Windows Update takes too long to check for updates

Hi,

I recently upgraded to service pack 2 (Windows XP) and I am experiencing
some problems. When I try to check the windows update and choose either
custom or express the page shows that it is 'checking for the latest updates
for the computer' and it will do this in excess of 5 min before finally
showing what if any updates are available. Also this may or may not be
related but I purchased Age Of Empires 3 and when I try to play this
Microsoft based game it will proceed to load and it will also take upwards of
5 minutes before I can actually play the game. In both cases once the game
and the update page 'load' they work fine but this delay has to be some kind
of glitch.

My system is a P4 1.6Ghz 768MB Windows XP Home

Thanks