C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download

[ReverseC]

I have WinXP setup on a 5 GB partition with all my apps setup on another partition. I recently I noticed my Windows partition was filling up with stuff in the C:\Windows directory. I found that the directory C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download

is 569 MB. I am not familiar with how Windows uses stuff from this directory...all I know is that this is where windows updates are kept.

Would it be possible to delete all these files (or most of them) in this directory or does the OS constantly load up files stored here?

Thanks in advance,

Charles

[jpatto]

If you stop Automatic Updates you can delete ALL the folders contained in the SoftwareDistribution folder (then restart Automatic Updates)......Ive not come across any problems doing this and believe it should be safe to delete.

[soldier1st]

if i were you i would avoid deleting stuff from thag folder as it may be needed later on.

[Dell and Rodney]

This folder is safe to delete - its only used to store windows updates - occasionally this becomes full and ppl have problems with windows update therefore its perfectly safe to delete. OR if you in a position now that you dont know whos right and whos wrong then burn the contents of that folder to disk and then delete it delete the folder from the system and see if you come across any problems

[Jeremy]

if i were you i would avoid deleting stuff from thag folder as it may be needed later on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Stop being afraid of the System32! It's not as dangerous as everyone thinks! I have gone trhough every file in Windows. There is a lot of junk that can be removed. Do not tell a user what he/she can or cannot delete unless you know exactly what you're talking about.

[ReverseC]

Thanks for the help! What I'm going to do is just move this folder to another partition. I'll probably wait a week and see if any errors come up regarding this folder. If no errors I'll delete it or burn it to disk.

Thanks again.

[Guest HasseB]

Thanks, a had the same problem but its gone now

[submix8c]

Just the Folder Contents, not necessarily the whole folder...

AutoUpdates is a 2-step (?) process -

1 - Download to that folder and "expand" to sub-folders the Update file(s)

2 - Install from the sub-folders and store

2a - the Uninstall "backup" (previous files "replaced") info in various $NTUninstallxxx folders

2b - the Hotfix install (for tracking) to $HF_MIG$ folder (ref. here)

Item 1 (contents, not the Folder) are safe to delete

Item(s) 2a, if deleted, will prevent you from uninstalling a given Update

Item(s) 2b, if deleted, may/will cause a cross-module (i.e. erroneous) future install

Not exactly positive about #2a-b and not really sure if the Folder will be recreated (if deleted) but positive about the Contents (safe to delete).

Warning (to be safe)! Best to turn off AutoUpdates first and be sure no Updates are actively installing, delete, then turn updates back on (if you wish).

Note - If your original install is pre-SP3, then another folder(s) is created containing the Service Pack(s) and should also be left alone... kind of becomes "part of the original install".