Why the hell does Windows Updates take so long!!!!

I have just installed Windows XP S2 on my new desktop PC (I am dual booting with vista :P ) and now I have run windows update on XP. I left it going overnight because it was taking ages even just to decide what updats were needed. This morning, windows has found 66 necessary updates. I set them off downloading. The whole lot equal 55mb and yet it's till only up to downloading number 45!!! Each of these updates must be on average 1mb in size. Why does it take so long to download such small files on a 10 meg link!!!

Grrrr. Frustrating when you want to get the basics done so you can start playing with Vista.

Don't worry about it. It 'll probably break anyway.

Try slipstreaming the current hotfixes into XP before you install - http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/
or getting all the post SP2 hotfixes and installing in one go - http://www.autopatcher.com/

Thanks, I will bear that in mind for next time. It has finally finished now - zoomed along after the updates had come down, but it just seemed to take forever to download 50mbs worth

When you want so slipstream the service pathes in use Autostreamer you can download if from here. It will create an iso of the slipstreamed version and then burn the image of cd and bobs you uncle.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/S...streamer.shtml

Richard :lol:

Cant say it ever takes that long for me

We do use slipstreamed CD's but if I do one from scratch, a full set of XP updates only takes 20 minutes or so

When i was at b'ham it use to take forever. It may have something to do with the proxy in between as i am now in w'brom on an RM line and don't have the same problem. Maybe you could see if any one else in your area has the same issue?

Yeah, it could well be a proxy. Will investigate further.

You must set the WinHTTP service proxy seperately from IE (it doesn't seem to look at the IE settings).

Code:

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C:\Documents and Settings\administrator.CARRHILL>proxycfg -h
Microsoft (R) WinHTTP Default Proxy Configuration Tool
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

usage:

    proxycfg -?  : to view help information

    proxycfg    : to view current WinHTTP proxy settings

    proxycfg [-d] [-p <server-name> [<bypass-list>]]

        -d : set direct access
        -p : set proxy server(s), and optional bypass list

    proxycfg -u  : import proxy settings from current user's
                  Microsoft Internet Explorer manual settings (in HKCU)

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[STARTSLAGOFFWINDOWS]

Ahhemmmm!

IMHO Windows update takes so bleedin' long because it's crap!

You can't beat a bit of "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade" on good old Kubuntu Linux! Yay!

Updates done, no messin, nuff said.

:D

[/STARTSLAGOFFWINDOWS]

You might also wanna take a look at AutoPatcher I never bother with Windows Update anymore. Also, AP allows you to choose what updates you want to install so you're not forced to install Microsoft Malware, err... I mean WGA ;)

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You can't beat a bit of "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade" on good old Kubuntu Linux! Yay!

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Wow that sound far easier than just clicking windows update..... NOT!!

You can schedule it with cron-apt. You just get an email from the machine when/if it wants to update.

http://www.opal.dhs.org/programs/cron-apt/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by StewartKnight

Quote:

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You can't beat a bit of "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade" on good old Kubuntu Linux! Yay!

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Wow that sound far easier than just clicking windows update..... NOT!!

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Yeah true to a point, but at least then you wont wait like ages for it to scan for the updates it needs. Windows update is also relative to the speed of the machine updating itself so be prepared to wait a long time if its not a state of the art machine!

As as geoff said us Linux fans know of several shortcuts to automate the execution of those 3 or 4 commands to initiate the update process so thats hardly a chore really is it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NetDiag

Windows update is also relative to the speed of the machine updating itself so be prepared to wait a long time if its not a state of the art machine!

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Well I was updating a brand new AMD 64 3800+ X2 pc so it can't be down to PC speed / age. Like was mentioned earlier, I think maybe a proxy is slowing it down at some point, but obviously not altogether other wise nothing would download!!!

Plus 66 updates! Most of which are Security Critical. I wonder if Vista will need such regular security updates? Mmmmm. :lol: