Resolved Updates are good for us but!

I know Windows OS Updates are good for us and are there because flaws or faults have been found that need fixing. However, the current batch of updates is proving to be a right pain.

I look after a school network where we have Server 2008 and a mix of XP Pro and Windows 7 Pro Clients.

We are running the Windows Server Update Services.

Last Tuesday I found that the DC had installed it's updated but needed a restart. The first chance I had to carry out the restart was on Friday.

Post the restart - which was dreadfully slow, I noticed the Install Updates and Shutdown icon had popped up and it seemed to have only completed stage 1 of 3. So I let it do just that. It took an age and again asked for a restart. Did this and this time again awfully slow and it seemed to go straight to stage 3 of 3.

The whole process took over an hour. Luckily I was the only on in the school as we had closed due to the snow. I thought MS told us with Server 2008 the big advantage was the need for less restarts! A bit of warning would have been well handy in this particular instance as had I done my usual and come in half an hour early to carry out the restart I'd have been lynched by the staff when they tried to access their work when they came in and found the server was still down.

We also experience problems with Update for Root Certificates [August 2010] (KB931125) on XP Clients, it pops up as needed and on shut down appears to install but on reboot it's still asking to be installed.