Software Distribution folder safe to delete?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Is the Software Distribution folder safe to delete? It's gigantic.

Joe

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

No - XP Pro SP2 RTM 2180.

Joe

"Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:eQVranKgEHA.1276@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Are you running Microsoft Systems Management Server??
>
> http://search.microsoft.com/search [...] folder&s=6
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3vcz8
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> Wes
>
> In newsg0%23QpHgEHA.2028@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl,
> Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
>> Is the Software Distribution folder safe to delete? It's gigantic.
>>
>> Joe
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Here's a screen shot of the folder:

http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/So [...] folder.jpg

Joe

"Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:uSsHO1SgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Joe,
>
> I was trying to figure out why you had a Software Distribution folder in
> the
> first place.
>
> What's in the Software Distribution folder?
>
> SP2 might be the key here.
>
> Product Name : Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
> Search for... Software Distribution folder
> http://tinyurl.com/5efx6
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> Wes
<snip>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

It's loaded with files and is 483 MB.

Joe

"Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:%23pBiV8UgEHA.1652@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Here's what I've found.
>
> The %windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder was added in Windows XP SP2.
> That's F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution for you.
>
> I have no earthly idea if you should keep the Software Distribution folder
> or not.
>
> I have not installed SP2, so I have no idea what's in the folder, besides
> what your screenshot shows.
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> Wes
>
> In news:%23Tu4SRUgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
> Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
>> Here's a screen shot of the folder:
>>
>> http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/So [...] folder.jpg
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:uSsHO1SgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>> Joe,
>>>
>>> I was trying to figure out why you had a Software Distribution
>>> folder in the
>>> first place.
>>>
>>> What's in the Software Distribution folder?
>>>
>>> SP2 might be the key here.
>>>
>>> Product Name : Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
>>> Search for... Software Distribution folder
>>> http://tinyurl.com/5efx6
>>>
>>> --
>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>> Wes
>> <snip>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Ok - thanks for the info Wes. I don't use automatic updates, but I do go to
Windows Update. I'll copy the folder to the desktop, delete it in the
Windows directory and see what happens.

Joe

"Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:eEN%23eEagEHA.3300@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Joe,
>
> Found some more info. I do not use AutoUpdate so there is no
> SoftwareDistribution folder on my machine.
>
> According to my experts....
>
> The SoftwareDistribution folder is AutoUpdate.
>
> What is probably making it huge is SP2.
>
> Everything in the F:\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder can be deleted.
> If needed it will come back.
>
> If you delete the SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder, you will
> lose your WU5 installation history.
>
> Note that you will need to stop the "Automatic Updates" service before
> you are allowed to delete the DataStore folder.
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> Wes
>
> In news:u2fFLqWgEHA.1356@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
> Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
>> It's loaded with files and is 483 MB.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:%23pBiV8UgEHA.1652@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>> Here's what I've found.
>>>
>>> The %windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder was added in Windows XP SP2.
>>> That's F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution for you.
>>>
>>> I have no earthly idea if you should keep the Software Distribution
>>> folder or not.
>>>
>>> I have not installed SP2, so I have no idea what's in the folder,
>>> besides what your screenshot shows.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>> Wes
>>>
>>> In news:%23Tu4SRUgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
>>> Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
>>>> Here's a screen shot of the folder:
>>>>
>>>> http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/So [...] folder.jpg
>>>>
>>>> Joe
>>>>
>>>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:uSsHO1SgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Joe,
>>>>>
>>>>> I was trying to figure out why you had a Software Distribution
>>>>> folder in the
>>>>> first place.
>>>>>
>>>>> What's in the Software Distribution folder?
>>>>>
>>>>> SP2 might be the key here.
>>>>>
>>>>> Product Name : Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
>>>>> Search for... Software Distribution folder
>>>>> http://tinyurl.com/5efx6
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>>>> Wes
>>>> <snip>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Keep having fun! ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In news:%23WJkZuggEHA.3264@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl,
Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
> Deleted the Software Distribution folder. You were right about the
> Windows Update history. No big deal since I have the full
> distribution SP2 21.80 from Microsoft on my PC.
>
> Thanks again for your help.
>
> Joe
>
> "Joe727" <nospam@nospam.nospam> wrote in message
> news:utsEjOggEHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> Ok - thanks for the info Wes. I don't use automatic updates, but I
>> do go to Windows Update. I'll copy the folder to the desktop,
>> delete it in the Windows directory and see what happens.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:eEN%23eEagEHA.3300@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>> Joe,
>>>
>>> Found some more info. I do not use AutoUpdate so there is no
>>> SoftwareDistribution folder on my machine.
>>>
>>> According to my experts....
>>>
>>> The SoftwareDistribution folder is AutoUpdate.
>>>
>>> What is probably making it huge is SP2.
>>>
>>> Everything in the F:\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder can be
>>> deleted. If needed it will come back.
>>>
>>> If you delete the SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder, you will
>>> lose your WU5 installation history.
>>>
>>> Note that you will need to stop the "Automatic Updates" service
>>> before you are allowed to delete the DataStore folder.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>> Wes
>>>
>>> In news:u2fFLqWgEHA.1356@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
>>> Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
>>>> It's loaded with files and is 483 MB.
>>>>
>>>> Joe
>>>>
>>>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:%23pBiV8UgEHA.1652@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Here's what I've found.
>>>>>
>>>>> The %windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder was added in Windows XP
>>>>> SP2. That's F:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution for you.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have no earthly idea if you should keep the Software
>>>>> Distribution folder or not.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have not installed SP2, so I have no idea what's in the folder,
>>>>> besides what your screenshot shows.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>>>> Wes
>>>>>
>>>>> In news:%23Tu4SRUgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl,
>>>>> Joe727 <nospam@nospam.nospam> hunted and pecked:
>>>>>> Here's a screen shot of the folder:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/So [...] folder.jpg
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Joe
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:uSsHO1SgEHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Joe,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I was trying to figure out why you had a Software Distribution
>>>>>>> folder in the
>>>>>>> first place.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What's in the Software Distribution folder?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> SP2 might be the key here.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Product Name : Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
>>>>>>> Search for... Software Distribution folder
>>>>>>> http://tinyurl.com/5efx6
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>>>>>> Wes
>>>>>> <snip>