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

2016-04-27T16:41:36+00:00

Do yourself a favor and get the free app WSUSOFFLINE. It builds a file with windows and Office updates. You just choose the versions you want it to download and put it on a usb drive. I have a WSUS server that I approve and apply patches for my on network machines. But if I have a one off computer I need to apply a patch to then I use this utility. This is a great tool to have!
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Anonymous

2016-04-25T02:24:41+00:00

thank you for such a great report and the in depth knowledge that is so hard to find. thank you again. Maybe one day they will realize that they really do have problems and that we are not just making things up. lol.
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Anonymous

2016-04-21T18:22:17+00:00

soo agreeing with this!
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Anonymous

2016-04-16T20:16:43+00:00

For the last few months or so I have also noticed extremely long delays in both checking for updates and then obtaining the updates at the the download phase, where the system should be downloading but just sits at "0%" with the network idle for hours, yet the hard drive is thrashing away. I know it has never been the most efficient since it was introduced, but I am convinced MS recently did something to intentionally hobble it in hopes to get people to move to Windows 10. Of course MS has no plans to release an SP2 for Win 7, but even the security roll up they were promising last year hasn't materialized. Win 7 is supposed to be in an extended support cycle until 1/14/2020, but I don't see MS honoring this in earnest. From the limited exposure I've had to Win 10 I'm more likely to gradually move systems over to Linux than go through the hassle of a mass upgrade to Win 10.
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