Microsoft Security Essentials and Win XP

[jj2007]

I'm just updating WinXP - 70 attempts, many failed, and harddisk space went down from 1.2 GB to 645 MB.

After reboot, it's at 700MB, and Windows complains again that 33 updates are available. So I tried again, and they failed miserably again - mostly .NOT stuff. One should think that a clever programmer would have marked these 33 as impossible, but I guess the champions in Redmond will continue asking me if they are allowed to install these 33 updates.

And of course, Adobe popped up, promising that this time, really, honestly, they have a much safer and faster Flash for me. Poor liars 8)

[Vortex]

Hi Jochen,

Deleting the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder, didn't it have any effect?

[jj2007]

Hi Erol,

Yes, that's 420MB, but I'll wait some days before doing that.

Renaming failed with access denied, but with Unlocker I found out that one of the obscure svchost processes was responsible; and it could be unlocked without further problems.

Which means that the svchost process keeps file handles open for no particular reason.

[Gunther]

Hi Jochen,

Which means that the svchost process keeps file handles open for no particular reason.

that's not so clear. 

Gunther

[Vortex]

Hi Jochen,

You need to stop the update service before deleting that folder :

Code Select Expand

net stop wuauserv

[jj2007]

Thanks, Erol :t