Deletion

I have read some questions and answers regarding deletion but none really
answer my question. I have recently started again with Windows XP and have
opted for Automatic Updates. I have finished installing the high priority
and the optional updates that I want. Windows is working OK and I have made
an image of my hard drive at this point.

My question is can I delete the update files or folders that have been
created by Automatic Updates, namely under:

Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Downloads

At the moment, there are 79 separate files in this directory which equate to
the number of updates I have just installed. All files have a random
selection of numbers and letters as file names. These files take up 133
precious Megabytes.

If I do delete them what consequences might I face? Is it better to move
them somewhere else, ie another drive or a CD and if so, can they just be
moved back later?

There are also 3 folders under Downloads, all with random numbers and
letters for file names but all with identical structures underneath, ie all
have following sub folders:

backup
rtmqfe
sp1qfe
update

and all have approximately 8 files:

_downloadprogress_.state
_file_to_execute_
_unpacked_.state
_usedelta_.state
spmsg.dll
spuninst
susdl.rq0
WindowsXP-KB841873-x86-ENU.psm

My earlier questions equally applies to these folders.

Would be grateful for any advice.

Regards
Simon

Have a look at this site
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php...=asc&highlight
Tidying up after installing SP2

"simon_phillips_81669" <> wrote in
message news:236D1A0B-4EAD-46F4-923F-...
>I have read some questions and answers regarding deletion but none really
> answer my question. I have recently started again with Windows XP and have
> opted for Automatic Updates. I have finished installing the high priority
> and the optional updates that I want. Windows is working OK and I have made
> an image of my hard drive at this point.
>
> My question is can I delete the update files or folders that have been
> created by Automatic Updates, namely under:
>
> Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Downloads
>
> At the moment, there are 79 separate files in this directory which equate to
> the number of updates I have just installed. All files have a random
> selection of numbers and letters as file names. These files take up 133
> precious Megabytes.
>
> If I do delete them what consequences might I face? Is it better to move
> them somewhere else, ie another drive or a CD and if so, can they just be
> moved back later?
>
> There are also 3 folders under Downloads, all with random numbers and
> letters for file names but all with identical structures underneath, ie all
> have following sub folders:
>
> backup
> rtmqfe
> sp1qfe
> update
>
> and all have approximately 8 files:
>
> _downloadprogress_.state
> _file_to_execute_
> _unpacked_.state
> _usedelta_.state
> spmsg.dll
> spuninst
> susdl.rq0
> WindowsXP-KB841873-x86-ENU.psm
>
> My earlier questions equally applies to these folders.
>
> Would be grateful for any advice.
>
> Regards
> Simon
>
>