[dba-Tech] Win10 predownloaded setup almost doubled my system disk used space...

[Helmut Kotsch]

Shamil,

This procedure describes how to fix WIN10 installation after it failed but can also be used in your case to free up space (by Go into "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" and delete everything in that folder) and allows you to start the downloading and installation at a later time.
----------------------------------
What this error means is, your Windows 10 installation folder is unfinished and/or corrupted. Now, how do you fix that?
1. Go into "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" and delete everything in that folder. (If you're unable to complete this step, look at "edit 5" down below)
2. Now, run the command prompt as an administrator. Type in "wuauclt.exe /updatenow".
3. Go to your Control Panel > Windows Update and your Windows 10 should start re-downloading from scratch, hopefully without flaws this time.

EDIT: For those who still have issues, several users reported that setting their time forward (to the First of August for example) and then doing the above steps again helped them resolve the issue.

EDIT 2: If none of the above works, you can try to download Windows 10 from Microsoft's website: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 . Just be cautious that you want to do an upgrade, not a clean install! If you do a clean install, Windows 10 will not activate. You would need a new product key for that. But if you do an upgrade, your product key from Win 7/8/8.1 will carry over to your Win 10. Once you've completed the upgrade and checked that Windows is activated, you can do a clean reinstall if necessary.

EDIT 3: Another possible fix from Microsoft themselves but requires you to tamper with registry keys: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/windows-update-installation-failure-80240020/d695e827-9774-4e10-8972-df8d51a7bb51?auth=1 (thanks /u/ritoman)

EDIT 4: Microsoft support is endorsing this as an official fix! Now, ain't that an accomplishment? https://twitter.com/WindowsSupport/status/626461440568872960 (thanks /u/RxBrad) Thanks for all the gold and kind words, guys!

EDIT 5: If you're unable to delete the contents of the folder due to them being in use, try the following:
1. Open the folder "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download"
2. Run the command prompt as an administrator. Type in "net stop wuauserv". You should see a message indicating that the Windows Update service has been stopped.
3. Now, go back to the folder and now you should be able to delete all its contents.
4. Go back to the command prompt and this time, type in "net start wuauserv". This time, the message will tell you the Windows Update service has been started.
5. Go back to step 2 in the original post.

-------------------------------

Hope that helps

Helmut

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: dba-Tech [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] Im Auftrag von Salakhetdinov Shamil
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 9. September 2015 14:22
An: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Betreff: Re: [dba-Tech] Win10 predownloaded setup almost doubled my system disk used space...

 Hi Gustav --

I have just checked - I have 716 MB left n C: - disaster is aproaching. Could that be  SSD blues?
Starting to clean-in up immediately. Forget Win10.

Thank you.

-- Shamil


>Tuesday, September  8, 2015 3:14 PM UTC from Gustav Brock <gustav at cactus.dk>:
>
>Hi Shamil
>
>That is up to you. It asks (and suggests) to download the latest updates. 
>I've always accepted and don't think it adds much, but you don't have to. And if the machine is off-line, it can't do.
>
>When it is up and running, however, the default is that Windows Update is active, so it will start searching and downloading. This can be turned off.
>
>/gustav
>
>-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
>Fra: dba-Tech [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] På vegne af Salakhetdinov Shamil
>Sendt: 8. september 2015 17:02
>Til: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues < dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com >
>Emne: Re: [dba-Tech] Win10 predownloaded setup almost doubled my system disk used space...
>
> Hi Gustav --
>
>Thank you for your comment, from your experience of running Win10 upgrade, which you've done a few AFAIU, - while upgrade is running does it download some more files or it just goes checking for updates when the whole upgrade process finishes? 
>
>-- Shamil
>
>
>>Tuesday, September  8, 2015 2:40 PM UTC from Gustav Brock < gustav at cactus.dk >:
>>
>>Hi Shamil
>>
>>I'm not sure. None of my upgrades followed this method, as it requires that your pc hasn't been connected to an Active Directory, which all of our machines have.
>>
>>Someone else must chime in, but to me it sounds like the update is already unpacked and ready to install - just waiting for your signal. If so, don't run the Disk Clean Up and just watch if you disk usage isn't steady by now.
>>
>>Nothing happens by waiting - you have until ultimo July next year.
>>
>>/gustav 
>
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