SoftwareDistribution Folder Delete in Windows When deep cleaning Windows to recover disk space, performing a SoftwareDistribution folder cleanup is one task that may help. This article explains how Windows uses the SoftwareDistribution folder and covers cleaning the folder to help free up disk space.

1. Windows Software Distribution Folder Large

This applies to current versions of Microsoft Windows, i.e. From Windows 7 to Windows 10. In summary it involves stopping the Windows Update service, deleting the SoftwareDistribution Download folder, and restarting the Windows Update service. What is the SoftwareDistribution Folder in Windows? A laptop or Personal Computer (PC) running Windows regularly performs a Windows Update. The updates improve security, fix bugs and add or change functionality. The Windows update files download to a temporary folder on the PC.

Once the files have finished downloading in the background, the update can be applied to the PC. The temporary folder is called Download under SoftwareDistribution in the Windows directory, i.e. C: Windows SoftwareDistribution Download (unless Windows has been installed to a different drive or directory). If trying to view this folder in Windows Explorer you may need to give permission and be logged in as an Administrator, as well as turning on Hidden items in the View menu (or via Organise and Folder and search options in Windows 7). Clean Up The SoftwareDistribution Folder in Windows to Free Up Disk Space When the system drive runs low on disk space some free space may be reclaimed by deleting this Windows Update temporary downloads folder. Therefore, a full SoftwareDistribution folder delete is not done, just the Download folder in that directory.

Once these services are stopped, you can delete the C: Windows Software Distribution folder. Deleting this folder is often a step for troubleshooting Windows Update.

The SoftwareDistribution Download folder delete may fix problems that stop the Disk Clean-up utility from finishing. (The Disk Clean-up utility can take quite a while to finish, and if still not finished after a few hours it may be stuck due to Windows Update conflicts.) Apply Any Remaining Windows Updates If the SoftwareDistribution Download folder delete is performed before Windows Update has installed existing download files, then those files will download again. To stop this from happening ensure Windows Update has completed. Open Windows Update. In Windows select Settings (the gear icon) then Windows Update, or enter Update in the search box and select Check for updates. In Windows 7 select Windows Update from All Programs via the Start button (or Start then Control Panel then System and Security).

Select Check for updates to ensure that no updates are available. Install any Windows updates so that 'Your device is up to date'. (If low on disk space updates may fail to apply, try emptying the Recycle Bin, or running the Disk Clean-up utility.) Temporarily Stop the Windows Update Service With all Windows updates applied stop the Windows Update service to safely remove the Windows SoftwareDistribution Download folder. Run Task Manager (press the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys all at once and select Task Manager or search for Task Manager and select it). Click the Services tab.

Sort the list by name (click the Name column). Browse to the wuauserv entry and check the Status column. If it says Running stop the wuauserv service. To stop the service select Open Services at the bottom of Task Manager (or the Services button in Windows 7 Task Manager). In Services click on the name column to sort the service alphabetically.

Locate Windows Update. Select Stop the Service from the left hand column above description (or double-click on Windows Update to open the properties and click the Stop button, then click OK to close the properties). Rename the Windows SoftwareDistribution Download Folder Using Windows Explorer rename the Download Folder in Windows SoftwareDistribution. Bring up the context menu and select Rename call it something like Download-old.

Windows will create a new Download folder when it needs it. The new Download folder will be empty until new Windows updates are available and are loaded. On Windows 7 Restart the Windows Update Service Windows will start the Windows Update service when it needs it. In Windows 7 select Start Service in Services or double-click on Windows Update and select the Start button, click OK to close the properties. Delete the Renamed Folder In Windows Explorer delete the renamed Download folder.

For example if it was renamed Download-old then delete Download-old. Permission may need to be given to do this, if so click Continue on the message box that appears: The Windows Update temporary Download folder, under the SoftwareDistribution folder, delete procedure has been completed. See Also.

For a full list of all the articles in Tek Eye see the full site. Archived Comments Drew Meady on March 11, 2017 at 9:34 am said: This was a very well worded, easy to follow and extremely helpful article. I’m glad I came across it, my problem was solved!

It's where windows update downloads and backups are stored. If they have all been installed and your computer is running in a stable condition, it is safe to delete everything in that folder. But DO NOT delete the folder it'self, if you do clean out that folder then also navigate to. C Windows SoftwareDistribution DataStore. Delete everything in the DataStore folder BUT DO NOT DELETE THE LOGS FOLDER.

Open the Logs folder and delete everything in there. You will have to shut down windows updates then restart the computer, so you can delete everything.

Turning windows updates back on after. It's where windows update downloads and backups are stored. If they have all been installed and your computer is running in a stable condition, it is safe to delete everything in that folder. But DO NOT delete the folder it'self, if you do clean out that folder then also navigate to. C Windows SoftwareDistribution DataStore. Delete everything in the DataStore folder BUT DO NOT DELETE THE LOGS FOLDER. Open the Logs folder and delete everything in there.

Windows Software Distribution Folder Large

You will have to shut down windows updates then restart the computer, so you can delete everything. Turning windows updates back on after.I have updates turned off, but if i try to delete the file i get 'the action can't be completed because the file is open in background intelligent file service'. Can i just stop it in task manager and proceed? Similar help and support threads Thread Forum I have been getting killed by some virus i have removed twice now. As with some virus' it deletes my restore points in sys restore. So what i want to do is create a new restore point save a safe copy of it somewhere else like on a different drive so that if this happens again i can drop the file. System Security Just recently started to get BSOD in normal mode, error was registry error.

Systems run fine in safe and safe w/networking. I have run chkdsk, anti-malware, CCleaner to fix registry issues, and have not detected any virus.

Can you help me? Thank you BSOD Help and Support Hoping this is the right place to ask my question and that the title is OK. I was asked to create a 2nd user account with 'Administration privileges'.

Having done so I no longer need it. In trying to delete it I got a pop up window asking me if I wanted to save some of my files (My Documents etc.). General Discussion HI With the command prompt of Windows 7 SP1, how do I delete a directory structure with their files without deleting the name of the root directory? THANKS BYE General Discussion I made the 'mistake' of deleting a playlist file manually, or more exactly, deleting a whole album folder I didn't care about that happened to contain the playlist, but the playlist still shows up in WMP left pane. However, as many reported, left or right clicking it produces no action, as the.

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