Why do Windows updates take so long

I use Windows for work (I have a laptop which belongs to the firm). When it is update time, I often wonder how the world copes. It is utterly amazing how much time it takes to apply a Windows update when compared to, say, a Linux update.

What exactly is going on behind the scenes during a Windows update? Is it taking time because it wants to show me that impressive ‘spinner’ animation? No, it’s probably not that at all. So why is a Windows update so slow?

On my Linux desktop, I enter the command sudo apt update -qq && apt list --upgradable and then sudo apt upgrade and in about 120 seconds average, it’s over. And that’s kernel upgrades; the other stuff is much, much quicker than 2 minutes.

I ventured a Google for this one. There are many theories, ranging from it’s an issue with your Internet speed to your hard drive is getting old and every other ridiculous explanation in between. There were some good plausible explanations such as the Windows updates are structured in such a way so they can roll back cleanly if the update process fails. OK, that one makes more sense.

We do not have that roll-back luxury on Linux. We want to upgrade a package? Sure! It breaks something? It probably won’t but if it does, you’re on your own. You don’t know how to roll back a bad kernel? Oh, that’s a pity. Linux won’t do it for you… that’s what Internet forums are for, mate.

Average Jills and Joes cannot be bothered with all that, I’m guessing. They just want to let the system update on its own and probably do not mind so much watching that beautiful spinner animation. I wonder how long it took to make that and how many meetings there were at Microsoft to discuss its design?

Heaven knows they needed something really good to distract users while they wait for the OS to complete the update process.