Why are Windows updates so slow (and long) with Windows 7

Anonymous

original title: We'll search the Windows forum for an answerWhy are Windows updates so slow (and long) with Windows 7

I have a new netbook with windows 7 starter.

Last night when I tried to shut down, I got a message about updating and not to shut down. If I recall correctly, the download consisted of 49 items.

Today when I turned the computer on, after I entered my password, the computer told me to not shut down and stage 3 was in process.

Then it switched to a "Windows 7 Starter" screen (Windows 7 Starter with the windows logo at the bottom of a patterned blue screen, the same screen I get when booting up before the password screen appears.) There is no other info on the screen.

It has been a couple of hours since the screen appeared and nothing else appears to be going on. For the first 40 minutes, the hard drive light was on almost constantly, since then there is an occasional "blink" of the hard drive light.

Is this normal?

If so how long should I expect the process to take?

If not, (how would I be able to tell), what happens if I turn the computer off (assuming I can), and is there any way of recovering?

Anything else I should do?

Suggestions:

1. Provide the user with some indication that something is happening, and show progress so we know its not just locked up.

2. Offer an option where the user can delay the long configuration (or whatever is happening) so that if the computer is needed for critical work related use, the user won't get fired.

Thanks

tom

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

Hi,

It seems to be an issue with the updates installation.

Please follow the article mentioned below:

An update is not installed successfully when you try to install the update in Windows Vista and Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

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62 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-12-10T19:00:19+00:00

The most amazing fact about Microsoft is not that they have been able to be so successful with their crappy Windoze® Update Slag, it is the fact that despite so many users manifesting obvious major appointment about that problem Microsoft as not been able to correct the it already ( And, it's not that the problem is recent, this is been going on for years). It's such that one wonder if they even tried to fix it. My guess is it's probably done on purpose. I just haven't figures out why yet ? I wish I could do without it. I would have switch to Linux long ago.
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Anonymous

2016-11-29T15:58:50+00:00

Windoze® is a pile of crap, mate. Why, if my computer is "searching for updates", is my network activity at zero? I'd expect it to be maxing out.

I had no choice of OS when I bought this machine nearly nine years ago but, since I'm now a little more savvy, I'm seriously considering taking the leap into Linux or somesuch.

Microshaft© lost the plot a long time ago.

Dave.
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Anonymous

2016-11-17T21:34:53+00:00

I am not a proficient computer geek but here is a proposal that perhaps in a near future someone with enough knowledge may implement. If Microsoft is not willing to correct the Long Windows Update (including 7, Vista, 8 and 10) then some outsider may bring a quick solution to the problem. Such as: One may proceed with the tedious task to properly update a whole Windows 7 system. that would take a long time because Microsoft will not correct the problem. Then this one person clean the whole installation, deleting unneeded files and all, wraps all the Windows 7 folder in a big Zip file and make it available for grad over some Cloud like Dropbox or anything else. People would just have to download the Zip file and decompress it back into C:\Windows. Of course some kind of a routine would have to be fired to update the Registry properly with permissions and all, but it would be a heck of a lot faster then running this )(*&?*&?%* update program that MS is using. And a lot less hassle. Download, UnZip and run the Registry correction all in one automated shot. Start it late and wake up in the morning with a fully updated windows 7.

I would pay for such a service.
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Anonymous

2016-10-02T16:55:24+00:00

Thanks I could made work by downloading and installing KB3020360 and KB3172605 the update reported about 171 files need to be updated, after finish (a while more 2 hours) and were failed 5 files, and requested reboot process.

After reboot system is executing process 1 of 3 and stationary at 15 % after started with reboot process have passed 1 hour without any progress.

It seems Microsoft update process suffers many troubles, without cleared solution, it's crazy installation and reinstallation take less time than system updated take much more time, no sense.
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