In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Yes, only empty the Download folder. Anything further would be risky and unnecessary. My whole Software Distribution folder is only 116 MB after 6 years.

I have many times stopped wuauserv and bits, then rd /s %windir%\SoftwareDistribution and then you start wuauserv and bits, and wuauclt /detectnow

You then will have to select Microsoft Update from the windows update website if you want the updates for office and other tools to be detected.

This process is given in at least one of many KB articles on troubleshooting WU.

Interesting! Think you may be referring to M/Soft Answers to Is it safe to delete files Under C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download?.

As the Download folder swamps the rest of Software Distribution after a monthly update, I think I'll just stick to my age-old emptying of Download folder only, to save messing about with Services and having to access the WU site.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Interesting! Think you may be referring to M/Soft Answers to Is it safe to delete files Under C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download?.

And other tech calls into MS - but as renaming the whole folder is safe (which means it can't be found) deleting it is just the same as renaming it, but saves the disc space.

As the Download folder swamps the rest of Software Distribution after a monthly update, I think I'll just stick to my age-old emptying of Download folder only, to save messing about with Services and having to access the WU site.

Yes if disk space is at a premium.