Windows 10: File cleanup of windows update files

My C: drive is tight for space. After a 'Routine' update of Windows 10, I know I have to cleanup the update files to recover 2-3 GIGABYTES of space. The problem is that file cleanup takes an INORDINATE amount of time to address the windows update files. It happens on more than one of my windows PCs. Why does it take so much time?

:)

 

Recent File List

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file1

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file2
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file3
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file4
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file5
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file6
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file7
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file8
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file9
...

you get the idea. ( too lazy to put it in a for loop and test it.

or just open regedit and remove all the fileX from that key.

 

Odd issue with file server

If sfc /scannow is not able to repair the system files, do this to get them from windows update:

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

 

Windows 10 update files

Hi Majid,

If you want to remove update files, you may perform a disk cleanup. You have two options;
delete temporary files and delete system files. If you need to free up more space, we suggest deleting system files. Here are the steps:

Delete temporary files:

• Type Disk Cleanup in the Cortana search.
• Select the files that you want to remove under Files to delete, then select
  OK.

Delete system files:

• Select Clean up system files in the Disk Cleanup.
• Select the file types to get rid of.
• Select OK.

Get back to us with the outcome so we can help you out further.