Update.Microsoft.com very slow

I have an issue with update.microsoft.com running very slowly for the past
month or two both at work and at home.
At work I have an EA, and I have been using Windows XP SP3 installation
disks (downloaded from Licensing.Microsoft.com).
On several newly installed PC's / Laptops (HP and Dell), I will install the
NIC and then I try to begin to install Windows updates.
When I go to IE, Tools, Windows Update, the website can take several minutes
to an hour to load. Once the site loads I always select Custom for the
install (rather than express), and then this can take several minutes to an
hour to come up and say that I need to install the Genuine Advantage and
Windows installer 3.1
Once those have been installed, I select custom again, and once again it can
take several minutes to an hour to load the updates to be installed. Then
when I click on Review and install updates, it once again can take several
minutes to an hour to install.
Once the downloads begin, and the installs start, all of that takes about
the same amount of time that it did before. But installing updates on fresh
computers is now taking me a day or two to do.
Even after I upgrade to IE 7 I still have this same problem.
I have also experienced this problem at home, and I have talked with a
handful of my users and they have had similar experiences.

I first noticed this problem around the time when Microsoft was phasing out
the updates for Microsoft Office from Office.Microsoft.com, which was around
the same time IE 8 came out.

I just tried running a Windows Update fix tool that I got from Microsoft a
while ago, with the /wuforce switch. That appears to have helped on the
system I am updating now, and I will try it on other systems as I build them.

Has anyone else experienced this problem, or know of a fix for it?

In article <2B329D90-31E9-4C65-95F6->, =?Utf-
8?B?S2VuIChFQ0NPKQ==?= <Ken (ECCO)@discussions.microsoft.com> says...
>
> Has anyone else experienced this problem, or know of a fix for it?
>
Before connecting any windows workstation to a network it should have an
Anitvirus software product installed AND updated.

In all likelyhood, it is possible that you have gotten something from
having an unpatched windows workstation connected to a network without
the AV installed.

I happened to me a couple of times, now I always install AV before
connecting ANY windows workstation to the internet. Good practice -
especially for unpatched windows.
--
antwesor

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

Support for Windows Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through
your usual support contacts.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net


Ken (ECCO) wrote:
> I have an issue with update.microsoft.com running very slowly for the past
> month or two both at work and at home.
> At work I have an EA, and I have been using Windows XP SP3 installation
> disks (downloaded from Licensing.Microsoft.com).
> On several newly installed PC's / Laptops (HP and Dell), I will install
> the
> NIC and then I try to begin to install Windows updates.
> When I go to IE, Tools, Windows Update, the website can take several
> minutes
> to an hour to load. Once the site loads I always select Custom for the
> install (rather than express), and then this can take several minutes to
> an
> hour to come up and say that I need to install the Genuine Advantage and
> Windows installer 3.1
> Once those have been installed, I select custom again, and once again it
> can
> take several minutes to an hour to load the updates to be installed. Then
> when I click on Review and install updates, it once again can take several
> minutes to an hour to install.
> Once the downloads begin, and the installs start, all of that takes about
> the same amount of time that it did before. But installing updates on
> fresh
> computers is now taking me a day or two to do.
> Even after I upgrade to IE 7 I still have this same problem.
> I have also experienced this problem at home, and I have talked with a
> handful of my users and they have had similar experiences.
>
> I first noticed this problem around the time when Microsoft was phasing
> out
> the updates for Microsoft Office from Office.Microsoft.com, which was
> around
> the same time IE 8 came out.
>
> I just tried running a Windows Update fix tool that I got from Microsoft a
> while ago, with the /wuforce switch. That appears to have helped on the
> system I am updating now, and I will try it on other systems as I build
> them.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this problem, or know of a fix for it?

> I just tried running a Windows Update fix tool that I got from Microsoft a
> while ago, with the /wuforce switch. That appears to have helped on the
> system I am updating now, and I will try it on other systems as I build them.

You're referring to the Windows Update Agent [WUA], right, Ken ?
That *should* resolve the slow Windows Update issue, key word being
should, if the release of the WUA is the latest one, 7.2.6001.788:

How to obtain the latest version of the Windows Update Agent to help
manage updates on a computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104

For some reason, which was never explained to my satisfaction, XP SP3
did not contain a more current release of the WUA.

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



Ken (ECCO) wrote:

> I have an issue with update.microsoft.com running very slowly for the past
> month or two both at work and at home.
> At work I have an EA, and I have been using Windows XP SP3 installation
> disks (downloaded from Licensing.Microsoft.com).
> On several newly installed PC's / Laptops (HP and Dell), I will install the
> NIC and then I try to begin to install Windows updates.
> When I go to IE, Tools, Windows Update, the website can take several minutes
> to an hour to load. Once the site loads I always select Custom for the
> install (rather than express), and then this can take several minutes to an
> hour to come up and say that I need to install the Genuine Advantage and
> Windows installer 3.1
> Once those have been installed, I select custom again, and once again it can
> take several minutes to an hour to load the updates to be installed. Then
> when I click on Review and install updates, it once again can take several
> minutes to an hour to install.
> Once the downloads begin, and the installs start, all of that takes about
> the same amount of time that it did before. But installing updates on fresh
> computers is now taking me a day or two to do.
> Even after I upgrade to IE 7 I still have this same problem.
> I have also experienced this problem at home, and I have talked with a
> handful of my users and they have had similar experiences.
>
> I first noticed this problem around the time when Microsoft was phasing out
> the updates for Microsoft Office from Office.Microsoft.com, which was around
> the same time IE 8 came out.
>
> I just tried running a Windows Update fix tool that I got from Microsoft a
> while ago, with the /wuforce switch. That appears to have helped on the
> system I am updating now, and I will try it on other systems as I build them.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this problem, or know of a fix for it?

State of MN wrote:

>> Has anyone else experienced this problem, or know of a fix for it?
>>
> Before connecting any windows workstation to a network it should have an
> Anitvirus software product installed AND updated.

Difficult if you only have a single computer, and unnecessary IMO so long as you
have Windows Firewall turned on and don't browse the web (except for Windows
Update and your chosen AV vendor) until you've got all updates installed and AV
up and running.

Harry.

>
> In all likelyhood, it is possible that you have gotten something from
> having an unpatched windows workstation connected to a network without
> the AV installed.
>
> I happened to me a couple of times, now I always install AV before
> connecting ANY windows workstation to the internet. Good practice -
> especially for unpatched windows.