were only a few MB of files to be deleted.

On a similar note I've also tried deleting the 'system restore' points in case they had taken up the 3.5GB hard drive space but there weren't any restore points saved so that hasn't made any difference either.

[pritam2015 · Accepted solution]

You need to delete all these files manually

there are 2 ways to remove all windows update files

1: Removing downloaded temp files from software distribution folder

       Go to C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution now delete everything from this folder (do not delete software distribution folder)

       Now check if this directory is available C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution.bak If you get an error message then you are done. If this folder exists delete everything from this folder.

2: Disk clean up tool: (safe)

1.  Right click on C drive and select Properties.
2. Select disk cleanup
3. Select cleanup system files
4. Now tick the following check boxes 1: Windows upgrade log files 2: Temporary windows installation files 3: previous windows installation files(if available)

You are done !!!

[STEVE_1979]

That's brilliant! Thank you very much. 😄

Deleting the contents of the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder has worked a treat. I now have over 8GB of hard drive space available which is 2GB more than before. Result!

[STEVE_1979]

It seems that I spoke too soon, There was 8GB hard drive space until I rebooted the PC and now it's dropped back down to just 3GB again.  😞

On closer inspection the "Download" folder in c;\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution is 5GB in size. However when I try to delete it I get a message saying "The action can't be completed because the file is open in Application information"

[STEVE_1979]

Some more information...

BITD627.tmp is the 5GB file that gets stuck when trying to delete because it's open in Aplication Information

[pritam2015]

You are getting this error because windows update service is running and this service is using these files. To stop this service
Open task manager
Go to services tab
Find and stop windows update service
Now try to delete software distribution folder.

[STEVE_1979]

I couldn't find anything called "Windows Update Service" in task manager. However when I rebooted my computer several hours later to show a colleague at work the problem had fixed itseelf and I now have 8GB disk space again.

So for the time being at least, it all seems ok and hopefully it will stay fixed this time.

Thanks again for your help. 🙂

[pritam2015]

I am glad that your problem is fixed. but there was my fault I told you wrong solution 😞

here is the correct way to stop windows update service (for future reference)

1. press "windows button + R" 
2. Type "services.msc"
3. Now find and stop "windows update" service.
4. Now you don't face any problem to delete content of software distribution folder 🙂

This reply might solve someone else's problem 🙂