Guest Jim in Cleveland Posted July 7, 2008 Posted July 7, 2008 We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. While looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without any negative affect on the system?
Guest Phillip Windell Posted July 7, 2008 Posted July 7, 2008 Re: What is the Software Distribution Directory? Hi Jim, Off the top of my head it is probably a folder created by a previous Admin that used it as the place to put the MSI Installation files for pushing out software installations via Group Policy. That is my guess anyway. But that is just a guess without me seeing it for myself. -- Phillip Windell http://www.wandtv.com The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft, or anyone else associated with me, including my cats. ----------------------------------------------------- "Jim in Cleveland" <JiminCleveland@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3D3D6763-C70B-4C18-9985-C8E0EC24D7BF@microsoft.com... > We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. > While > looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software > Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of > about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years > old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without > any > negative affect on the system?
Guest Newell White Posted July 8, 2008 Posted July 8, 2008 RE: What is the Software Distribution Directory? "Jim in Cleveland" wrote: > We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. While > looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software > Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of > about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years > old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without any > negative affect on the system? The folder is created by MS as part of the process of downloading updates from the Windows/Microsoft Update site. I suspect these are updates to the Windows Update Client and Browser add-ons to support changes to the process of updating from the site, and maybe also the changes to WSUS if your DC is hosting this service to the LAN. You could try moving some of the older sub-folders to a different drive before visiting Microsoft Update and see what happens. What a Sys Admin's evenings and weekends are for! -- Regards, Newell White
Guest Meinolf Weber Posted July 8, 2008 Posted July 8, 2008 Re: What is the Software Distribution Directory? Hello Jim, Softwaredistribution folder keeps all update information including the downloaded patches until they are installed. It is used from windowsupdate.com and also from WSUS. This will prevent the client machine to always download the same patches if the connection droppes for examples. Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm > We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. > While looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called > Software Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is > a total of about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files > are a few years old. What is this folder and can any of these files > be deleted without any negative affect on the system? >
Guest Phillip Windell Posted July 8, 2008 Posted July 8, 2008 Re: What is the Software Distribution Directory? Ok, I tripped and fell over that one :-) I didn't think of that. -- Phillip Windell http://www.wandtv.com The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft, or anyone else associated with me, including my cats. -----------------------------------------------------
Guest Hank Arnold (MVP) Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 Re: What is the Software Distribution Directory? Jim in Cleveland wrote: > We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. While > looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software > Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of > about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years > old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without any > negative affect on the system? It's created and used by Microsoft/Windows Update and WSUS. There no way to delete it permanently.... unless you never update Windows again.... If all updates have been downloaded and installed, it can be deleted. It will be recreated the next time you update. Try the following: 1) stop the AU service 2) rename the folder 3) start the AU service 4) go to MS Update (or run WUAUCLT /DETECTNOW if you are using WSUS) Wait a few minutes and you should see the folder recreated. Check the size. If the update completed successfully, then you are free to delete the old folder. -- Regards, Hank Arnold Microsoft MVP Windows Server - Directory Services
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