Re:Ask HN: Why are Microsoft software installations so slow?
by stephengillie on Saturday April 21, 2018 @11:13PM
(#16894533)
Some updates are modifying "side-by-side" files. The Windows SxS system allows for multiple versions of the same DLL to live in the OS, so programs can get the version they need. And analyzing which DLLs need to be duplicated is I/O limited.
One of the other issues is the Windows Update model, where some updates "unlock" other updates. You start with a fresh Server 2008 R2 install, it takes ~130 updates. 1 of those is the SP1 upgrade, which unlocks another ~130 updates. Another is SP2, unlocking another ~60. A third is a .NET version upgrade, which unlocks another 10 updates.
One of the other issues is the Windows Update model, where some updates "unlock" other updates. You start with a fresh Server 2008 R2 install, it takes ~130 updates. 1 of those is the SP1 upgrade, which unlocks another ~130 updates. Another is SP2, unlocking another ~60. A third is a .NET version upgrade, which unlocks another 10 updates.