Is windows update supposed to be so buggy?

[Kookas]

If not, is it fixed in Windows 10?

On both my Dell laptop and my custom built gaming desktop, I have no end of problems with it getting stuck Preparing to install, Downloading updates, or even just stuck with the spinning circles without it actually showing anything.

I can literally guarantee every single time I try to update either of my computers it will hang somewhere.

It is, with no hyperbole at all, the worst update system I have ever used.

Other software updates without a hitch. IntelliJ IDE? Just watch a download bar fill up, never goes wrong. Notepad++? Again, a download bar and an install process. Never ever has it failed me. Chrome? I don't even realise it's updating. Steam and its games. Android phones may not be as reliable at having the latest version, but at least when they update it actually updates. And those aren't minor patches like Windows Update gives.

I could go on.

And yet, the most vital piece of software a computer can have is this buggy?

 

[USAFRet]

I can literally guarantee every single time I try to update either of my computers it will hang somewhere.

And by comparison, none of my systems, either Win 7 or 8.1, seem to have that issue.

(Running the updates on a brand new Win 7 install right now.)

 

[McHenryB]

It is years since I had any problems with Windows Updates. It is an extremely reliable system. There used to be a few problems in the early days but now it is as good as the methods used to patch any other OS. Indeed the last update I did on an Android device killed it to the extent that I had to buy a replacement (this appears to be a well-known experience, which just makes it more annoying).

It sounds to me as if there is some problem with the configuration of your computers as your experience is not typical.

 

[skit75]

There are .Net framework SP updates that seem to have the appearance nothing is happening. If you look a little deeper, there will plenty of HDD I/O activity in the background. You just have to sit it out. Also and this is a big one that has helped me in the past, I will allow IE to be the default browser for updates and then switch back to one of my other browsers when updating is finished. You'd be surprised how many times that has worked for me but there is no getting around the lack of communication in a .Net Framework update.

 

[Joseph DeGarmo]

I've been having issues with random network connectivity drops recently and it's been happening since installing the June updates. I restored the May 2015 disk image and turned off automatic updates. I will be monitoring the situation very closely for the next two weeks. I performed a full system virus and malware scan and nothing was found. I'm suspecting a bad Windows update since one of my co-workers is having the same issue and another one is fine since he did not install the June updates.

 

[Kookas]

It is years since I had any problems with Windows Updates. It is an extremely reliable system. There used to be a few problems in the early days but now it is as good as the methods used to patch any other OS. Indeed the last update I did on an Android device killed it to the extent that I had to buy a replacement (this appears to be a well-known experience, which just makes it more annoying).

It sounds to me as if there is some problem with the configuration of your computers as your experience is not typical.

Maybe, but these are two vastly different hardware configurations, and the laptop has a low tier of Windows 8.1 (Home?) whilst the desktop is running the Pro version. The laptop, everything was preinstalled by some professionals, and on the desktop, I installed everything. So it's just weird that both regularly give me grief with the update system.

That is a good point about the .NET ones though if so. I just find it's not a case of, click "Update now" and see the download bar and then the installing bar fill up and not knowing if it's working or not is frustrating.

 

[skit75]

The Windows Update indicator reminds me of Groundhog Day, without Sonny & Cher.