ASP.NET stops responding after executing a database query which is time consuming

[Administrator]

I have a asp.net webpage which has aroud 20 steps as hyperlink.

when start button is clicked, then step1 starts which does some operation in db and returns some value, based on that value i post the same page again to execute the next step. This continues untill the 20th step is executed. Now some steps, take lot of time to execute some queries(9 million row updates) in the database. So asp.net stops responding and do not continue to nect step eventhough the db operation for that step is completed.

I have tried increasing the executiontimeout property but the problem still exists.

Is there any way i can avoid this

any help appreciated.

Thanks
VSK