Why are Windows updates so slow (and long) with VISTA

I'm suite amazed to see so many supporting reactions to my original post ... but no real answer from Microsoft.  Updating remains very slow with Vista compared to XP.  From my limited experience witth Win7, it is also much slower for updating than for XP.  I really wonder what is the reason...

You are absolutely correct about the slower downloads and updates on Vista regardless of size.  And it is not the internet connection.  I really wonder if it is a clandestine deterrent to get everyone to move from Vista.  It really makes no sense as to why they would not address the issue otherwise. 

By the way, the answers from Microsoft Support are irresponsible: 1- that any manager would let their customer service get away with such vague answers 2- That a company that has such a technical background with operating systems would allow such uncommitted responses anywhere on the internet; you could get more from a 10 year old Xboxer playing Halo. 3-The individuals that post those lame responses, do not at least follow-up with a more technical or factual repsonse- As Microsoft users, we have paid alot of money individually and via our customers to have much better support than that. 

Good luck!

I am at this very moment trying to update a clean Vista 64bit install so that I can install the new IE9 for testing purposes. However, the updates that I have to download and install, because IE9 won't install without them, have so far taken me 2 days... and I'm nowhere near finished.

It's a complete joke, I have a 40Mbps connection, other downloads come down rapidly.... so it must be Microsoft's servers slowing things down IMO.

Sort it out Microsoft, please!

I was searching the web to answer my question "Why is Windows Vista updates taking so long?" and I got to this blog! I completely agree. I have been an avid Windows user since 3.1. I have Windows 7 installed on my main home computer. I also have XP installed as a VM under Open Source Virtual Box on the same system. And I have Vista installed on my MacBook in Bootcamp.

I just did a Vista re-install for a friend over a high speed internet broadband link using both hardwire and 802.11n wireless connections to the Comcast modem. Normally, I can download a 50MB file in less than 1 minute! One (in a seemingly never ending series of updates) Vista update  was ~150MB. Expecting the same type of performance, I was hoping for 3 minutes. It took over 40 minutes to just download - not to mention the painfully slow process of installing. And that was the smallest of the updates!!!

This is rediculous. The entire Vista updating process experience would cause less fearless and dedicated users to abandon hope and just do without the updates.

Same here. This is truly beyond unacceptable. It should not take 24+ hours to download and install updates after a clean install of Windows Vista.  It's gotten to the point that one can't even help a neighbor install a new Vista OS without devoting a whole weekend to the process. That sucks.  I have to say, Windows 7 is nowhere near that slow, albeit its not as fast as Windows XP was. But this Vista update is quite literally slower than overnight snailmail.