Server 2022 updates very slow, seems like we are back to Server 2016 update slowness

Question

Just installed the 21H2 update to Server 2022 and its been stuck on 100% now for over 30 minutes or more.

What is it with Windows updates.

Answer 1

Hello  Nick Franklin (nick)，

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

Experiencing slow updates on Windows Server 2022 can be frustrating, especially when it seems reminiscent of the issues seen with Server 2016. Here are several potential steps and solutions you can consider to address this issue:

Check System Resources

Ensure that your server has adequate CPU, RAM, and disk I/O performance. Sometimes, high resource utilization can slow down the update process.

Verify Network Connectivity

Slow or unstable network connectivity can delay downloading updates. Check your network settings, and ensure you're not experiencing any latency or packet loss.

Pause and Resume Updates

Sometimes pausing and then resuming updates can force the system to restart the update process.

• Go to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Windows Update” and select “Pause updates for 7 days”.
• Restart the server.
• Resume updates.

Clear Windows Update Cache

Corrupted Windows Update cache can cause updates to hang. Clearing the cache might resolve the issue.

1. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the following commands:

   
       net stop wuauserv 
   
       net stop bits 
   
   

3. Navigate to the SoftwareDistribution folder:

   
       cd %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution 
   
   

4. Delete the contents of the folder:

   
       del /f /s /q Download 
   
       del /f /s /q DataStore 
   
   

5. Restart the services:

   
       net start wuauserv 
   
       net start bits 
   
   

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows provides a troubleshooting tool that can automatically identify and fix problems with Windows Update.

• Go to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Troubleshoot” > “Additional troubleshooters”.
• Select ”Windows Update“ and then ”Run the troubleshooter“.

Check for Disk Errors

Use the Check Disk utility to scan for and fix disk errors that could interfere with updates.

1. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the following command:

   
       chkdsk /f /r 
   
   

Install Updates Manually

If automatic updates are problematic, you can download the update manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it.

Perform a Clean Boot

Sometimes third-party software can interfere with the update process. Perform a clean boot to see if that resolves the issue.

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. In the System Configuration window, go to the ”Services“ tab.
3. Check ”Hide all Microsoft services“ and click ”Disable all“.
4. Go to the ”Startup“ tab and click ”Open Task Manager“.
5. Disable all startup items.
6. Restart your computer and try updating again.

Review Event Logs

Check the Event Viewer for any specific errors or warnings related to the update process.

• Go to ”Event Viewer“ > ”Windows Logs“ > ”System and Application“.

Update Windows Update Agent

Make sure you are using the latest version of the Windows Update Agent.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Haijian Shan