Update takes forever to complete

Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08 Automatic and
Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU cooling fan
runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro) isn't having
the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time to check and
recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
update source.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

gfr121 wrote:
> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08 Automatic
> and
> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU cooling
> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro) isn't
> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time to
> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but both of
my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if my systems
may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for Windows Update? As
always any help is greatly appreciated.
Greg


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
> update source.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
> gfr121 wrote:
> > Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08 Automatic
> > and
> > Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU cooling
> > fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro) isn't
> > having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time to
> > check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
>

If your machine needs an updated ActiveX Control to use Windows Update
*website*, you'd be prompted to install it when you went to the site and ran
the initial scan for updates, Greg.

If you keep your machine patched via Automatic Updates, you don't need any
ActiveX Controls.
--
~PA Bear

gfr121 wrote:
> Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but both
> of my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if my
> systems may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for Windows
> Update? As always any help is greatly appreciated.
> Greg
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
>> update source.
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>> gfr121 wrote:
>>> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08 Automatic
>>> and
>>> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU
>>> cooling
>>> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro) isn't
>>> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time
>>> to
>>> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for your time and efforts. I do have my machines set for
Automatic Updates and each morning when I boot up my desktop pc since SP3 the
system creeps along until Auto Updates finishes looking for anything new.
This now takes over 5 minutes. It used to fly by and the yellow shield would
pop up say for a Defender update and be gone in seconds. Then I could hear
the hard drive set a restore point and all would be fine all in a minute or
so. As long as I am getting updated I'm happy. It's just when things change
that drastically it makes me wonder. Again thank you!

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> If your machine needs an updated ActiveX Control to use Windows Update
> *website*, you'd be prompted to install it when you went to the site and ran
> the initial scan for updates, Greg.
>
> If you keep your machine patched via Automatic Updates, you don't need any
> ActiveX Controls.
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
> gfr121 wrote:
> > Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but both
> > of my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if my
> > systems may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for Windows
> > Update? As always any help is greatly appreciated.
> > Greg
> >
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
> >> update source.
> >> --
> >> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> >> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> >> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
> >>
> >> gfr121 wrote:
> >>> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08 Automatic
> >>> and
> >>> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU
> >>> cooling
> >>> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro) isn't
> >>> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time
> >>> to
> >>> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
>

YW. Many find that Automatic Updates takes much longer if Microsoft Update
is the default update source. YMMV.

To change the default from Microsoft Update to Windows Update:

Go to Microsoft Update | Click on Change Settings in left pane | Scroll to
bottom of page | To Stop Using Microsoft Update | Disable Microsoft Update
software and let me use Windows Update only (check).

With Windows Update as your default, you will need to check in at Office
Update periodically to keep your Office applications fully patched:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/do...incatalog.aspx
--
~PA Bear



gfr121 wrote:
> Thanks again for your time and efforts. I do have my machines set for
> Automatic Updates and each morning when I boot up my desktop pc since SP3
> the system creeps along until Auto Updates finishes looking for anything
> new. This now takes over 5 minutes. It used to fly by and the yellow
> shield
> would pop up say for a Defender update and be gone in seconds. Then I
> could
> hear the hard drive set a restore point and all would be fine all in a
> minute or so. As long as I am getting updated I'm happy. It's just when
> things change that drastically it makes me wonder. Again thank you!
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> If your machine needs an updated ActiveX Control to use Windows Update
>> *website*, you'd be prompted to install it when you went to the site and
>> ran the initial scan for updates, Greg.
>>
>> If you keep your machine patched via Automatic Updates, you don't need
>> any
>> ActiveX Controls.
>> --
>> ~PA Bear
>>
>> gfr121 wrote:
>>> Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but
>>> both
>>> of my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if my
>>> systems may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for Windows
>>> Update? As always any help is greatly appreciated.
>>> Greg
>>>
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
>>>> update source.
>>>> --
>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>>>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>>>
>>>> gfr121 wrote:
>>>>> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08
>>>>> Automatic
>>>>> and
>>>>> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU
>>>>> cooling
>>>>> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro)
>>>>> isn't
>>>>> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time
>>>>> to
>>>>> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I'll try what you suggest. Again thank you very much for helping.
Greg

