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

Dear Forum Moderator,

Please, explain the rationale of your request to post reactions to the slow updates of Vista to a new thread. 

I initiated this thread and found the reactions quite useful (including this long post explaining what the problems (really) are). 

Although it did not help solving the problem, it was most interesting as the first reactions I got from "Microsoft Professionals" were essentially to deny what everyone could see and experience (i.e. that Vista updates ARE slow).

So, please, leave this thread open for further insights in the problem, and, hopefully, a communication from

Microsoft that they have realized what the problem was and that a solution is on its way.  I guess someone in Microsoft some day said "we listen to you" ...  It is now time to really listen and this thread is where Microsoft should listen...

Regards,

I found the solution, and when you see it you'll understand why the MS Tech types don't talk about it...

It' just five letters long, it's L, I, N, U, & X.

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Like you, I had to reinstall Vista and, as you mention, it too me more than one day ! ...  I have done the same with XP several times, and it was MUCH faster.

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I have to reinstall Vista Ultimate x64 every 6-18 months, usually because of Update failures, and the last time it took over two days for a minimal install - most of the time waiting for Windows Update.  Finally I wised up and back up the Windows partition very regularly.

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Time taken by Windows updates depend on the type of Internet connection you have and the size and number of updates your computer needs. …

Shinmila H - Microsoft Support…

Downloads for my Vista Ultimate x64 take a very long time, even thought my connection is 50Mb/sec+ and there are no updates, a small fraction of what my XP Pro x64 takes.  And when downloading, they are very slow, barely registering Task Manager's Networking.

Are there additional reasons why they take so long?

Bringing this thread into 2013.

As a Geeksquad remote support agent, I support every Windows Operating system from XP to 8, and I can say without a doubt that Vista updates take about 3 times as long to install, and 4 times as long to check for a new update. It's a horrid system, and even though Microsoft seems to be unable to come out and say it, I think we all know for certain that Vista's updating mechanism is a flawed system, and there is no fix save for updating to a better operating system.

Is it only me, or is the installation taking just as unnaturally long as the download?

when the updater say installing after it have been downloading, it takes a long time to install the update. even though its only a few KB or MB.

Carl