Windows Updates download location?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JTWadsworth
  • Start date Start date
J

JTWadsworth

Just reinstalled WinXP. Whenver I am adding files via the autoupdate
in IE it starts saving temp files onto one of my USB2 HDD. The temp
directory is on the C: drive. Why does it keep saving the temp files
during updates to this external HDD? It really slows things down and
did not used to happen.

jtw
JTWadsworth
(e-mail address removed)
 
right click on My Computer and select Properities

From the Properities tab select Advanced

From the Advanced tab select Environment Variables

Check and see if you Temp folder is configured correctly.

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI
 
Somehow the installation has flagged the 2 USB2 external HHD. It
accesses both of them on bootup...never did that before and it
significantly slows things down.

The Temp and TMP variables are correct checking by the method you
recommended.

Is it possible they are flagged as system folders somehow? When I
read the drives there are no windows files on them but sure enough
while downloading new things from Windows Update, the weird folders
like 9efexew34321xxxx etc etc show up and then are deleted off.


right click on My Computer and select Properities

From the Properities tab select Advanced

From the Advanced tab select Environment Variables

Check and see if you Temp folder is configured correctly.
Click to expand...

JTWadsworth
(e-mail address removed)
 
You said it never did this before -- before what exactly? Did you just
notice the change today? If so, can you think of anything that may have
changed.

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI
 
I reinstalled from scratch...formatted the HD and everything. The
USB2 drives were plugged in from the start this time as opposed to
being added after WinXP install before.

The USB2 drive has a folder called System Volume Information


jtw

You said it never did this before -- before what exactly? Did you just
notice the change today? If so, can you think of anything that may have
changed.
Click to expand...

JTWadsworth
(e-mail address removed)
 
In the root of every drive is a folder called "System Volume Information".
If your drive is NTFS, the permissions on the folder are set so not even
administrators can get in there. Are there any other folders on the USB
drives.

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI
 
Other folders are just data folders I have had on there for some time.
The drives also don't seem to be running at USB2.0 speed. This is
quite frustrating. All I did was format C: and reinstall WinXP. Now
those USB2 drives keep spinning at bootup and behave slower than they
used to.

In the root of every drive is a folder called "System Volume Information".
If your drive is NTFS, the permissions on the folder are set so not even
administrators can get in there. Are there any other folders on the USB
drives.
Click to expand...

JTWadsworth
(e-mail address removed)
 
Have you tried unplugging the hard drives and reinstalling them?

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI
 
Just reinstalled WinXP. Whenver I am adding files via the autoupdate
in IE it starts saving temp files onto one of my USB2 HDD. The temp
directory is on the C: drive. Why does it keep saving the temp files
during updates to this external HDD? It really slows things down and
did not used to happen.

jtw
JTWadsworth
(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...

Make sure your environment variables are set correctly, sounds like
they're not. Do this:

Press the Windows key + Pause to bring up the "System Properties"
dialog box. Click on the "Advanced" tab. Click on the "Environment
Variables" button. Look at "user variables". Make sure you set them
correctly. I have mine set to: c:\windows\temp for both the TMP and
the TEMP variables. You can set yours to wherever you wish.

Setting them correctly should stop the temp files from going to your
external USB drive.
 
Have you tried unplugging the hard drives and reinstalling them?
Click to expand...

He may need to correctly set "Environment Variables" under the Systems
Properties dialog. See my reply to him.
 
I advised him of that in my second post. Thanks!

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI
 
I believe Windows picks the drive with the most space for the temp files
for windows update. After the updates are installed the temp files
are deleted. I would think the way to avoid this is just disconnect the
USB drive while doing windows updates or download the updates using the
Windows Update Catalog to whatever location you want and install them
that way.

HOW TO Download Windows Updates and Drivers from the Windows Update Catalog
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=323166
 
I believe Windows picks the drive with the most space for the temp files
for windows update. After the updates are installed the temp files
are deleted. I would think the way to avoid this is just disconnect the
USB drive while doing windows updates or download the updates using the
Windows Update Catalog to whatever location you want and install them
that way.

HOW TO Download Windows Updates and Drivers from the Windows Update Catalog
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=323166
Click to expand...

That could explain it. Thanks!

The drives are once again working at USB2 speed. But they are still
spun up on bootup...something I've not ever seen before and it does
slow down the boot process by several seconds.


Thanks to all for the replies.

jtw
JTWadsworth
(e-mail address removed)
 
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