Windows 2000 Updates

Is it just me or has it gotten pretty much next to impossible to get Windows 2000 updates? No matter what type of computer I am using, whether I am using Windows 2k Server or Professional, running Windows Update is, at best, VERY SLOW. I have a pre-service pack 4 Windows 2K server disc. I updated fine to SP4 and IE 6. It went fine up to that point. After that, however, it is VERY slow. I am talking about twenty to thirty minutes to get anywhere. Is my experience here abnormal or not? Right now, I am starting to wonder if Windows 2000 is a viable OS for me any longer. Relying purely on AV to protect me would not be cool. Anybody else encountering this?

 

You could try using WindizUpdate instead.

 

What do you mean, "twenty to thirty minutes to get anywhere"? Are you talking about waiting at the Windows Update site for 30 minutes?

You do know that W2K is in the extended support phase, right?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/extendedsupport.mspx

 

I do understand that. The thing is that I should still be able to download updates. When I saw ten to thirty minutes, I mean from clicking either the custom or the Express method, the updates do not start. What I am wondering is if it is something I am doing wrong or if there is truly a problem with Windows Update for 2000. It is in extended support, but that does not mean that you shouldn't be able to download updates.

 

w2k professional - ffrc3/ie6 -
update via start menu or within ie6 = normal, may be few minutes
wireless via router/cable modem

was ur problem at any specific time/day?

cheers ...

 

No particular time of day. It just seems that, after updating to SP4 and IE6, it will not update. It is not like it is restricting the ActiveX control. It never gives any errror messages. It just sits there, the green indicator scrolling, but never giving me a list of updates or anything. Very frustrating. I have XP systems that have no problem. The thing that bugs me is that it is not just one PC, it is every Windows 2000 system I have tried. I must be doing something wrong. Thanks for your responses.

 

m i to understand that this is a w2k network that u r working on?
if that is so, i recommend u make a roll back to sp3 - w2k sp4 server/net is nothing but problem
or
take a good look into ur dns records (dns domaine controller) and eventually see if u have KB 300684 fix from microsoft

cheers ...

 

do you have Automatic Updates / BITS on in Services?

you might also want to try manual updates from TechNet.

 

That's definitely odd. I've used W2K and Server 2000 and haven't had any issues with updating after applying SP4 and IE6. Have you tried downloading a fresh copy of SP4 and Update Rollup 1?

 

i didnt think they made updates for 2000 anymore

 

It has been particularly strange in that these are fresh installs(in other words, I have just installed Windows 2000 from scratch) and have little more than the OS installed. In other words, no Office software or programs. The first updates seemed to work fine the last time. After I did SP4 and installed IE6 Service Pack 1, that was when the problem seems to start. At least, that was what I learned the last time I tried. I have been thinking it has something to do with the new Genuine Advantage program somehow throwing a monkey wrench into the process. There must be something I am missing or something. I will try again sometime soon. I will try Windizupdate if that doesn't work. The thing is that Windows XP poses none of these problems for me.

 

Have you installed the Update Rollup 1? Download the package from Microsoft and install it after SP4 and IE6.

 

Well, this is what I ended up doing. I downloaded most of the updates that I wanted (non-security). These included the .NET and directX. After upgrading to IE 6 SP1, I installed all these. Then I ran Windows Update. While it took longer than it does for XP, or what I remembered way back when I did this often, it went through each time just fine. It probably has something to do with needing something that these updates fix. When I try the Windows 2000 Server, I will basically do the same thing. I will then see if it fixes the problem. It has been so weird. One other thing I did differently. I usually turn off Automatic Updates (I prefer to go for the updates myself). This time I left them on. Maybe that was what fixed it. I am not sure. Whatever the reason, I now have a fully updated PC. Thanks for your ideas.

 

You'll save a lot of time if you get the update rollup and install after installing SP4.

 

Win 2k isn't an obsolete OS yet, they would still have updates for it until it's obsolete. Windows 98 is now obsolete, and has been since July, so there is no more updates for it.