What is the Software Distribution Directory?

We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. While
looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software
Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of
about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years
old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without any
negative affect on the system?

Phillip
Mon Jul 07 13:25:30 PDT 2008

Hi Jim,

Off the top of my head it is probably a folder created by a previous Admin
that used it as the place to put the MSI Installation files for pushing out
software installations via Group Policy. That is my guess anyway.

But that is just a guess without me seeing it for myself.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------


"Jim in Cleveland" <JiminCleveland@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:3D3D6763-C70B-4C18-9985-C8E0EC24D7BF@microsoft.com...
> We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space.
> While
> looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software
> Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of
> about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years
> old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without
> any
> negative affect on the system?

NewellWhite
Tue Jul 08 01:00:01 PDT 2008


"Jim in Cleveland" wrote:

> We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. While
> looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software
> Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of
> about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years
> old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without any
> negative affect on the system?

The folder is created by MS as part of the process of downloading updates
from the Windows/Microsoft Update site.
I suspect these are updates to the Windows Update Client and Browser add-ons
to support changes to the process of updating from the site, and maybe also
the changes to WSUS if your DC is hosting this service to the LAN.

You could try moving some of the older sub-folders to a different drive
before visiting Microsoft Update and see what happens. What a Sys Admin's
evenings and weekends are for!

--
Regards,
Newell White

Meinolf
Tue Jul 08 02:17:39 PDT 2008

Hello Jim,

Softwaredistribution folder keeps all update information including the downloaded
patches until they are installed. It is used from windowsupdate.com and also
from WSUS. This will prevent the client machine to always download the same
patches if the connection droppes for examples.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space.
> While looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called
> Software Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is
> a total of about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files
> are a few years old. What is this folder and can any of these files
> be deleted without any negative affect on the system?
>

Phillip
Tue Jul 08 14:58:03 PDT 2008

Ok, I tripped and fell over that one :-)

I didn't think of that.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

Hank
Thu Jul 10 05:23:54 PDT 2008

Jim in Cleveland wrote:
> We have a Windows 2003 Server DC and I was looking at the used space. While
> looking at the Windows directory I noticed a subdirectory called Software
> Distribution. A subdirectory of that was Download. There is a total of
> about 800MB of files in this directory. Some of the files are a few years
> old. What is this folder and can any of these files be deleted without any
> negative affect on the system?

It's created and used by Microsoft/Windows Update and WSUS. There no way
to delete it permanently.... unless you never update Windows again....

If all updates have been downloaded and installed, it can be deleted. It
will be recreated the next time you update.

Try the following:

1) stop the AU service
2) rename the folder
3) start the AU service
4) go to MS Update (or run WUAUCLT /DETECTNOW if you are using WSUS)

Wait a few minutes and you should see the folder recreated. Check the
size. If the update completed successfully, then you are free to delete
the old folder.

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services