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> YW. Many find that Automatic Updates takes much longer if Microsoft Update
> is the default update source. YMMV.
>
> To change the default from Microsoft Update to Windows Update:
>
> Go to Microsoft Update | Click on Change Settings in left pane | Scroll to
> bottom of page | To Stop Using Microsoft Update | Disable Microsoft Update
> software and let me use Windows Update only (check).
>
> With Windows Update as your default, you will need to check in at Office
> Update periodically to keep your Office applications fully patched:
> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/do...incatalog.aspx
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
>
>
> gfr121 wrote:
> > Thanks again for your time and efforts. I do have my machines set for
> > Automatic Updates and each morning when I boot up my desktop pc since SP3
> > the system creeps along until Auto Updates finishes looking for anything
> > new. This now takes over 5 minutes. It used to fly by and the yellow
> > shield
> > would pop up say for a Defender update and be gone in seconds. Then I
> > could
> > hear the hard drive set a restore point and all would be fine all in a
> > minute or so. As long as I am getting updated I'm happy. It's just when
> > things change that drastically it makes me wonder. Again thank you!
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> If your machine needs an updated ActiveX Control to use Windows Update
> >> *website*, you'd be prompted to install it when you went to the site and
> >> ran the initial scan for updates, Greg.
> >>
> >> If you keep your machine patched via Automatic Updates, you don't need
> >> any
> >> ActiveX Controls.
> >> --
> >> ~PA Bear
> >>
> >> gfr121 wrote:
> >>> Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but
> >>> both
> >>> of my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if my
> >>> systems may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for Windows
> >>> Update? As always any help is greatly appreciated.
> >>> Greg
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
> >>>> update source.
> >>>> --
> >>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> >>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> >>>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
> >>>>
> >>>> gfr121 wrote:
> >>>>> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08
> >>>>> Automatic
> >>>>> and
> >>>>> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU
> >>>>> cooling
> >>>>> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro)
> >>>>> isn't
> >>>>> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time
> >>>>> to
> >>>>> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
>

Just wanted to let you know. I thought about but did not make any changes to
my settings. It seems that everything is working fine again. I've tried
Windows Update (Custom) 3 times and each time it took less than a minute to
inform me no updates were available. I'm sure tomorrow morning Automatic
Updates will function as it has in the past. Thank you very much for your
time and suggestions, I'm very greatful.

Greg

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> YW. Many find that Automatic Updates takes much longer if Microsoft Update
> is the default update source. YMMV.
>
> To change the default from Microsoft Update to Windows Update:
>
> Go to Microsoft Update | Click on Change Settings in left pane | Scroll to
> bottom of page | To Stop Using Microsoft Update | Disable Microsoft Update
> software and let me use Windows Update only (check).
>
> With Windows Update as your default, you will need to check in at Office
> Update periodically to keep your Office applications fully patched:
> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/do...incatalog.aspx
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
>
>
> gfr121 wrote:
> > Thanks again for your time and efforts. I do have my machines set for
> > Automatic Updates and each morning when I boot up my desktop pc since SP3
> > the system creeps along until Auto Updates finishes looking for anything
> > new. This now takes over 5 minutes. It used to fly by and the yellow
> > shield
> > would pop up say for a Defender update and be gone in seconds. Then I
> > could
> > hear the hard drive set a restore point and all would be fine all in a
> > minute or so. As long as I am getting updated I'm happy. It's just when
> > things change that drastically it makes me wonder. Again thank you!
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> If your machine needs an updated ActiveX Control to use Windows Update
> >> *website*, you'd be prompted to install it when you went to the site and
> >> ran the initial scan for updates, Greg.
> >>
> >> If you keep your machine patched via Automatic Updates, you don't need
> >> any
> >> ActiveX Controls.
> >> --
> >> ~PA Bear
> >>
> >> gfr121 wrote:
> >>> Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but
> >>> both
> >>> of my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if my
> >>> systems may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for Windows
> >>> Update? As always any help is greatly appreciated.
> >>> Greg
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your default
> >>>> update source.
> >>>> --
> >>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> >>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> >>>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
> >>>>
> >>>> gfr121 wrote:
> >>>>> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08
> >>>>> Automatic
> >>>>> and
> >>>>> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU
> >>>>> cooling
> >>>>> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro)
> >>>>> isn't
> >>>>> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of time
> >>>>> to
> >>>>> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
>

