Your PC screen is freezing with the message ‘cleaning up. Do not turn off your computer’, right?

Relatively, You do not understand what to do now.

Don’t Worry. I am writing the article to relieve you from this situation. Hopefully, you will be able to use your PC without any hassle after applying the below methods. Let’s explore.

Why the PC Stuck 

The issue is related to the Windows Update Cleanup option. The option is a specialized feature of Windows 7 (SP1). One can easily delete needless Windows Update by using the feature. Once the issue occurred with you, it’s nothing but taking several times to disappear, and you are not able to use your PC by this time.

However, there are some methods to get rid of the issue. I am going to discuss it.   

What to Do While the Freezing Screen Prompts ‘Cleaning Up. Do Not Turn Off Your Computer’

You can apply a couple of methods to fix the issue. These are easy to apply. Before jumping into details, let’s check the list first.

• Method 1: Simply Wait for the Cleaning Up Finishing
• Method 2: Run Windows Update from Safe Mode
• Method 3: Use System Recovery

Method 1: Simply Wait for the Cleaning Up Finishing

The on-screen message indicates that the Disk Cleanup utility is running. It removes unnecessary files like old Windows files, junk files, temporary files, offline files, and so on from your PC. And the removing process may take several hours. 

Here, you have just to keep patience and wait for the finishing.  

Yes, the process consumes a long time, but a value-worthy move indeed.

If you wait for the last, you will get back a bulk of free space on your interlinking hard disk. Relatively, the PC performance boosts up and speeds up too.  

However, if you don’t want to wait, you may enable safe mode and run Windows Update bypassing the Disk Cleanup utility. I will discuss the process in the next method.

Method 2: Run Windows Update from Safe Mode

Firstly, you need to enable Safe Mode from advanced boot options to apply the method. After that, you have to run the Windows Update. Let’s explore the process step by step below.

Step 1

Firstly, you need to restart your PC. Most probably, you have to tap the power button for a long time to do so. Whenever the PC will be getting started, you will need to hit the ‘f8’ key. 

Step 2

Consequently, the ‘Advanced Boot Options’ interface will appear on the screen. 

Step 3

Then you need to use the Arrow key to select the ‘Safe Mode’ option. After selecting, you have to hit the ‘enter’.

Step 4

Accordingly, the PC will enter into Safe Mode. Then, you have to run Windows Update. 

Step 5

Again you have to restart the PC after completing the update process. And press ‘f8’ to get the ‘Advanced Boot Options’ access. From here, you will find the ‘Start Windows Normally’ at the bottom of the interface. Select it and tap the ‘enter’. 

Finally, you will get rid of the stack mode. Moreover, there will be another way to fix the issue we are discussing.

Method 3: Use System Recovery

The last option to fix the issue will be to use the System Recovery option. I will include the detailed process below.

Step 1

Restart the PC and tap the ‘f8’ key. Accordingly, the ‘Advanced Boot Options’ interface will appear. Here the first option will be ‘Repair Your Computer’. It will be selected by default. You have just to hit ‘enter’.

Step 2

Here you need to select a keyboard input method. Then tap the ‘Next’ tab.

Step 3

Next, you have to log on as a local user.

Step 4

After that, the ‘System Recovery Options’ window will appear. From here, you have to choose the ‘Startup Repair’ tool. Once chosen, it may take a while to complete the repair process.

Step 5

After ending, you have to click on ‘Finish’ and restart the PC. Finally, the PC will be ready to use without the interruption of the discussed issue.

Final Words

Therefore, I would like to recommend you to leave the computer to complete the cleaning up process. It will be best if you choose the nighttime to complete it successfully.