Software Distribution folder safe to delete?

[Joe727]

Is the Software Distribution folder safe to delete? It's gigantic.

Joe

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Are you running Microsoft Systems Management Server??

http://search.microsoft.com/search/...t=b&na=82&qu=Software+Distribution+folder&s=6

http://tinyurl.com/3vcz8

 

[Joe727]

No - XP Pro SP2 RTM 2180.

Joe

Are you running Microsoft Systems Management Server??

http://search.microsoft.com/search/...t=b&na=82&qu=Software+Distribution+folder&s=6

http://tinyurl.com/3vcz8

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Joe,

I was trying to figure out why you had a Software Distribution folder in the
first place.

What's in the Software Distribution folder?

SP2 might be the key here.

Product Name : Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Search for... Software Distribution folder
http://tinyurl.com/5efx6

 

[Joe727]

Here's a screen shot of the folder:

http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/Software Distribution folder.jpg

Joe

Joe,

I was trying to figure out why you had a Software Distribution folder in
the
first place.

What's in the Software Distribution folder?

SP2 might be the key here.

Product Name : Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Search for... Software Distribution folder
http://tinyurl.com/5efx6

<snip>

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Here's what I've found.

The %windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder was added in Windows XP SP2.
That's F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution for you.

I have no earthly idea if you should keep the Software Distribution folder
or not.

I have not installed SP2, so I have no idea what's in the folder, besides
what your screenshot shows.

 

[Joe727]

It's loaded with files and is 483 MB.

Joe

Here's what I've found.

The %windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder was added in Windows XP SP2.
That's F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution for you.

I have no earthly idea if you should keep the Software Distribution folder
or not.

I have not installed SP2, so I have no idea what's in the folder, besides
what your screenshot shows.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Joe,

Found some more info. I do not use AutoUpdate so there is no
SoftwareDistribution folder on my machine.

According to my experts....

The SoftwareDistribution folder is AutoUpdate.

What is probably making it huge is SP2.

Everything in the F:\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder can be deleted.
If needed it will come back.

If you delete the SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder, you will
lose your WU5 installation history.

Note that you will need to stop the "Automatic Updates" service before
you are allowed to delete the DataStore folder.

 

[Joe727]

Ok - thanks for the info Wes. I don't use automatic updates, but I do go to
Windows Update. I'll copy the folder to the desktop, delete it in the
Windows directory and see what happens.

Joe

 

[Joe727]

Deleted the Software Distribution folder. You were right about the Windows
Update history. No big deal since I have the full distribution SP2 21.80
from Microsoft on my PC.

Thanks again for your help.

Joe

Ok - thanks for the info Wes. I don't use automatic updates, but I do go
to Windows Update. I'll copy the folder to the desktop, delete it in the
Windows directory and see what happens.

Joe

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Keep having fun! ;-)