Safe to delete files in C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download ?

[chanakya_1]

To save disk space, after Windows update patch installation is successful, Is
it safe to delete the following:
1)
Windows update patch source files located in
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download

2)
uninstall files of Windows update patches, named as "$NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$"
(generic description), located in C:\WINDOWS

When (if at all ever), could anyone need these files taking up several
hundred MB, after installing the patches? If indeed it is safe to delete
them, is there a prescribed 'safe' way for such files, or can you just use
the 'delete' command in Windows Explorer to send them to the recycle bin.

 

[VVIJA]

yes you are right once the updates are installed on your computer you can
delete the folder in software distribution, infact you can delete the
software distribution completely. This folder will be automatically created
when you will try to update your windows once again.

if you will delete the $ntuninstall folders in windows directory you will
never be able to uninstall that update. so its safe it wont cause any wrong
stuff on ur computer but you will never be able to remove the updates

 

[chanakya_1]

Thanks for the info.

If you wanted to uninstall an update for which you had already deleted the
uninstall folder, then could the following be a viable option?:

If you knew the number of the update, presumably you could download it
manually ( I am assuming Microsoft makes all updates available for manual
download as well, on its web site), install it (or try to), and create the
uninstall folder again (assuming the installer won't quit seeing the update
already installed)

 

[VVIJA]

Yes you can but you might get an issue where you hav already installed a
newer version of the update and you are are trying to install an older
version manually from the microsoft website.
Otherwise it goes fine no issues wid that.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gud Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[art]

why not just save the files to a DVD and if you need to unistall or
reinstall, just move the files you need back to c:\