If it doesn't, and space is that critical, you might also find it beneficial to rebuild the entire datastore.

I'm deleting right now. So currently, the 64-bit processors that you find in commodity PCs are all AMD64 architecture regardless of whether they're made by AMD or Intel. Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA those asking questions. history and how would I do it?

While I agree with you Lawrence, the world is not a perfect place. Deleting the files older than 10 days usually will restore normal functionality of that housekeeping task.

Having read through the majority of this thread, it is still a mystery to me how to determine if the datastore and the downloads folder are out of sync, or where the magic number of older than 10 days comes from. (If it's more than a few thousand, that's a problem. it can be trimmed. about this issue.". Furthermore, I was intrigued by your arrogance In those cases, if the SoftwareDistribution folder has grown large and contains old content, then by definition it's NOT a properly functioning system, so all the sturm und drang over whether it's a best practice for a properly working system is irrelevant. He was offering an option, and for some reason he chose to issue it as some sort of directive.

PERIOD. FYI ElderJedi, believe it. We do regular disk cleanups but nothing seems to reduce the size of this folder!

I like hearing there is NO reason on a normally functionning system to fiddle with the software distributions download folder... How about getting rid of around 20gigs of useless data since they already have been installed ?? The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter is a replacement for that utility. Stop the WindowsUpdate service, copy the logfile back, and restart the service.

On a 100mbit/sec LAN backbone, assuming a practical throughput of about 60mb/sec, it would take a few minutes, worst case scenario. just to put back my system on an old inupdated stage which only a few want to do..except when installing tools like searchbar..access

I have a server with a 35 GB partition that continues to grow uncontrollably: C:\windows\installer - 3.4 GB Microsoft global customer service number. I typically delete anything more than 3 months old -- more an arbitrary decision than one based in any sort of thought-out logic. using Office 2003 because it's all they have.

Then monitor the client to see if it continues to properly self-maintain the folder thereafter.

But when I read your message I thought Bravo!

I have been reading through this thread and wondered if there are any significant cons to using Windows compression ie applying "Compress contents to save disk space" on windows\SoftwareDistribution folder?

I checked the SoftwareDistribution folder on one server and it's topping 2.3 Gb. I've found SoftwareDistribution folders over 6GB in size because updates are just stuck in there. however i make a sysimage to another drive and then i delete all these files not caring all the warnings...i can still return to the old stage when bad predictions come true. I cannot find a straight answer on how to clean up the winsxs directory. When the system in question has less than 1 GB of free space, that's a significant issue. Following that you should monitor the folder to see if subsequent files get deleted as they should. IO while wuauclt.exe is running.

Everything seems to be running fine. Giving them BAD or INCORRECT information simply because it is "easier for them to understand" is not helpful; in fact, IMO it's somewhat condescending. My advice? The Windows Core + Apps + cloud-backed-up configuration model seems better suited to reliable servers than gamer desktops. The only way to get rid of it is to get rid of the AVG toolbar and then delete it. Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA What did you edit that website with???

5 stars! Datastore thinks has already been deleted. there specifically because it's in the %windir% folder tree on the %systemdrive% and requires certain protections which make it inappropriate to be stored outside of the %windir%, and the WUAgent is a core component of the operating system. If you really want to engage in disk maintenance activities to free up disk space, focus on the USER FOLDERS, which typically (in my experiences) will yield upwards of 10% of the capacity of the disk drive in deletable junk files. MVPs are independent of Microsoft, with separate opinions and perspectives, and are able to represent the views of the community

appeared to work, but The current size of the SoftwareDistribution folder is 139MB.

then by definition it's NOT a properly functioning system, so all the sturm und drang over whether it's a best practice for a properly working system is irrelevant. As for "without any explanation"... exactly which point in this thread do you feel was provided "without any explanation". Is it NOW okay to clean up the mess? Unfortunately, Microsoft often doesn't listen to his customers. Then I looked up your company and I laughed so hard that I spit coffee all over my desk. with plenty of fails?

i have permenately fixed dozens of windows Protect Yourself From Tech Support Scams

The WinSxS folder is 6.5GB, which is also insane, but that's another entire kettle of stinking fish which I won't muddy this thread with.

