it depends on the way you install the updates. My Installer is always fast. But the users who install with WindowsUpdate are in trouble. I've installed a fresh Win7 with Sp1 included and I had to install nearly 100 updates. This took some time. Imagine how long it takes in 2018 when you have to install 500 Updates :realmad: And for Win8, here you can now remove all replaced updates: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/153742-dism-improvements-in-windows-8/page__view__findpost__p__1015509 So the WinSxS folder NO longer grows that much.