The past TWO nights I have encountered this same problem. I am running Windows XP and all of a sudden at 3 am it is doing a Software Distribution Service 2.0. My computer automatically then shuts down and won't let me start back up unless I choose to 'start to the last working configuration'. When I do get into my windows program my computer is not recognizing my D drive or my F drive. (these are my dvd and dvd-rw drives). the only way that i can get things to work normally is to go back to a system restore previous to this Software Distrib, etc. When I check for scheduled tasks this is not listed. the only thing i have scheduled is my virus scan throughout the day. I saw some unresolved questions in apr and may where others were having the exact same problem. I wonder if anyone has found out how this has just appeared on our computer and what I can do to deactivate it. I wonder what the heck it is????? anyone have any info or adivse? thanks very much for your time gwen

Hi, is it running as a service? If it is then disable it in the usual manner. if you dont know how to disable it then please post back. I know this doesn't answer the problem but it could be a quick fix to stopping the update at 3.00am. HTH Scott

Hi gwen Can you please give us some clue as to what you have installed prior to this problem? I have searched the net & MS sites for Software Distribution Service 2.0 and couldn't find anything relevant. Thanks i_XpUser

Thanks to both of you for your replies. For XpUser.....during the past two days I have done two things....I UNinstalled a trial copy of AnyDVD and I tried to update my Easy CD Creator to the 7.0 version. I got an error msg while trying to update my Easy CD creator and my son told me to wait till he came over and he would see what's going on with the program disc that i have for that. For Scott......well, I THINK i might know what u are talking about (maybe :) i went to System Config Utility and SERVICES tab & unfortunately I don't see anything that 'appears' to be this Software Distribution Svc. The majority of the SERVICES are, of course, thru Microsoft. However, when I go into my WINDOWS SECURITY CENTER I do see where it is set to do AUTOMATIC UPDATES (this is the default recomendation) everyday at 3 am. It does give me the option to turn this update off but gives me a warning that it will leave my puter more vulnerable. Also, when I go into the MICROSOFT WINDOWS UPDATE date site and click on VIEW INSTALLATION HISTORY I do see where there have been Microsoft updates added on June 16th and 17th (the first ones since May 18th. Seems strange to me since my problem has just surfaced on June 16th and 17th) There are a total of 16 updates listed. they are listed as 11 SECURITY UPDATES FOR WINDOWS XP and then a KB# also lists 2 as WINDOWS MALICIOUS SOFTWARE TOOL with a Kb# and also 3 as CUMULATIVE SECUIRTY UPDATE FOR INTERNET EXPLORER FOR WINDOWS XP SVC PACK and then a Kb #. Maybe those things mean nothing, but I'm searching for ANYTHING different for June 16th & 17th. What led me to this site was that other forum members in Apr and May were referring to this same Software Distribution Svc 2 at 3 am. Now, I'm just totally clueless what to do. I'm thinking to probably turn off my AUTOMATIC UPDATES that are scheduled each day at 3 am. I'm figuring if thats what messed up my puter the past two nights that it probably will do it again tonight. What u think? I'm probably not explaining thing very clearly and I appreciate any feedback or questions. Thanks again to you guys for your time. Gwen in Fl

I don't use the automatic update service. Run it manually instead. Go to add/remove programs and scroll down to the updates, usually at the bottom and select one of the updates. There is a section that says " click here for support information" click it then follow the link to the microsft site that tells you what the update is for. If there is one that refers to the update service then you could try uninstalling it :-) HTH Keep us informed regards scott uk

I would be extremely careful when removing any windows update. THIS explain why. i_XpUser

Well, I didn't remove any windows updates but i have turned off my automatic updates that i was getting at 3 am. so, tonight of course nothing went wrong with my puter. i DID find at another site some info about tracking down that folder named software distribtion. it was in my C:drive/Windows folder. someone else said that they renamed that folder SOFTWAREDISTRIBTIONOLD and so that's what I did. ????????? Big problem is that I'm not totally sure how or if that will help or hurt me. I now see that there is that renamed folder PLUS another one that just says SOFTWAREDISTRIBUTION. Hopefully I didn't add more problems on with that little move. Thanks again for your time Gwen in Fl