Clearing updates

[Gary Kohlman]

I have been trying to update to build 16215.1000 last few days with no success. I want to clear all the update info from computer and try a new download. Have done everything I know but cant get it cleared. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[Regedit32]

Hi Gary,

Welcome to the Forum.


If by clear all updates you simply mean to delete the history that you attempted to or succeed in installing them:

• Press Windows key + R
• In the run dialog type command then in search results right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
• Click yes to the UAC prompt
• Now in the Administrator: Command Prompt type the following each:

net stop bits

Press Enter key

net stop wuauserv

Press Enter key​

• Minimize the Command prompt
• Now open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
• In side the SoftwareDistribution directory open the Download directory and delete its content
• Close File Explorer
• Now return to Command prompt and type the following:

net start bits

Press Enter key

net start wuauserv

Press Enter key

Type exit and press Enter key to close the console​

• Close any other open applications
• Finally, sign-out then sign-in again.

Regards,

Regedit32

 

[Trouble]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
First of all you are not alone. Many of us have had some issues installing the latest Preview build
https://www.windows10forums.com/threads/new-build-s-at-3pm-pst.13933/
AND
https://www.windows10forums.com/threads/things-ive-noticed-so-far-in-16125-1000-re_prerelease.13954/
Are you getting any specific errors?? Such as
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ing-with/96bc4c1e-8ee8-4427-bd47-9dd79ba6d77e
OR
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...olutions/97bfb4ab-f540-4517-8eaa-eb46bc58c27e

I want to clear all the update info from computer and try a new download.

As far as that's concerned you might want to see if this information / script
https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Reset-Windows-Update-Agent-d824badc
Might be of some help with that particular task.

Additionally if the root of your C:\ drive contains either or both of these
$WINDOWS.~BT
$Windows.~WS
You may want to clean those up. You may have to take ownership and grant your user account explicit full permissions to the folders and their respect child objects in order to do so.

As always..... Backup your critical data and create a disk image to establish a strong fall back position.

Sorry Tim.... didn't see your post before posting mine.

 

[Gary Kohlman]

So deleting contents of $WINDOWS.~BT will cause no harm?

 

[Trouble]

So deleting contents of $WINDOWS.~BT will cause no harm?

Nope.
Although I wouldn't bother with the contents..... just delete the whole thing.

 

[TedWilt]

I got tired of seeing the retry message of the latest junk update so I switched to Slow. How often is there a Slow and presumably tested update available?