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You are here: Home / Tech Questions & Answers / Q&A: Why doesn’t Windows Update install all available updates at once?

Q&A: Why doesn’t Windows Update install all available updates at once?

Posted on June 24, 2013

windows-update-logoQuestion from Eric:  Rick, I have a question about Windows Update. I just got back from a business trip, and when I turned my PC on it had 11 updates waiting to be installed. After they were installed the computer rebooted, then informed me that there were 4 more updates that needed to be installed.

Why didn’t Windows Update just install all of the available updates at once? Just curious…It’s a hassle having to wait through two update procedures (and reboots) when it seems that one should have been sufficient. If it makes any difference, I have a Lenovo desktop PC running Windows 7.

Rick‘s answer:  Eric, the Windows Update process can be a real head-scratcher sometimes. There are a couple of possible reasons why the Windows Update process is sometimes split into two events: 

1 – One set of updates was downloaded to your PC (but not installed) right before you shut it down in preparation for your trip. After returning home you powered up the PC and installed the existing update files, then after the reboot Windows detected new updates that had been released after the first set was downloaded.

2 – Some updates are dependent upon certain previous updates already having been installed. If those dependency updates haven’t yet been installed when the later ones are made available for download, the later updates won’t be detected as “needed” by your PC. After the dependency updates have been installed, Windows Update will then “detect” the later ones and download them at that time.

I hope this helps Eric. Take care!


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