Solved Is the deleting safe?

[barsim]

Hello,
C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Downloads -- is it SAFE to delete? Is the folder content connected to Win Update?
Thanks

 

[ShoTTaS]

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.

 

[Ztruker]

Why do you want to delete it? It doesn't take up a lot of room?

On win Win 7 Pro X64 system which was last installed in 2009 the SoftwareDistribution folder takes up 551MB, not worth messing with.

 

[autolycus]

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.

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?

 

[UsernameIssues]

You can stop that service and proceed.

You might also want to look at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html