Question : remote sql server update slow

I am using a remote sql server 2008 db on a cloud, and I can't run an update sql because it is so slow.  Reading is fast, and I can update a field with a where statement to an id value, but I just want to set the field to zero.  It just hangs running. After 5 minutes I canceled.

Is it something to do with locking?  The table is small, about 18k records, and I don't think anybody else is using it today.

I've tried the sql both from my desktop using Management studio and from a remote desktop session.

Answer : remote sql server update slow

The only logical explanation is:
Switch with "cases" is similar to an GOTO label, so when you b declaration and initialization has never happend for this program, I think it's printing rubbish from the memory, because there is no other explanation.

Try compiling it with BCC32(an ANSI C compiler).
You should give us the compiler you are using.