Can I purge old update files?

Every time I run the Windows Update, I find that the amount of data on
my HD increases dramatically. For instance, the 9/12/06 update added
23 MB to my storage. I believe that the Update replaces files, which
means that Windows is storing all the updates in some folder for
backup, probably in a compressed format (ZIP, CAB, MSI, etc.).

Another problem caused by the Update is that whenever I update Norton
AntiVirus with the latest virus DAT files, I then run a manual virus
scan, which I have configured to scan inside all compressed files.
These compressed update files add a LOT of files to the virus scan.
For instance, the 9/12/06 update added about 11,000 files to be
checked during the virus scan!

As you can see, these Windows Update files add a lot of time to my
backup and a lot of time running virus scans, and I'm hoping there is
probably a simple cure for the problem! Does anyone know where are
all these files are stored and if they can be deleted?

MrBill,

You can remove the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders to conserve disk space,
if needed :
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


MrBill wrote:

> Every time I run the Windows Update, I find that the amount of data on
> my HD increases dramatically. For instance, the 9/12/06 update added
> 23 MB to my storage. I believe that the Update replaces files, which
> means that Windows is storing all the updates in some folder for
> backup, probably in a compressed format (ZIP, CAB, MSI, etc.).
>
> Another problem caused by the Update is that whenever I update Norton
> AntiVirus with the latest virus DAT files, I then run a manual virus
> scan, which I have configured to scan inside all compressed files.
> These compressed update files add a LOT of files to the virus scan.
> For instance, the 9/12/06 update added about 11,000 files to be
> checked during the virus scan!
>
> As you can see, these Windows Update files add a lot of time to my
> backup and a lot of time running virus scans, and I'm hoping there is
> probably a simple cure for the problem! Does anyone know where are
> all these files are stored and if they can be deleted?

I routinely delete all of the "$*.*" folders and KB*.* files in the
Windows folder, but that doesn't save much space. After reading the
link you provided, I deleted the Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Download
folder which saved 14MB, but it still seems that there should be a lot
more potential savings considering how my HD space is used after every
update.

Thanks, Bill


On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:11:16 -0700, "MowGreen [MVP]"
<> wrote:

>MrBill,
>
>You can remove the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders to conserve disk space,
>if needed :
>http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
>
>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
>===============
> *-343-* FDNY
>Never Forgotten
>===============
>
>
>MrBill wrote:
>
>> Every time I run the Windows Update, I find that the amount of data on
>> my HD increases dramatically. For instance, the 9/12/06 update added
>> 23 MB to my storage. I believe that the Update replaces files, which
>> means that Windows is storing all the updates in some folder for
>> backup, probably in a compressed format (ZIP, CAB, MSI, etc.).
>>
>> Another problem caused by the Update is that whenever I update Norton
>> AntiVirus with the latest virus DAT files, I then run a manual virus
>> scan, which I have configured to scan inside all compressed files.
>> These compressed update files add a LOT of files to the virus scan.
>> For instance, the 9/12/06 update added about 11,000 files to be
>> checked during the virus scan!
>>
>> As you can see, these Windows Update files add a lot of time to my
>> backup and a lot of time running virus scans, and I'm hoping there is
>> probably a simple cure for the problem! Does anyone know where are
>> all these files are stored and if they can be deleted?

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
> You can remove the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders to conserve disk space,
> if needed :
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
MowGreen,

On the site you mentioned I found:
[Quote] 5. The file "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" may also be
safely deleted.
Depending on installation method of the service Pack, this file may not be
present.[\Quote]

This directory is present on my system and reaches up to 46 Mb.

It's not completely clear to me; can I delete this subdirectory "Download"
including all files in it safely?

And what about the other subdirectories under
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution", such as: \Authcabs, \Datastore,
\Eventcache, \SelfUpdate, \Websetup, \WuRedir and a file called
ReportingEvents.log? Should these directories and contents be kept?

Ciao, Lex

Lex,

> It's not completely clear to me; can I delete this subdirectory "Download"
> including all files in it safely?

Once the updates are installed it is safe to delete the Download
folder's contents. The folder is supposed to be "cleaned" up if the
Automatic Update service is continually running and not stopped by the
User. However, that does not always occur.

