Re: Windows Update Slow

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Clayton wrote:
For awhile now on many computers I run Windows Update on is very
very very slow

techcafe wrote:
same thing is happening here...Windows Update/Microsoft Update (via
the browser) takes FOREVER to load the update page.

something is definitely wrong with the windows update site

<snipped>
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/browse_frm/thread/bd6431aa7c1fa93e/7e147bd2d9d5f08a



techcafe wrote:
yes, yes, i KNOW all of that, but thank you anyway.

as i (and others) have said already, both, windows update and
microsoft update are slow. this has nothing to do with automatic
updates.

I have installed Windows XP and updated said machines several times over the
last week or two now. In each case - I needed over 30 updates (SP3 is
integrated along with a few other updates automatically done during my
unattended installation - I have been neglectful in updating the process as
of late) and I have noticed no slowness.

The machines locations have varied.

I have one location with a very fast internet connection (the internal
gigabit network is likely the larger bottleneck than anything else) and
another with a cable modem connection and a third with a DSL connection.
All cases have been reasonably quick during the update process - no
noticable delays in scanning for, downloading or installing the necessary
updates.

I speak of using http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ - not automatic updates
or anything else right now. Although - I have manually (today) downloaded
many of the updates I have neglected to in the past (see above mention of my
neglectfulness) to intgerate them in the installation as well - to avoid as
much post-install Internet update as possible. Those updates seemed to work
fine.

Sounds like a location/ISP/networking issue on your end, to me anyway.

There is also the possibility (seeing how you mentioned installing SP3
manually) that your update system is askew. I have seen this happen on
system with active AV systems (very few times) and if they did not follow
what I consider the best practice for installing such things (service packs
that is.)

My suggestion:

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Reboot.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
(Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Come back - let us know if that worked.
.... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.

My suggestion for your future installs - integrate SP3 into the installation
media as well as many of the post-SP3 patches. Download and keep decently
current with an automated installation for all other patches and
installations. There are many ways to do all of that - so I will leave you
to your own knowledgebase to figure out which is best for you. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


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