Why does Windows Update use a USB drive for temp files on installs

I have C: as windows 7 home premium.
I also have a 1TB usb drive I plug in now and then to store all sorts of
backups to then turn it off.

Well I turned my PC on after not using it for a month and then turned on
the USB (M and then proceeded to do a few alterations and copy files
to it.

Unknowingly, Windows Update Service found that I needed updates.
Several of them. And proceeded to download and install them in the
background. I got the "you need to reboot" popup and postponed it, but
looking at M: now I have 2 of these "ae392840809d0239472" type folders.
You know those temp folders that are used during installs and then
deleted.

Now why M:?
and if I turned it off during shutdown & reboot when and if it needs
those files to finish the install, what happens now?

As it turned out, I did turn off the usb before shutting down, brain
fart, and the shutdown hung. 5 minutes-10 minutes later I reset the pc.
I rebooted with the USB on now, it did some install and rebooted, then
did more. I suspect the first boot was the shutdown work, and the 2nd
boot the normal startup work.

When all was done, no errors in update history and those weird folders
were gone from M:

But what is Microsoft thinking? Is there some thing that can be done
to eliminate this?

Big Al wrote:
I have C: as windows 7 home premium.
I also have a 1TB usb drive I plug in now and then to store all sorts of
backups to then turn it off.

Well I turned my PC on after not using it for a month and then turned on
the USB (M and then proceeded to do a few alterations and copy files
to it.

Unknowingly, Windows Update Service found that I needed updates. Several
of them. And proceeded to download and install them in the
background. I got the "you need to reboot" popup and postponed it, but
looking at M: now I have 2 of these "ae392840809d0239472" type folders.
You know those temp folders that are used during installs and then
deleted.

Now why M:?
and if I turned it off during shutdown & reboot when and if it needs
those files to finish the install, what happens now?

As it turned out, I did turn off the usb before shutting down, brain
fart, and the shutdown hung. 5 minutes-10 minutes later I reset the pc.
I rebooted with the USB on now, it did some install and rebooted, then
did more. I suspect the first boot was the shutdown work, and the 2nd
boot the normal startup work.

When all was done, no errors in update history and those weird folders
were gone from M:

But what is Microsoft thinking? Is there some thing that can be done
to eliminate this?


All you need to do is NOT plug in the USB drive prior to updating
Windows. Or, configure Windows Update to " Check for updates but let me
choose whether to download and install them ".
Then you could unplug the drive prior to updating.

IIRC, the Windows Update process uses the drive with the largest amount
of free space to temporarily create folders for the unpacking and
installation of the updates. They are usually deleted on a reboot.

As to what MS is thinking ... do they ?



MowGreen
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*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
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