How can I stop WUAUSERV?

Anonymous
2010-09-20T03:53:29+00:00

net stop wuauserv

The service is starting or stoping. Please try again later.

Never stops.

Product: Microsoft Fix it 50202 -- Error 1921. Service 'Windows Update' (WUAUSERV) could not be stopped. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to stop system services.


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Windows for home | Other | Windows update

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Anonymous
2015-05-03T21:30:24+00:00

I stop WUAUSERV to delete the contents in my "Software Distributions" folder. I do that when I am having problems when downloading and installing Apps from the Windows Store. 

The Proper way to do it is as follows:

Command prompt

net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Delete all the contents

Return to "Command Prompt"

net start wuauserv

net start bits

That should fix your problem.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-12-18T12:51:54+00:00

    I couldn't rename the SoftwareDistrubution file. It says it's in another program.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-18T12:48:29+00:00

    After I typed in the command: net stop wuauserv

    It displays:

    The Windows Update Service Update is stopping.....

    The Windows Update Service could not be stopped.

    What shall I do then? Help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-18T14:59:56+00:00

    My solution if wuauserv (Windows Update) fails to stop and you can't delete files in SoftwareDistribution folder

    Start Task Manager (Either type in search or Ctrl Alt Del)

    Click on Services tab

    Right click on any service

    Click on Open Services in popup menu

    Find windows update

    Right click for popup menu

    Click on properties

    Set to disabled (remember original setting - manual or automatic (delayed start) )

    Restart computer

    Delete required files in SoftwareDistrunution folder

    Revers procedure to set windows update to manual or automatic delayed start

    Restart computer

    It worked for me

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-03T13:17:21+00:00

    Exactly. This may work for some but obviously not the far more difficult ones where the service just won't inherently stop. Which means all of us are back to searching (for love of everything holy I hope youre using google and not bing) google to find an alternative way to get this madness of windows to stop downloading over and over again on a hotspot.  Rant over. 

    "The windows Update service could not be stopped." is a major pain in the booty.

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