What is in c:\winnt\softwaredistribution\scanfile?

Question

Running a couple of Windows 2000 boxes, and the above folder keeps being populated with sub folders named like a SID.

What is being generated here, and is there a way to stop it?

Randolph West · Answer 1 · 2010-11-17 22:13:05Z

up vote 2 down vote accepted

SoftwareDistribution is the Windows Update folder. You can delete it (with the Update Service disabled), but it'll just come back again.

answered Nov 17 '10 at 22:13

	Even though Windows Updates are disabled and they don't have network access? It seems to be generating the same 20MB worth of files every day. – mattdwen Nov 19 '10 at 3:38
	If the Automatic Updates or BITS services are running, it'll carry on creating files. WSUS or MBSA can also write to that folder. – Randolph West Nov 19 '10 at 3:56

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