YW & thanks for your feedback.

gfr121 wrote:
> Just wanted to let you know. I thought about but did not make any changes
> to
> my settings. It seems that everything is working fine again. I've tried
> Windows Update (Custom) 3 times and each time it took less than a minute
> to
> inform me no updates were available. I'm sure tomorrow morning Automatic
> Updates will function as it has in the past. Thank you very much for your
> time and suggestions, I'm very greatful.
>
> Greg
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> YW. Many find that Automatic Updates takes much longer if Microsoft
>> Update
>> is the default update source. YMMV.
>>
>> To change the default from Microsoft Update to Windows Update:
>>
>> Go to Microsoft Update | Click on Change Settings in left pane | Scroll
>> to
>> bottom of page | To Stop Using Microsoft Update | Disable Microsoft
>> Update
>> software and let me use Windows Update only (check).
>>
>> With Windows Update as your default, you will need to check in at Office
>> Update periodically to keep your Office applications fully patched:
>> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/do...incatalog.aspx
>> --
>> ~PA Bear
>>
>>
>>
>> gfr121 wrote:
>>> Thanks again for your time and efforts. I do have my machines set for
>>> Automatic Updates and each morning when I boot up my desktop pc since
>>> SP3
>>> the system creeps along until Auto Updates finishes looking for anything
>>> new. This now takes over 5 minutes. It used to fly by and the yellow
>>> shield
>>> would pop up say for a Defender update and be gone in seconds. Then I
>>> could
>>> hear the hard drive set a restore point and all would be fine all in a
>>> minute or so. As long as I am getting updated I'm happy. It's just when
>>> things change that drastically it makes me wonder. Again thank you!
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> If your machine needs an updated ActiveX Control to use Windows Update
>>>> *website*, you'd be prompted to install it when you went to the site
>>>> and
>>>> ran the initial scan for updates, Greg.
>>>>
>>>> If you keep your machine patched via Automatic Updates, you don't need
>>>> any
>>>> ActiveX Controls.
>>>> --
>>>> ~PA Bear
>>>>
>>>> gfr121 wrote:
>>>>> Thanks for the reply. I thought after a week things would improve but
>>>>> both
>>>>> of my pc's took around 45 minutes to get todays updates. Any idea if
>>>>> my
>>>>> systems may need an Active X upgrade or something like that for
>>>>> Windows
>>>>> Update? As always any help is greatly appreciated.
>>>>> Greg
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Excessive server demand, especially if Microsoft Update is your
>>>>>> default
>>>>>> update source.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>>>>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>>>>>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> gfr121 wrote:
>>>>>>> Ever since I installed SP3 on my desktop pc (XP Pro) on 5-6-08
>>>>>>> Automatic
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> Windows update are taking over seven minutes to complete. The CPU
>>>>>>> cooling
>>>>>>> fan runs like crazy while update is checking. My notebook (XP Pro)
>>>>>>> isn't
>>>>>>> having the same issue but it does seem to take a longer period of
>>>>>>> time
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> check and recieve updates. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much for this useful info. I had a similar problem with Microsoft Update but all is well now.