As condescending as Lawrence's post may be, he is right.

I have a machine that is looping of configuring windows and failed to, reverting etc. I have a different view coming from desktop administration. I thought the same exact thing about the poster. Be VERY sure that you are ok with I understand

maybe ease on the "I am smart and you are stupid" style of writing, but hey, if it weren't for you, they wouldn't know, right?

And, to that point, if the ~\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder has archaic content in it -- the fix is NOT to delete the entire ~\SoftwareDistribution folder, but rather to simply delete the archaic content that the all of my attempts to restore it with a simple Paste (described above) refuse to work. Free space woes waste so much time and any good manager/senior engineer will know that migrating off that system is the more efficient solution than trying to get Server 2003 R2 to continue running on a 8Gb partition

Or... maybe... ITPros should learn the architecture and operation of the Operating System before becoming a critic.

Switch to Mac. there are 3,674 folders and almost 16,000 files and 4.63GB of data being taken up by the Download folder alone. Show a little respect for some IT pros that are looking for answers, instead of just being told NO. If it freaks out, it could be that the WUA has the file locked. Which I agree completely with, he has changed the subject matter with his Arrogant answers. Windows updates and service packs may fail to install if there are corruption errors. Product Manager, SolarWinds On two different Win7 systems I have, the SoftwareDistribution folder consumes <100MB of disk space. The ~\SoftwareDistribution folder has been a primary stable of Automatic Updates for more than a dozen years. can't absolutely say for sure what to do about all these files. your 2nd command ? Fact is, on a Gigabit LAN backbone, 1.3GB of content is about 18 seconds of file transfer time. But - given the photo and website.... can't see that happening any time soon. If SolarWinds Head Geek doesn't look like i need the files to run old stuff. Is is still available and if so where? but this did not stop the loop.

functionality -- and even then, backup/restore/rebuild is still a preferable option in most cases -- so YES, I do have a claw up  my backside about this issue. by

:).

I can t find anything there to remove ..

True, perhaps you don't like the This is an old thread that seemed relevant to a question I had, but I'm done reading at this point. I have a 50 Gb partition and I can't expand it any more. Just when I thought nobody could beat my story, you did, Bob. Yet another case of good old Lawrence arguing with people instead of helping them.

The ones that I have not done is because the are mission critical and need to be up at all times.

If the WUAgent is working, then deleting the Software Distribution folder is NOT the appropriate remediation. The guy is down, the ref has finished counting. still retain their position within the company.

Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter . That is exactly what this topic is about! In the end, I'll have to format and install everything all over again because

If not, then when? The Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe) that was previously referred to in this article has been retired.

Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2012) confidence with which I chose to make my points.

There is nothing in any of my posts in this thread that is not 100% factually accurate. Thanks for marking this as the answer. SxS should not be purged entirely, but you can clean up older and duplicate cache files with DISM: dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded. I find it hard to believe I need those files, but you never

Windows overfeeds with time and there's no real way of making it thiner... Next time, I'll deactivate automatic Windows updates.

Anybody have any advice for cleaning up the windows installer folder? whoa, holy crappola, same issue with winsxs folder.

Of 7,951 posts, only 631 people thought they were helpful and that figures up to 8% of the time which means...wait for it...not much.

VirtuallySurreal Tech Services is an IT service provider. to the OS partition.

about this issue.". The gentleman was being very kind, but he is completely correct.

I am no expert when it comes to WSUS and the SoftwareDistribution folder, but my only issue with Lawrence's post was this: "Destruction of data is never the correct answer unless destruction of that data is the ONLY way to recover system functionality -- and even then, backup/restore/rebuild is still a preferable option in most cases -- so YES, I do have a claw up  my backside