Windows 7: Are Windows Updates slowing down my computer?

Here's the issue. I had Windows7 reinstalled on my computer(Compaq presario CQ62) after a hard disk failure. Before I started installing the updates my computer functioned much faster. Now it takes forever for it to shut down. Is there a folder somewhere in Windows 7 that stores all these old updates that I can clear out? Is there another way to speed it up? BTW I have a registry cleaner, anti-virus and defrag whenever necessary.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone may be able to give.

It is actually more recommended that you have the windows updates. Make sure you get installed all of the IMPORTANT windows updates because some are even your drivers.

I would not remove Windows 7 updates.
I would not use registry cleaners
I would take a look here

Optimize Windows 7[2]=Performance%20Maintenance

For interest, please post an MGADiag report - I suspect it may show what the problem is...

we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool
(download and save to desktop - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 )
Once saved, run the tool.
Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.
To copy the report to your response, click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages at this point), and then paste (using either r-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.

what about TweakGuides.com - The TweakGuides Tweaking Companion

After completing NoelDP request post #4 I would remove it or any thing like it.

I seem to have found a solution. It seems as though removing a bunch of junk files from browsing in addition to doing a dns flush seemed to do the trick.

NoelDP I will still download the tool to see what is going on under the hood. Will take your advice too Layback Bear. Just want to give another response to your suggestions and thanx a lot for your help.