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. Ramesh Srinivasan 87,515 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-13T00:10:29+00:00

    Hi Min,

    The error code 0x80070057 can occur due to CBS corruption. A repair installation should help.

    I'm not sure how those files were created. For a second opinion, you can scan the device using ESET Online Scanner.

    If there is no infection, follow these steps to repair install Windows 10.

    1. Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT) from this link:

    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2265055

    1. Run MCT and accept the license agreement.
    2. Click "Upgrade this PC now". This starts the repair installation.

    Your apps, settings, and files will be kept by default during a repair install/in-place upgrade.

    See also:

    Reinstall Windows - Microsoft Support:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/rei...

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-13T21:59:28+00:00

    @Ramesh Srinivasan

    The full scan took 15-17 hours to complete and found nothing.

    Just checked the results about 30 minutes ago.

    1: Can I download MCT directly on to my PC?

    2: When you mention apps, setting, files is this like Antivirus, DiskCheckup, PC Health, Photos, Downloads and Music.

    I don't want to lose any of the above just yet so just wanted to make sure.

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  3. Ramesh Srinivasan 87,515 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-14T01:48:00+00:00

    Hi Min,

    1. Yes. You can download MCT to your PC.
    2. Your installed programs, settings, and data will remain intact during the repair installation using MCT.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-15T02:46:06+00:00

    Hi Min,

    1. Yes. You can download MCT to your PC.
    2. Your installed programs, settings, and data will remain intact during the repair installation using MCT.

    Downloaded it! 👍

    Need to bring up something that happened yesterday when I turned on my PC for the first time.

    No audio or sound even after three uninstalls and reinstalls from Device Manager.

    Prior to the reset in February the no audio or sound issue occurred a few times and was resolved by just rebooting.

    After the reset uninstalling and installing became more common than not.

    In Other Devices it did have Detection Verification and Code 28.

    This as well:

    dd8e82ae-334b-49a2-aeae-aeb0fd5c40dd detectionverification driver

    Noticed this before and tried uninstalling.

    Last night, I discovered after researching it more that it has everything to do with Realtek and IntelAudio - an outdated audio driver maybe.

    My PC is an Acer.

    1: Acer or the manufacturer no longer has an audio driver.

    2: Intel doesn't have an audio driver except for Nuc.

    Windows 10 64 bit Nuc

    I followed a link for Acer and it took me to Intel only what I thought was the driver actually wasn't the right one and it fully uninstalled Realtek and the Detection Verification no longer showed.

    Realtek was replaced by the generic one, however, Windows Update on a reboot automatically downloaded the Realtek driver successfully not the Cumulative ones although there was an attempt with them as well just FAILURE TO DOWNLOAD (0x80070057) as usual.

    On a reboot Realtek showed in Device Manager again under Audio Inputs and Outputs, but so did the Detection Verification and Code 28 in Other Devices.

    Windows Update is still not updating the Cumulative update s, but other ones seem to be fine. Not all.

    So...

    1: Could this outdated Realtek audio be causing Windows Update issues?

    2: How am I going to replace the driver if it is no longer available and also stop Windows Updates from downloading that driver in particular if it is so problematic?

    I don't have Windows 10 Pro, but Home.

    3: If I do do an upgrade or clean install it won't make a difference due to that outdated Realtek audio - would it?

    4: Is it possible to replace an audio driver with another one all together?

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  5. Ramesh Srinivasan 87,515 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-15T02:55:00+00:00

    Hi Min,

    Code 28 means "The drivers for this device are not installed".

    1. Please launch msinfo32.exe, and click System Summary. Resize the columns in the right pane to make the entries visible, and post a screenshot of that screen.
    2. Open admin Command Prompt and run these commands: dism /online /get-drivers /format:table >c:\drivers.txt md C:\Drivers pnputil /export-driver * C:\Drivers

    Post the output.

    1. Share C:\drivers.txt on OneDrive or GoFile.io and post the link here.

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