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FolderRisk: Caution

SoftwareDistribution C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution: Windows Update working folder (Download, DataStore). Emptied to repair a stuck update.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

SoftwareDistribution is the Windows Update working folder: updates are downloaded here before they are installed, and the update history is kept here. The local database sits in DataStore\DataStore.edb. The folder is also part of the official steps for resetting Windows Update components.

What it contains

  • Download: temporary files of downloaded updates.
  • DataStore: the Windows Update history database (DataStore.edb).
  • ReportingEvents.log: the update event log.
  • A size that grows with downloads that are not purged.

Risks and best practices

  • Only empty this folder when an update is stuck or downloads are corrupted. In that case, stop the wuauserv and bits services first, then empty Download only.
  • Microsoft describes a quick reset (stop wuauserv, delete the folder, restart the service) and a manual procedure that renames DataStore, Download and catroot2 to .bak. Keep the second for when the other steps have failed.
  • Download is fetched again as needed. Deleting DataStore, on the other hand, resets the history shown in Settings.
  • Restart the services once you are done.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# As administrator
Stop-Service wuauserv, bits -Force
Remove-Item "$env:windir\SoftwareDistribution\Download\*" -Recurse -Force -WhatIf   # remove -WhatIf to run
Start-Service bits, wuauserv


# Generate a readable WindowsUpdate.log on the Desktop (merges the Windows Update .etl traces)
Get-WindowsUpdateLog

Folder contents

Folders 2

Logs 1

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