cannot Rename SoftwareDistribution folder error "the action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program"

Question

OT: Renaming SoftwareDistribution folder

Split from this thread.

i cannot rename the folder SoftwareDistribution to SDold 

It says That the action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program  what can i do then

Answer 1

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, right click Command Prompt, and click Run as administrator from the drop down menu.. Type *cd* and press ENTER.

Type net stop wuauserv and press the ENTER key.

Type ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old and press the ENTER key.

Type: net start wuauserv and press the ENTER key.

Type: exit and press the ENTER key

Answer 2

access is denied is being shown u sir plase help me

Answer 3

Hi,

Did you run Command prompt in Elevated mode as suggested by Mr. Gerry C J Cornell?

Please reply to help you further.

Answer 4

I ran elevated command prompt. I get the same issue - "access is denied" when attempting to run the command "ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old".

I already stopped the Windows Update service - I did this by opening services and stopping it that way (run "services.msc /s" then find Windows Update on the list of services and select 'stop'. Hence when running the command "net stop wuauserv" in elevated command prompt, it says "The Windows Update service is not started"). And yet if I attempt to rename SoftwareDistribution, either in Windows explorer or through the elevated command prompt, it doesn't work - apparently because it is open in another program.

Which other program might this folder be open in, besides Windows Update?

Is there a way I can find out?

Help would be massively appreciated - not nice to run into such a serious problem (can't update any applications) on a brand new laptop.

Answer 5

Hi William,

In case you haven't found the solution, here's what i found out:

1. run command prompt in elevated mode (start - type "cmd" - right click on command prompt app and select "run as administrator")
2. type "net stop wuauserv"
3. type "net stop bits"
4. open the folder "c:\windows" and locate SoftwareDistribution folder, rename or delete as you please.

or if you want to keep using command prompt simply type "ren c:\windows\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.old" or "del c:\windows\softwaredistribution"

5. back to command prompt, type "net start wuauserv"
6. type "net start bits"
7. done

Hope this helps!

Wang.

credits to http://www.thewindowsclub.com/software-distribution-folder-in-windows