SUMMEYLABS

If you’ve ever had Windows Update fail, you know what a headache it can be to get it working again. Sometimes it happens because the file was somehow corrupted during the download or interrupted, and Windows tries to install it anyway. It will keep trying because it thinks the update files are there. If your computer hasn’t been formatted in a while this can also free up a lot of space on your hard drive. I’ve seen it clear up to 2 GB of space, because the updates are installed but the cache is never deleted.

1. Open a Command Prompt. Click Start > Run and type “cmd” then hit “OK” This should bring up the black box that is the Command Prompt.
2. Type “net stop wuauserv”. This shuts down the windows update service so you can delete the files.
3. Still on the Command Prompt, type “cd /d %windir%” or “cd\windows” If you have problems at this step type “cd..” until you only have C:\ then type “cd windows” and you’ll be in the right directory.
4. Type “rd /s SoftwareDistribution”
5. And you’re done. We just need to restart the windows automatic update service again by typing “net start wuauserv” so that the downloads that were stuck will re-download.

This is my first post as a guest blogger on Summeylabs.com   I’d like to thank Ryan for the opportunity to share some knowledge.  -Andrew