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. Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-20T12:04:47+00:00

    What's the current status? If there is disk activity, please let it run.

    Since you mentioned the slow restart issue, please share the Farbar logs to see if we can eliminate unwanted drivers.

    1. Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool 64-bit (FRST64.exe)

    https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/

    Note: If Microsoft Edge or Chrome mislabels the Farbar Scanner executable as PUA/malware, choose to keep it by tapping … in the bottom bar, choosing Keep, and then choosing Keep anyway in the dialog that appears.

    See this screenshot: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/media/microsoft-edge-security-download-interruptions/dowload-was-blocked.png. It's a safe tool used in most antimalware forums.

    1. If the OS language is not English, rename FRST64.exe to FRST64English.exe.
    2. Run the program. Don't check or uncheck any options. Click "Scan".
    3. Add the two logs, FRST.txt and Addition.txt, to a Zip archive, share them on OneDrive or GoFile.io and post the link here.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-20T12:13:22+00:00

    1: The restart issue for 2 hours with each restart is not an issue anymore - it changed between the last update in April and this one in May, but am not sure how or why.

    2: As for the current install progress it is still at the same mark really so no change, but there is this ripple of light going through it like it is active or something. Will let it run longer then since there is movement.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-20T13:31:26+00:00

    What's the current status? If there is disk activity, please let it run.

    It has been 2.5 hours and it hasn't changed or progressed at all from the same point, but there is still activity.

    Should I keep running it?

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  5. Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-20T14:19:54+00:00

    It shouldn't take that much time. Cancel it.

    Download the latest Windows 10 22H2 build (19045.5854) from Uupdump.

    https://uupdump.net/selectlang.php?id=960b5860-55a0-4814-8a98-4cefe92923d0

    Mount the ISO and run setup.exe and run the in-place upgrade.

    The repair installation using the above ISO may or may not fix the Windows Update error 0x80070057, but it fully patches your system. We may need to do further WU troubleshooting after the repair installation.

    (or)

    The following guide can help to clean install Windows 10 using USB setup disk.

    How to: Perform a Clean Install or Reinstall of Windows 10 - Microsoft Community:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/how-to-perform-a-clean-install-or-reinstall-of/aef0ae63-2117-41ee-a8ea-4a3181625b08

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