Slow Windows update

On my Main computer when I click on windows update in Internet Explorer and choose 'Custom' it takes 12+ minutes to even find any. (This is an AMD Athlon 1.80 GHZ with 768 RAM).
My other computer sharing the same DSL provider on a router finds them in
less than a minute. (This is a Celeron 2.49 GHZ with 512 RAM).

Any ideas why the Main computer is so slow? confused

 

Do you have Automatic updates turned on? If so it can really screw w/ the update process. If it is on, it may have files already d/l that need to be installed. If on, turn of and try again after reboot. Also you could try cleaning up your temp / history / and other disposable files that add clutter to your system and can make automated processes take longer. Also, if you have any type of firewall software it could be blocking the windows updater from running correctly.

If you have XP is it activated? If not run your activation. That can screw w/ updates as well.

What OS do you have? If older than 2k you may have luck w/ updates, or you might have to d/l them manually.

Which update pack is it. Are you moving to SP2? Or do you have SP2 and are trying to do the 80 some files after SP2?

 

Thanks for your response.
I have XP Home 2002 with SP2. I do not have Auto updates turned on.
I prefer Manual updating.
I Do have PcCillin for internet security but I also have this on the other computer which is fine in this area.
I may have to check activation. But I thought I did this when I installed
the XP OS.
I'm not quite sure how to check for activation though.

 

I checked and Windows is activated.

 

Have you done the major set of updates after SP2? If you have IE7 then most likely you have.

If not, it may take a while to gather them all together for you. I believe there is a set of 80 updates after you install xp w/ sp2. And then a few straglers after that.

What happens if you turn off your PcCillian stuff? It is possible that it is seeing the windows updater as an intrusion. I know your other computer doesn't but you may have told it to allow all traffic w/ windows updater.

You could also go into MSCONFIG and turn off all your startup stuff that you don't need , Temporarily of course.

It could also be spyware/malware/virus that is causing this to happen.

Does the update process timeout w/ an error on the page, or does it just sit and say it is searching for updates after you click custom?

 

There is no time out error. I just see the green bars going from left to right.
It eventually comes up but usually at 12 min. later which is weird.
I have ie7 and have performed all the latest updates.
I keep my startup items to a minimum. But I haven't tried to disable PcCillin.
Maybe I will try House Call to see if it reveals a virus.