Where can I find info on "\winnt\softwaredistribution"?

Is this latest bloat part of Windows Update? If I never want to uninstall
or reinstall any of the patches, updates etc in this folder, can I delete it?

And most importantly, does Microsoft have any info on exactly what
this folder is, what its purpose is etc?

Many thanks.

Glen wrote:

> Is this latest bloat part of Windows Update? If I never want to uninstall
> or reinstall any of the patches, updates etc in this folder, can I delete it?

I would only have deleted the Download folder found in the
SoftwareDistribution folder (the content in the Download
folder will be automatically purged after 10 days though).


> And most importantly, does Microsoft have any info on exactly what
> this folder is, what its purpose is etc?

This is the only public information I know of:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...1675.mspx#EGAA

<quote>
SoftwareDistribution: Used by Automatic Updates
</quote>


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 01:51:50 -0800, "Glen" <>
wrote:

>Is this latest bloat part of Windows Update? If I never want to uninstall
>or reinstall any of the patches, updates etc in this folder, can I delete it?

These updates and patches are from M$ if you have dug that deep you
can see that surely?
>
>And most importantly, does Microsoft have any info on exactly what
>this folder is, what its purpose is etc?

That should be obvious, as for bloat mine is 160Mb, are you that hard
up for disk space its just another folder?
>
>Many thanks.
>
Its the folder that the Windows Update website downloads the actual
update exes to and runs them to update your system. Its very useful,
you can copy the update folders elsewhere and re-use them if you need
to re-install or whatever, and you will need to re-install when it is
least convenient and the only working backup you can find is last June
sometime.

Promise

8-)

Jonah

"jonah" <> wrote in message news:...
> On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 01:51:50 -0800, "Glen" <>
> wrote:
>
> >Is this latest bloat part of Windows Update? If I never want to uninstall
> >or reinstall any of the patches, updates etc in this folder, can I delete it?
>
> These updates and patches are from M$ if you have dug that deep you
> can see that surely?

I didn't ask if they were from MS. I knew they were. Read for
comprehension.

> >And most importantly, does Microsoft have any info on exactly what
> >this folder is, what its purpose is etc?
>
> That should be obvious, as for bloat mine is 160Mb, are you that hard
> up for disk space its just another folder?

Mine was almost 300MB. And again you need to read for
comprehension. I didn't say I was "hard up for disk space".

> >Many thanks.
> >
> Its the folder that the Windows Update website downloads the actual
> update exes to and runs them to update your system. Its very useful,
> you can copy the update folders elsewhere and re-use them if you need
> to re-install or whatever, and you will need to re-install when it is
> least convenient and the only working backup you can find is last June
> sometime.

Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Good to see MS
finally address the hassle of having to re-download patches and
updates every time Windows is reinstalled.

Just for reference I copied \winnt\softwaredistribution to a backup
drive and cleared it off my system drive, with no ill effects.

Glen

On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 20:48:03 -0800, "Glen" <>
wrote:

>"jonah" <> wrote in message news:...
>> On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 01:51:50 -0800, "Glen" <>
>> wrote:
>>

>
>Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Good to see MS
>finally address the hassle of having to re-download patches and
>updates every time Windows is reinstalled.

I don't think M$ addressed this in a way that made this info easy to
come by. It can also be used to fully update any PC running XP without
having to go via Windows Update which is very useful for some people.
>
>Just for reference I copied \winnt\softwaredistribution to a backup
>drive and cleared it off my system drive, with no ill effects.

>
>Glen
>