Clearing SoftwareDistribution folder for updates.

Question

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 1:32 PM}

Hello all,

We are looking for a way to to clear the SoftwareDistribution folder under the Windows folder to re-download updates. We have always done this in the past to get a fresh copy of updates to get them working again. Since the the new Windows 10 updates the folder is still stuck in use.

We used to stop the bits, wuausa, and cryptographic services to be able to remove or rename the folder, but not anymore.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks.

All replies (9)

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 1:46 PM | 3 votes}

Hi there,

you can use the Disk Cleanup Tool for that.

Please right click with the mouse to your Drive c: / Select Properties / Select Disk Clean-up / wait a few moments that the system can scan your disk and now select "Clean up system files". Now you can select a few options. One is "Windows update clean up". Select it and click o.k.

best regards

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 1:53 PM}

Hi _Mr_Smith.

The SoftwareDistribution folder is maintained by the WUAgent (Windows Update Agent), therefore you have to stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service by executing the following commands in an administrative command prompt

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

Then you'll be able to remove all the contents within the SoftwareDistribution folder; after that, restart the 2 aforementioned services by executing the following commands in an administrative command prompt

net start wuauserv
net start bits

Bye.

Luigi Bruno
MCP, MCTS, MOS, MTA

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 6:46 PM | 1 vote}

Save as batch file.. 

SC Config "WUAUServ" Start= disabled

SC config "Bits" start= disabled

sc stop "bits" 

sc stop "WUAUServ" 

del %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\.*

Sc Config "Wuauserv" Start= Auto

sc config "bits" start= auto

Shutdown -r -f -t "00" 

NOTE: you can change the "00" to a different value if you want to wait 10, or so seconds for reboot... 

Rob

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 6:50 PM}

Thanks for the answer, but like I stated in my initial description - we have already tried this, but since the new Windows 10 updates, this method doesn't work.

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 7:14 PM}

It still works on my machine, with the latest updates, do you have UAC disabled? 

EDIT: 

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.16299.309]
(c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>cd\

C:\Windows10UpdatesStuck.bat

C:\SC Config "WUAUServ" Start= disabled
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\SC config "Bits" start= disabled
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\sc stop "bits"
[SC] ControlService FAILED 1062:

The service has not been started.

C:\sc stop "WUAUServ"
[SC] ControlService FAILED 1062:

The service has not been started.

C:\del C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\.*
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\.*, Are you sure (Y/N)? y

C:\Sc Config "Wuauserv" Start= Auto
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\sc config "bits" start= auto
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS
C:\ver

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.16299.309]

C:\

_{Friday, March 16, 2018 8:58 PM}

No need create Software distribution folder. Delete Download folder contents is enough..

Download folder is in Software distribution folder

_{Saturday, March 17, 2018 7:39 PM}

Are you able to run these commands:

1.Open an elevated command prompt

2.Run the following command:

  net stop bits

  net stop wuauserv

  net stop appidsvc

  net stop cryptsvc

  ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

  ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

  net start bits

  net start wuauserv

  net start appidsvc

  net start cryptsvc

_{Monday, March 19, 2018 9:10 AM}

Hi Smith,

Any message or error code when you attempt to remove or rename SoftwareDistribution folder?

Try this:

1. Run Command Prompt(Admin), type cd\ and press ENTER.

2. Type net stop wuauserv and press the ENTER key.

3. Type ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old and press the ENTER key.

4. Type: net start wuauserv and press the ENTER key.

5. Type: exit and press the ENTER key

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_{Thursday, September 5, 2019 10:32 AM}

I made an account just to thank you! great job!!