Unusual Files in C Drive After FAILED Windows Update Attempts!

Anonymous

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

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96 answers

Anonymous

2025-05-26T19:37:27+00:00

This should work.

schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\PcaWallpaperAppDetect" /Disable

@Ramesh Srinivasan

1: I let that ISO CMD script (new version) run for 20 hours and as it turned out, unsuccessfully.

2: About an hour ago I turned my PC on and was looking at how to turn off Windows Updates temporarily as that option hasn't been available for a long time and was also reading up on how to do a clean Windows 10 install from a USB and how to use Windows 11 for that ISO download for Windows 10 - both things.

I just so happened to look up at my PC and it had pending restart for an update needed which I thought was a bit annoying as each time it is just a massive failure, but what was different is it was in a pop message not through troubleshooter.

It actually turned out successful and is the latest Cumulative Update kb5058379 released this month.

Not sure why or how, but am sure its been one of the failed attempts multiple times, but of course will have to look that up somehow as it isn't in the update history right now.

Are you able to explain why it was successful - for the last three months since the reset no Cumulative Update really has been successful via Windows Updates.

In Device Manager is still Code 28 to do with Intel or Realtek driver inside Other Devices.

What should I do next?
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Anonymous

2025-05-25T18:16:19+00:00

This should work.

schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\PcaWallpaperAppDetect" /Disable

Thanks!

Running the CMD script (newer one) again and am waiting to see what happens.
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Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-05-25T15:23:03+00:00

This should work.

schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\PcaWallpaperAppDetect" /Disable
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Anonymous

2025-05-25T05:35:14+00:00
The PcaSvc.dll error can be stopped by turning off a scheduled task.

From admin Command Prompt, run:

schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft–Windows–Application Experience-PcaWallpaperAppDetect" /Disable

The setup logs can be removed.
This didn't work - forgot to mention it. Error message pop up still keeps popping up when turned on.

Will retry the upgrade at some point again one more time while still working on accessing another Windows 10 pc.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3803]

(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>schtasks /Change /TN "Microsoft-Windows-Application Experience-PcaWallpaperAppDetect" /Disable

ERROR: The specified task name "Microsoft-Windows-Application Experience-PcaWallpaperAppDetect" does not exist in the system.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>
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Anonymous

2025-05-22T07:01:40+00:00

Leave this OPEN don't close it - will see if I can access another PC with Windows 10 only it may take a few weeks.

May even try running the newer one because with the last one I changed the spaces in the title of the folder, but that was it.

I probably should have deleted everything first then done it all over again from scratch - then run it.
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