TIP for VISTA Users to save diskspace!

that's because you hadn't installed office using the run all from my computer option

 

I'm not blaming on you, Max,
But you should remind others in your thread so others won't get the same problem.

 

..........

 

sorry dude, never expected that anyone would install office without choosing run all from my computer option.

my apologiesq

 

confirm 100% Ok

i did it and is running Good

 

excellent. it works fine if u install office right

 

it's hard to tell if one has installed office right

 

no what I meant was . most users install with the option of "run all from m computer"

not the default options.

 

What evidence do you have that "most users" do this? Do you have access to some stats the MS has, or is that just how you do it, so you assume everyone else does the same? It is FAR more likely that people install using the default setting, which is not "run all from my computer".

 

Hey, Maximus777. Were you able to test this? I mentioned this to Flamenko, and know he will want to find out as well. He'll want to let folks know if they need to wait to do this after they uninstall the beta of SP1.

Gary

 

Dude, when I installed the SP1, the Software distribution folder remained at the same size. (around 9 MB)

See it is only a folder to temporarily store downloaded updates. Now I had SP1 on another locatoi on my HDD not downloaded via windows update. And even if u download via WU it is safe to delete.



And YES I caqn uninstall SP1 even after deleting everything in that folder! I went to the add/remove, then clicked on udpates, thn u could see the service pack and uninstall it.

By deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder you are not deleting the uninstall information! you are deleting the setupfiles for the updates.

 

I put a caveat in the Tip in the Tweaks guide just in case...until we can get this confirmed positively without a doubt.

Better safe than sorry and the extra line doesn't hurt in any case.

 

Not a bad idea, although I was able to uninstall, it gave me the option when I right clicked it.

And like I said, when I installed the SP1 right after a fresh install of Vista, the SoftwareDistribution folder didn't change in size! Meaning it has nothing to do with the service pack! it's for WindowsUpdate

 

Yes, I remember that you had confirmed this.

And I had not used Windows Update to install the SP1 beta either. And since neither of us did, we CAN'T be sure that anyone who used the original registry hack to download the first iteration of SP1 Beta which was delivered via Windows Update, will be able to uninstall it. I suspect that since this Software Distribution folder appears to be where WU stores the installers, it MAY (and again I stress MAY since neither of us have a way to confirm this) have stored the installer for SP1 there too. And if it did, then anyone who got SP1 via WU may need to exercise caution.

Great!!! Thanks for confirming that.

Now the only bit we need to confirm is will someone who used the registry hack to get SP1 be able to uninstall it AFTER emptying the Software Distribution folder.

OK onlookers, we need some help here as neither Maximus777 or I can test this. We need someone who had used the registry hack to get the first beta of SP1 and need to uninstall it as you are now ready to use the hack again to get the final release. If you would help us it would be good. We'd like for you to MOVE (not delete just MOVE) the contents of your Software Distribution folder to an empty folder elsewhere. Then see if you can uninstall the current Service pack. If you can GREAT. If not you will need to move the files back to the Software Distribution folder. Please report your findings.

Flamenko, in the meantime I think the ONLY warning necessary is for folks who have used the registry hack to get an early release of SP1. They need to be careful until we figure this out.

Gary

 

Ahh yes, but neither of us used Windows Update to get the SP1 beta. We need to find out what happens for someone who did.

Gary

 

Thanks Gary. You truly are the 'Columbo' of IT. Your above thread reminds me of a similar issue not so long ago dealing with a Tweaking issue.

Your persistance is admirable.

 

More like Kojack... Who loves ya' baby? Anyone have a lollypop?

Gary

 

Very logical thinking.

Awaiting confirmation

 

I can help, coz I'm going to reinstall my vista later this week,
so it doesn't matter if I can't uninstall SP1 beta
which version of SP1 do you want me to try?
and which way of installation do you guys want me to try?

 

We want youto try getting Vista SP1 via the Windows update, install then reboot, then rename or delete your softwaredistribution folder in C:\Windows\

then try to uninstall it

thank u


ull get a rep point once this is confirmed

 

do you mean SP1 RTM? by hacking registry?

 

Yes, like Maximus777 said. We want you to use the registry hack to get SP1 through Windows Update. Then once it is installed move the contents of the Software distribution folder to some empty folder. Then go to Start | Control Panel | Programs and Features and click on "View Installed Updates". Then find the Vista Service pack entry right click on it and select "Uninstall".

Report back and you'll get more than one rep point! ...big ol' grin...

Gary

 

We'd really like to find someone who got the FIRST SP1 beta via the hack. If you did this, you do not need specifically get the RTM version for our test. We are just trying to find out if the beta SP1 will uninstall after the Software Distribution folder is empty.

Gary

 

true that!

 

alright, just hacked the registry and installed SP1



now, i'm going to rename the Software Distribution folder,
i'll be right back

 

all update histories are gone after I rename the folder

 

Ok, that's the list in Windows Update. There is one more place. See the attachment. Look in Start | Control Panel | Programs and Features | View Installed Updates. Do you see the Service Pack listed there? Will it let you uninstall it from there?

Gary

 

holy hell i had a gig in there

 

oops, my bad...

this is where you supposed to go if you want to uninstall any windows updates

I clicked service pack, and it is uninstalled safely after half an hour.


Conclusion:
Although after you delete Software Distribution folder, the update history in windows will be gone, doing so will not affect your ability to uninstall any old updates.

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

OK this does finally get to the bottom of this issue. It does indeed appear that emptying the Software Distribution folder will NOT impeed uninstalling the beta of SP1 or any update for that matter. WHEW! That's a relief.

Gary

 

Awesome! This makes my tip FTW!!!!!!

Rep rep point added for the tester

 

i had problems receiving windows updates after deleting folder softwaredistrib folder. i get an error. i backed it up though.

 

0 problems here. I always update just fine. strange

 

if deleting/renaming the folder means that update history will be wiped clean, it is useful when you want to remove those 'error' update entries.

But is it possible to keep the update history list but delete the contents of the folder without deleting/renaming the folder?

 

Deleting important system files will lead to serious trouble in the future. Beware of what you are deleting.

 

DO NOT DELETE THESE FILES!!!!

I just tried it and back up before hand. I tested windows update and it worked perfectly prior.

I removed the contents of the download folder and updater lost its history, no big deal..however was NOT able to download or install any updates after that. I rebooted, i stopped the service, remove the contents of the storeddata as it asks for on the web, still nothing..

I restored all the files that were deleted, reboot and it works again.

 

updates work just fine here

 

And your single test refutes all the effort that went into throughly testing this out? Go back and carefully read the entire thread. I think you'll find that this was looked at in depth.

I am not suggesting you didn't have a problem, but I am not sure it is related to the instructions in this thread. You said you deleted the download folder. This thread is about the software distribution folder, a different kettle of fish entirely.

Gary