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Where does Software Update save download files?

My Software Update for 10.5.7 stalled at 19% downloaded. Where does that file get stored. I want to delete it. With all the trouble being reported with this update, I don't want any part of it until the issues are resolved. I am grateful I wasn't able to fully download the update.

MacBook Pro 2.5GHz/4GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.6), Ai BP G4 1.25GHz/2GB; old PowerMac; Newton 2K

Posted on May 12, 2009 5:56 PM

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Posted on May 12, 2009 6:52 PM

Mac OS X Update is located in my /Library/Updates, but the Packages folder only contains a 8KB file MacOSXUpd10.5.7-10.5.7.dist. According to Software Update, 19% of the update was downloaded but it is not in /Library/Updates.

Software Update is reporting 3 hours to download the remaining 81%. I'll wait until Apple resolves whatever issues are plaguing users. I would like to start over fresh, however, but it appears the download is not saved in one location.
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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 12, 2009 6:52 PM in response to Matt Broughton

Mac OS X Update is located in my /Library/Updates, but the Packages folder only contains a 8KB file MacOSXUpd10.5.7-10.5.7.dist. According to Software Update, 19% of the update was downloaded but it is not in /Library/Updates.

Software Update is reporting 3 hours to download the remaining 81%. I'll wait until Apple resolves whatever issues are plaguing users. I would like to start over fresh, however, but it appears the download is not saved in one location.

May 31, 2009 9:05 AM in response to Micheal Kelly

I've found my partially downloaded update files in /private/var/folders/<blah>/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate/<blah>

The <blahs> appear to be some hash of either the computer or the software being downloaded. Try the following:

Open a Terminal
sudo find /private -name " SomePartOfTheDriverNameYouAreLookingFor" -print

then sudo cd <the directory shown above>

Note I don't see /private in finder because of the permissions on it (hence the need for sudo above).

Also note, I had one directory in <blah> named -Cache- which is tricky to cd into because the leading - is perceived as an argument to cd, so I just cd into the entire directory path instead.

Finally, be wary doing things as root (sudo) as you can end up damaging your OS (so don't go around removing files you are not sure about)

Where does Software Update save download files?

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