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
    2025-05-28T18:46:40+00:00

    Seems like Windows Security (Windows Defender) has been updating daily and successfully all the time - no issues. Its really been the Cumalative updates since last year (July/August 2024) and even since the reset that have failed continuously until two days ago.

    Not sure what changed!

    I know I mentioned before about the restart taking like 2 or so hours each time since the reset yet something between April and May shifted somewhere as that behavior all of a sudden stopped. Must be the same situation with the latest update finally updating - something has righted itself somewhere.

    Will keep monitoring it of course.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-28T19:09:39+00:00

    Glad to hear that.

    And I hope the Defender definition updates are installing fine (via WU). It's a sign that Windows Update is working correctly.


    Enable Memory Integrity. To do so, go to Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details > Memory integrity. If it shows any incompatible drivers, post the screenshot here.

    Nothing shown. Clean.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-29T14:58:01+00:00

    @Ramesh Srinivasan

    Turned my PC on an hour ago and everything still seems to be fine, also, have reinstalled my antivirus software program.

    Thanks for all your help! ✅

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  4. Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-29T15:00:21+00:00

    @Ramesh Srinivasan

    Turned my PC on an hour ago and everything still seems to be fine, also, have reinstalled my antivirus software program.

    Thanks for all your help! ✅

    You're welcome.

    The next quality update will be released on June 10th. Let me know if you can install it correctly. If necessary, you may start a new thread.

    Regards,

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-06-11T11:25:05+00:00

    UPDATE
    @Ramesh Srinivasan

    No issues with the latest Cumulative Update (KB5060533) or Security Update for June 11th, 2025.

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