Windows 7 - Windows Update failing - Error code 80071A91

I have a Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit installation where Windows Update has stopped working for no apparent reason.

6 new important updates are listed as available. No matter whether I try to install all of them or just a subset, it always goes like so:

1. Updates are being downloaded.
2. One update after the other is reported as being installed. ("Update x of n is being installed ...")
3. After the last update has been "installed", the Windows Update icon turns red and it is stated that none of the updates were installed. (I.e. if I tried to install 6 updates, it says "6 updates failed to install.". An error code of 80071A91 is reported.

When googling for this error code, I found advice to delete files in %windir%\system32\config\txr and %windir%\system32\SMI\Store\Machine. Unfortunately, this didn't help.

What can I do? Any log file I can check?

4 Answers

How-to reset the File System Resource Manager if you receive error 0x80071A91

1. Click Start click All Programs click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt window you will need to type the following: fsutil resource setautoreset true C:\ and press ENTER

3. Note: You will need to replace the C:\ with the drive letter that Windows 7 is installed on.

4. Restart your computer, and then attempt to install the failed update(s).

As always you can try the Microsoft FixIt Tool.

Try installing them one at a time, starting with the oldest (lowest numbered). Sometimes updates can conflict, both trying to update the same files, causing them to fail.

Another possible strategy is suggested by dockster in sevenforums:

1) Turn Windows Features On/Off --> Uncheck .Net Framework 3.5
2) Run Windows Update Reset Tool (Fix it) [Check "Aggressive Mode"] Article
3) Run .Net Cleanup Tool Article
4) In an elevated command prompt, execute (Article): 1. Bring up an elevated (Administrator) command prompt 2. Execute the following commands sequentially: a. fsutil resource setautoreset true c:\ b. cd %windir%\system32\config\txr c. attrib -r -s -h * d. del * 3.Type: Cd c:\windows\System32\SMI\Store\Machine Type: Attrib –a –h –s *.TM* Type: Del *.TM* *** You may get access denied errors -- its ok for now ***
5) Restart in Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Redo the steps above in BOLD. Some files still will not delete. That's fine.
6) Restart in Normal Mode - run windows update with success.

I was just having that error in my Win 7, no amount of resetting things fixed it.

I ran the FSUTIL command above. Then I read the explanation above of what that command does. So I figured I'd also run a CHKDSK, and that actually found some corrupt attributes and restored a few orphaned files.

Then I ran Windows Update again and the two remaining updates completed. So for me either the FSUTIL or the CHKDSK repaired me.