When to create an empty folder in SoftwareDistribution\Download

Question

Due to a Windows Update error (0x800705b4) that occurred the day before yesterday, I used the following method:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

Ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

The error code 0x800705b4 was resolved, but until yesterday morning, there were empty, randomly named numeric folders inside: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

After three days, the system remains stable with no abnormalities, but today those empty folders have disappeared without me doing anything.

When will empty randomly named folders be automatically created again inside: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download? Are there specific conditions for this?

During a definition update, a folder named “install” appeared. After the process finished, it disappeared and no empty folder was created. Why did this happen?

Answer 1

You never need to worry about the folders created in that Downloads folder, Windows updates manages that process automatically, the update process will create/delete new folders in there when they are needed, usually while a new Windows update or security update is being downloaded.