Error message when you try to install a Windows update, a hotfix, or a service pack after you perform System Restore in Windows Vista: "0x80071A91"

After you perform System Restore in Windows Vista, you cannot install a Windows update, a hotfix, or a service pack. Additionally, you may receive the following error message:

This problem occurs because, after the System Restore is performed, the Common Log File System (CLFS) transaction logs may be left in an inconsistent state. When the CLFS transaction logs are in an inconsistent state, you may experience the problems that are described in the "Symptoms" section.

To resolve this problem, delete the .blf files and the .regtrans-ms files from the %Windir%\System32\SMI\Store\Machine folder.

To have us fix this problem for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.




Notes

• This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
• If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Then, go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me fix it myself

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log on as an administrator.
2. Click Start
   , type cmd in the Start Search box, right-click cmd.exe in the Programs list, click Run as administrator, and then click Continue.
3. At the command prompt, type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command.
   cd /d %SystemRoot%\System32\SMI\Store\Machine
   attrib -s -h *
   del *.blf
   del *.regtrans-ms
4. Restart the computer.

After you restart the computer, the registry regenerates the deleted files. These regenerated files are in a consistent state.

Did this fix the problem?

• Check whether the problem is fixed. If the problem is fixed, you are finished with this section. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact support.
• We would appreciate your feedback. To provide feedback or to report any issues with this solution, please leave a comment on the "Fix it for me" blog or send us an email.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: