I recently I noticed my Windows partition was filling up with stuff in the C: Windows directory. I found that the directory C: WINDOWS SoftwareDistribution Download. I am not familiar with how Windows uses stuff from this directory.all I know is that this is where windows updates are kept. One of our Windows 2003 servers has a fairly small C-partition, which is approaching full. I've had a quick look round using Disktective as to where the space has gone, and a fair bit of it seems to be taken up with C: WINDOWS SoftwareDistribution Download. Sep 14, 2010 Is it safe to delete files Under C:WINDOWSSoftwareDistributionDownload. I noticed that every day files get added to the C-Drive under C:WINDOWSSoftwareDistributionDownload. Can I safely delete these files? Verify that the new software distribution folder created when you restart the update service is approxiamtely 1.5 MB in size. Deleting the Software Distribution folders will not affect your computer's functionality. When new Windows Updates are ready for download, a new Software Distribution folder will be created. Be sure to set Windows Explorer folder options to view system folders and files.
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Ways to Remove Items From C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload on Windows 10. The Windows update files by default assemble in the download folder of Software distribution directory. Whenever the update gets stuck you require the deletion of the stuff in this folder in abundant cases.
About SoftwareDistribution folder. Microsoft Windows operating system use SoftwareDistribution folder to download and manage the updates applicable to your OS and applications. If you delete this folder, it will automatically be recreated next time Windows Updates check for updates. Folder is located in C: Windows and contains Windows Update.
How to Remove Items From C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload Windows 10Way 1 – Manually Delete Windows Update Cache
First of all, make sure that no updates are in action, otherwise, you will land up in a pool of troubles.
Stop the Update Services
Step 1 – Begin the procedure by wide spreading an elevated Command Prompt. You can do this by various ways. However, the easy one is, right-click on Start. Then on the popped up menu, tap the choice named Command Prompt (Admin).
Step 2 – Go ahead with hitting Yes button on the UAC confirmation pop up.
Step 3 – Now, write these piece of codes one by one and hit Enter on the expanded elevated Command Prompt.
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
Note – The code available in the first line functions to cease the Windows Update Service. Likewise, the other command is to end another service entitled Background Intelligent Transfer Service aka BITS.
Finally, After termination of the above-outlined two services, it is time to dispose of the Windows Update cache. To do so, observe the subsequent steps –
Step 1 – With the combination of Win & E keys outspread File Explorer. Once the File Explorer is visible on the screen, travel through this path accurately
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload
Unhide the Files
Step 2 – Click or hit the View tab, located on the menu bar.
Step 3 – On the dropped ribbon, click or hit Options box, visible at the extreme right end of the ribbon.
Step 4 – A box labeled Folder Options will arrive. Here also, move to the View tab.
Step 5 – Place a tick mark on the tiny round cell labeled as Show hidden files and folders and drives. Next, clear out mark from the square cell entitled Hide protected operating system files.
Step 6 – Click Apply and successively Ok.
Delete the Items
Step 7 – Now, all the files or folders will become visible. Use Ctrl & A sequence of keys and select all the contents of the Download folder.
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Step 8 – Finally, to Remove Items From C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload Hit or tap the Delete key.
Step 9 – You will see a overlapped box labeled Folder Access Denied. Tick mark the box of Do this for all current items followed by a hit on Continue button.
Now, it is time to restart those two services that you have terminated earlier
Step 1 – Another time outspread the elevated Command Prompt by observing the procedure outlined earlier.
Step 2 – Write down these line of codes one at a time and then hit Enter.
net start wuauserv
net start bits
Way 2 – Use Comand Prompt to Delete Windows Update Cache
Step 1 – Launch elevated command prompt with above extant process.
Step 2 – Write down these three lines of codes, one at a time and hit Enter.
net stop wuauserv del c:windowsSoftwareDistribution /q /s net start wuauserv
Way 3 – A Batch File to Delete Windows Update Cache
Another interesting technique to terminate the items of Windows Update Cache is generating a batch file.
Step 1 – To generate a batch file, first of all, outspread Notepad. Do this by writing
Notepad in the search field and hit the same name that appears on the top.
Step 2 – Write out or copy/paste these four codes on the expanded Notepad.
CD CD %Windir% CD SoftwareDistribution DEL /F /S /Q Download
Step 3 – Now, click or hit the File on the menu bar. From the dropped menu, click or hit Save as.
Step 4 – Pick up Desktop, the location to store the file. While storing, click or hit the Save as type drop-down and pick up All Files.
Step 5 – Make sure to rename the file as Erase_Cache.bat. As the last effort, click or hit Save.
Step 6 – Now, your batch file is absolutely ready to use. Next time onward, first terminate the Windows Update Service by using this code on an elevated Command Prompt –
net stop wuauserv
Step 7 – Finally, to Remove Items From C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload Hit or tap the Delete key, go to your desktop and double-click Erase_Cache file. In doing so, you will instantly remove all the items of Windows Update Cache.
Furthermore, you don’t like to be bother with the long steps direct download Erase_Cache file from below and run.
Hopefully, Windows Update will work with all enthusiasm and should start re-downloading the files from scratch since Windows Update cache is reset. Finally, if you hold up some more ways to terminate Windows Update Cache in Windows 10, please make us aware of those by inputting them on the comments form.
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On Windows 10, the 'SoftwareDistribution' folder is an essential component for Windows Update, which temporarily stores files needed to install new updates to keep your device secure and with the latest fixes and improvements.
This folder is maintained by the WUAgent (Windows Update Agent), and typically, it should be left alone, but there will be times when you may need to clear its content manually in the case the Datastore and Download folders aren't synchronized, and it's preventing Windows Update from applying new updates to your PC.
Usually, if you're having trouble with Windows Update, or after updates have been applied, it's safe to empty the content of the SoftwareDistribution folder. Windows 10 will always re-download all the necessary files, or re-create the folder and re-download all the components, if removed.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to delete the content inside the SoftwareDistribution folder. As an alternative option, we'll also show you the steps to rename the folder, in case you only want to test if the folder's content is the one causing problems.
How to clear the 'SoftwareDistribution' folder
To delete the content inside the SoftwareDistribution folder, do the following:
Windows Softwaredistribution Download Folder Large
Once you completed the steps, Windows 10 will reconfigure the folder and re-download all the necessary components.
Remove Windows Softwaredistribution DownloadHow to rename the 'SoftwareDistribution' folder
If you don't want to delete the content inside of the folder, you can alternatively, rename the folder to troubleshoot Windows Update problems.
To rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, do the following:
After you've completed the steps, Windows 10 will re-create the folder and re-download all the necessary components.
The only caveat with this process is that the SoftwareDistribution folder also includes the Windows Update history information, which means that emptying up the folder will result in loss of this data. In addition, you'll notice that Windows Update will take longer than usual to detect and update your computer because the WUAgent must check and re-create the Datastore information. However, it's a small price to pay to get your device to update again.
While sometimes the folder may grow, it's only recommended to use these instructions only when necessary. You shouldn't mess with the SoftwareDistribution folder to free up storage space on your computer.
More Windows 10 resources
For more help articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
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