Changing automatic update folder locations

[Barry]

When automatic update downloaded SP1 files etc. I don't
recall choosing the download location, and I don't want
them where they are. Can I simply cut and paste the
folders to another drive without causing problems?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows Update will only download and install updates
on the same drive as the Windows XP operating system.

If you wish to safely remove the "uninstall files" for the
Hotfixes (i.e. $NtUninstallQxxxxxx$ files shown in Windows Explorer)
and cleanup your Add/Remove Programs list, visit MS-MVP Doug Knox's
excellent website for instructions.

Remove Hotfix Backup files and the Add/Remove Programs Registry entries
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

Note: Doug's program only removes the uninstall files and Hotfix entries
in the Add/Remove Programs listing. It does not remove the
actual updates.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| When automatic update downloaded SP1 files etc. I don't
| recall choosing the download location, and I don't want
| them where they are. Can I simply cut and paste the
| folders to another drive without causing problems?

 

[Barry]

Thanks Carey but the article you pointed me to does not
appear to apply to my issue because the folders and files
I referred to are not designated by Qxxxxxx or KBxxxxxx
numbers.
You said: "Windows Update will only download and install
updates on the same drive as the Windows XP operating
system."
I have Windows XP installed on my C: drive, but the
folders I was referring to are on my E: drive. The names
of the four folders
are: "15e0d26542fd2d395fd5cfbb175bc3fa" (size: 24.0
KB), "4688f56b319d8ddf71fa144befc" (size: 24.5
KB), "ab752deab44fa481f43d7eff15818315" (size: 24.5
KB), "eaec6150a442b175a0a9c08" (size: 84.5 MB). The three
small folders each have three subfolders
named "common", "sp1", and "sp2", and a file
named "xpsp1hfm.exe." Two of them also contain a hidden
file named "$shtdwn$.req." The large folder contains six
subfolders named "asms", "download", "ip", "lang", "new",
and "update", and 478 files. I cannot open any of the
subfolders within the four main folders; I get an "Access
is denied" message.

 

[R. McCarty]

Windows Update scans your system and will automatically
create a folder WUTemp on the largest partition on the system.
This is where Windows Updates are queued to. Once the
update is downloaded and applied, the source modules are
removed.

What you need to do is use Windows Catalog. It allows you
to download Windows updates in a Standalone format &
will prompt you for a download location. ( I recommend that
everyone create a root folder on C: called Downloads. Use
that for all selectable location downloads).

Windows Catalog is an option on the regular Windows Update
Website.

 

[Barry]

Thanks for that advice. I will use the Windows Catalog
for future Windows Updates, in particular sp2 when it is
released.
You said, "Windows Update scans your system and will
automatically create a folder WUTemp on the largest
partition on the system". Two points about that: the four
folders I named are located on the root of E:, not in a
WUTemp folder. Also, E; is not the largest drive on my
system; that is my D:.
Just now I attempted to cut and paste the first of the
four folders onto another drive, and I received the
following error message:
*******************************************
Error copying file or folder
Cannot copy xpsp1hfm. Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or...
*******************************************
I note that the item mentioned is not the name of the
folder I tried to move as it appears in Windows Explorer
(15e0d26542fd2d395fd5cfbb175bc3fa).

 

[Barry]

I downloaded Doug Knox's utility and ran it. It certainly
cleaned up my Add/Remove Programs dialog, which is
pleasing (thanks), but the data on my E: drive is still
there, and I would very much like to move or remove it if
that is possible.
(I mistakenly posted this reply separately above).

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have Windows XP installed on my C: drive, but the
folders I was referring to are on my E: drive. The names
of the four folders
are: "15e0d26542fd2d395fd5cfbb175bc3fa" (size: 24.0
KB), "4688f56b319d8ddf71fa144befc" (size: 24.5
KB), "ab752deab44fa481f43d7eff15818315" (size: 24.5
KB), "eaec6150a442b175a0a9c08" (size: 84.5 MB).

Those are temporary folders that are created as work space to expand the
files that were actually downloaded. (The original downloaded .exe
files would be put in Temporary Internet Files). They should be deleted
at the end of Updating if that goes through successfully and you reboot
when asked. If you have rebooted and they are still there you can
delete them