> And what about the other subdirectories under
> C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution", such as: \Authcabs, \Datastore,
> \Eventcache, \SelfUpdate, \Websetup, \WuRedir and a file called
> ReportingEvents.log? Should these directories and contents be kept?

The only reason for deleting the contents of the above folders would be
if there were specific issues connecting to WU/MU, corrupted/incomplete
downloads, or installation failures.
The consequences of deleting all contents is that the update history
that shows on WU/MU would be gone and all of the software components
necessary to access WU/MU would also be gone. ( The contents of
EventCache can *not* be deleted unless one first stops the Automatic
Updates service, since they are in use )
They would be reinstalled on the next visit to either site.
So, in summation, there are no dire consequences.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============




Lex_¯ wrote:

> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>>You can remove the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders to conserve disk space,
>>if needed :
>>http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>
> MowGreen,
>
> On the site you mentioned I found:
> [Quote] 5. The file "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" may also be
> safely deleted.
> Depending on installation method of the service Pack, this file may not be
> present.[\Quote]
>
> This directory is present on my system and reaches up to 46 Mb.
>
> It's not completely clear to me; can I delete this subdirectory "Download"
> including all files in it safely?
>
> And what about the other subdirectories under
> C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution", such as: \Authcabs, \Datastore,
> \Eventcache, \SelfUpdate, \Websetup, \WuRedir and a file called
> ReportingEvents.log? Should these directories and contents be kept?
>
> Ciao, Lex
>
>

"MowGreen [MVP]"

You wrote...
> Lex,
>
>> It's not completely clear to me; can I delete this subdirectory
>> "Download" including all files in it safely?
>
> Once the updates are installed it is safe to delete the Download folder's
> contents. The folder is supposed to be "cleaned" up if the Automatic
> Update service is continually running and not stopped by the User.
> However, that does not always occur.
>
Thanks for this specification. I shall clear that folder up myself (46 Mb).

>> And what about the other subdirectories under
>> C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution", such as: \Authcabs, \Datastore,
>> \Eventcache, \SelfUpdate, \Websetup, \WuRedir and a file called
>> ReportingEvents.log? Should these directories and contents be kept?
>
> The only reason for deleting the contents of the above folders would be if
> there were specific issues connecting to WU/MU, corrupted/incomplete
> downloads, or installation failures.
> The consequences of deleting all contents is that the update history that
> shows on WU/MU would be gone and all of the software components necessary
> to access WU/MU would also be gone. ( The contents of EventCache can *not*
> be deleted unless one first stops the Automatic Updates service, since
> they are in use )
> They would be reinstalled on the next visit to either site.
> So, in summation, there are no dire consequences.
>
I won't do anything with these folders, my curiosity lead me to this
question. It's a lot more clear to me now. Thanks a bunch.

Have a good day...

Ciao, Lex

You're welcome, Lex.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Lex_¯ wrote:

> "MowGreen [MVP]"
>
> You wrote...
>
>>Lex,
>>
>>
>>>It's not completely clear to me; can I delete this subdirectory
>>>"Download" including all files in it safely?
>>
>>Once the updates are installed it is safe to delete the Download folder's
>>contents. The folder is supposed to be "cleaned" up if the Automatic
>>Update service is continually running and not stopped by the User.
>>However, that does not always occur.
>>
>
> Thanks for this specification. I shall clear that folder up myself (46 Mb).
>
>
>>>And what about the other subdirectories under
>>>C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution", such as: \Authcabs, \Datastore,
>>>\Eventcache, \SelfUpdate, \Websetup, \WuRedir and a file called
>>>ReportingEvents.log? Should these directories and contents be kept?
>>
>>The only reason for deleting the contents of the above folders would be if
>>there were specific issues connecting to WU/MU, corrupted/incomplete
>>downloads, or installation failures.
>>The consequences of deleting all contents is that the update history that
>>shows on WU/MU would be gone and all of the software components necessary
>>to access WU/MU would also be gone. ( The contents of EventCache can *not*
>>be deleted unless one first stops the Automatic Updates service, since
>>they are in use )
>>They would be reinstalled on the next visit to either site.
>>So, in summation, there are no dire consequences.
>>
>
> I won't do anything with these folders, my curiosity lead me to this
> question. It's a lot more clear to me now. Thanks a bunch.
>
> Have a good day...
>
> Ciao, Lex
>
>