Can windows updates be throttled?

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Imanity

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Aug 3, 2013
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Hello,

I run a computer repair shop and I do fresh Windows installs (mostly 7)usually several times a week. With each fresh load I like to make sure all the windows updates are installed, all thousands of them. Years or even months ago they seemed to be found and downloaded much faster and lately they have been slowing down by an absolutely ridiculous amount. Sometimes I can go an entire night without finding any. Install
Speed is about the same. Everything else on my network works just fine. I was just wondering if it's a possibility that Microsoft has throttled my network for windows updates or if it's just something else entirely.
 
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firefoxx04
They could be, sure. Make sure you are installing with an up to date installer. I use Windows 7 + service pack installers. The old Win7 installer requires a ton more updates than one that already includes them.

Also, if you are installing onto similar systems, make an image of of after the updates and just copy the image over. Much faster workflow.


All that said, Windows update is the single worst piece of software I have ever used. I was in charge of imaging a large amount of laptops, all that were IDENTICAL. some took less than a day to complete updates while others ran into errors and took several days. Same laptop, same updates, completely different results. Imagine really saves hassle.
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They could be, sure. Make sure you are installing with an up to date installer. I use Windows 7 + service pack installers. The old Win7 installer requires a ton more updates than one that already includes them.

Also, if you are installing onto similar systems, make an image of of after the updates and just copy the image over. Much faster workflow.


All that said, Windows update is the single worst piece of software I have ever used. I was in charge of imaging a large amount of laptops, all that were IDENTICAL. some took less than a day to complete updates while others ran into errors and took several days. Same laptop, same updates, completely different results. Imagine really saves hassle.
 
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Solution
Making an image of the end result really is a good idea, can't believe I never thought of that. I'll definitely make one. I was aware that Windows update was always unnecessarily difficult to use but it was even more so lately is all. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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Probably not Microsoft, probably your ISP. They like to throttle from update servers. Drives me nuts. But I get it when thousands of computers on their network are all updating at once. Try updating at other times of the day (off peak hours) and see if you have a different experience.
 
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for me its been really hit or miss sometimes they zip right in sometimes they seem to take days to get them all or to just search ??

traffic and server load must come in to play at times then like I said 10 is there priority now they don't want you on nothing else [why all the strong arm tactics and tricks and all to get you to ''upgrade'' ] ..
no conspiracy just a plain fact and not hard to see

Microsoft is pissed cause no one wants 10 so they making everything else miserable .... lol
 
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I would only trust this if the machines are identical.

But look, an IT admin doing this for potentially thousands of machines are not doing it one at a time, am sure there is an "enterprise" method of download once and deploy to all kind of thing, may wanna ask the IT PROS section.
 
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Correct. We use SCCM for our imaging of windows machines (and Casper for Macs). The image must match the machine to guarantee the reliability of the install.

Thousands at a time might be pushing it for me, but I do 16 or so at a time.
 
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The OP is right. I have done a dozen fresh installs of windows 7 over the last ten months. The updates have become painfully slow and problematic. Furthermore, we see people on this board, all the time, making the same complaint.

I think this has moved beyond a simple conspiracy theory. I have seen enough of it with my own eyes to be absolutely convinced. I have to do another fresh 7 install this week. I can almost guarantee I will have this same issue.
 
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I don't want to disagree with you, but can you be certain it's Microsoft's update servers and not your own ISP? It doesn't change the problem, but it does put the issue back to the ISP a bit and definitely not unheard of.
 
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Yes, I can. This problem has extended over four locations, three different ISP's, and a mix of fresh installs, older installs, different update settings, different install media, etc. I have ruled every other possibility I can think of except ms server side issues of some sort of unidentified bug in the update client.

Also, the problem is windows 7 only. XP , Vista, 8, and 10 have also seen their share of work, including a fresh XP install on a clients very old laptop. No problems at all with any of them.
 
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Microsoft use a CDN for most of their updates. When I do Window's updates, it goes to a local CDN in my ISP that is 1ms away from me. I get my full speed every time. If your ISP has a non-optimal path to the CDNs, you may not get your full rate.
 
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