Unusual Files in C Drive After FAILED Windows Update Attempts!

Anonymous
2025-05-12T21:05:39+00:00

Windows 10

Just wanted to give it a fair go one more time by trying to fix problems myself, but still a major failure with Windows Updates.

Also, there doesn't seem to be any issues with the PC itself that I can find using what is available - it really does seem to be corrupt Window Updates.

Error Code: 0x80070057

Reset was done back in February, but didn't work. The only Antivirus third party programs on it before then was Kaspersky and AVG.

AVG was removed in the last part of 2024 and then reintroduced after the reset then removed again when told to remove everything by Microsoft Support.

Current Anti-virus is disabled.

Over the last 48 hours:

a: Scannow came back clean.

b: Chkdsk found nothing.

c: DISM also didn't resolve any issues as none found.

d: Ample storage in C Drive like 500 GBs.

e: Managed to rename SoftwareDistribution folders after the net stop ... net start steps, but made no difference.

f: Troubleshooter had pending restart at first, but since then troubleshooter detects no issues.

g: Have manually downloaded the updates from February and April (can't find anything for March) only these won't install either.

h: With Windows Update ERROR ENCOUNTERED does come up and Troubleshooter still detects nothing.

i: No malware or anything as that was checked prior via someone in the Microsoft Community and I still do checks myself.

j: Under RegEdit after exporting changed the values to 0 for Window Update Ux like:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX]

"IsConvergedUpdateStackEnabled"=dword:00000000

h: Diskcheckup found no issues.

On checking C Drive about the storage space as I was wondering if maybe I was missing something**,** just in case, I discovered these folders or files and was wondering if my PC is now compromised or these are a tell tale sign of Windows Update being corrupted or Other as these have only appeared in the last 6 hours or so.

NOTE: Will be doing a clean install at some point, but not just yet as need to copy some stuff over that I want to keep and as it may take several hours...

There is one or two others like below as well and all dated the same.

Thanks in advance!

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/1dd5b0e5-3eb0-45a8-b043-631470329b6c?platform=QnA

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-20T11:37:58+00:00

    Option A or 1 unfortunately isn't working as this has been at this point for about 20 minutes now - image attached.

    The link to the November 2024 update you provided.

    Still running it...

    Image

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-20T01:00:04+00:00

    Got it! 👍

    Will try later and post the outcome here when I do.

    The issues with my PC started after July/August of last year only little by little so by the last 3 months of 2024 it was an absolute nightmare with the updates, system being slow and all kinds of noticeable minor issues.

    Every restart took 2 hours - it was that bad - maybe even with the reset it was still like that. Not start, but restart.

    Anyhow, will try the next round later on and will report back what happens. Not near PC right now as am out.

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  3. Ramesh Srinivasan 87,515 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-19T15:22:14+00:00

    Realtek is not the issue here. The problem is that Windows Update and BITS can't connect to the WU servers.

    If the November 2024 update installs, install the latest update using the .msu you downloaded already.

    If you're talking about the detectionverification driver, it's pushed via Windows Update. That's not an issue at all. It can be installed offline if needed.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-19T15:18:57+00:00

    You can do one of the following:

    1. Try to install an intermediate quality update (e.g., Nov 2024 update) to see if it installs fine.

    https://catalog.s.download.windowsupdate.com/d/...

    What will this do if it installs and what does it mean if it doesn't?

    (or)

    1. Use the latest Windows 10 ISO from uupdump.net and repair install Windows 10 again. That gets you to the latest OS build. But after the in-place upgrade the Windows Update error 0x80070057 needs to be troubleshooted anyway. Atleast your system will be updated and protected until we troubleshoot the issue.

    I feel the underlying issue is the Realtek Audio driver being outdated or whatever the reported issue for it was going right back. This needs to be replaced and by Realtek or equivalent.

    (or)

    1. Clean install Windows 10 using the USB setup disk after backing up your data.

    This is the option I had planned to do anyhow just not now, but it might be pointless if the Realtek Audio driver is an issue like I have read - the replacement has to be Realtek or something better and I would prefer it to be the Realtek one. No amount of resetting or clean installs will do much if a driver is outdated nor if what is being used as a replacement isn't suitable.

    Getting late here so will look at these options again when my eyes aren't so tired.

    Thanks for your help to date! 👍

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  5. Ramesh Srinivasan 87,515 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-19T14:33:22+00:00

    The Windows Update or BITS has a problem. DISM couldn't reach the Microsoft servers. The component store is fine (except for a few corrupted files) though.

    You can do one of the following:

    1. Try to install an intermediate quality update (e.g., Nov 2024 update) to see if it installs fine.

    https://catalog.s.download.windowsupdate.com/d/...

    (or)

    1. Use the latest Windows 10 ISO from uupdump.net and repair install Windows 10 again. That gets you to the latest OS build. But after the in-place upgrade the Windows Update error 0x80070057 needs to be troubleshooted anyway. Atleast your system will be updated and protected until we troubleshoot the issue.

    (or)

    1. Clean install Windows 10 using the USB setup disk after backing up your data.

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