Windows Update giving error code 80071A91

[Troy6]

It sounds like your user profile may have been corrupted and Windows is trying to use the system account's profile.

 

[mavil3]

I tried finding the "report" that an error check is supposed to make, but couldn't find anything...
I got this though:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\windows\system32>chkdsk
The type of the file system is NTFS.
WARNING! F parameter not specified.
Running CHKDSK in read-only mode.
CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 3)...
268544 file records processed.
File verification completed.
647 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.
0 EA records processed.
61 reparse records processed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)...
335026 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned.
0 unindexed files recovered.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 3)...
268544 file SDs/SIDs processed.
Security descriptor verification completed.
33242 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
34973520 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.
242221055 KB total disk space.
160454800 KB in 180040 files.
104520 KB in 33243 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
378083 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
81283652 KB available on disk.
4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
60555263 total allocation units on disk.
20320913 allocation units available on disk.

Not sure if that helps at all...

 

[NoelDP]

Slightly - but it didn't run the full disk scan, which we need.

try this set of instructions....


Click on Start > All Programs > Accessories

Right-click on the Command Prompt entry

Select Run as Administrator and accept the UAC prompt - the Elevated Command Prompt window should pop up.



At the Command prompt, type



CHKDSK C: /R



and hit the Enter key.

You will be told that the drive is locked,

and the CHKDSK will run at the next boot - hit the Y key, press Enter, and then reboot.



The CHKDSK will take a few hours depending on the size of the drive,so be patient!



After the CHKDSK has run, Windows should boot normally (possibly after a second auto-reboot) -

Now go into Event Viewer and open the Windows > Application Log
Filter the log on Event Source 'Wininit'
and you should see all the CHKDSK results listed there - copy the latest to your reply.

 

[mavil3]

I had done one at noon (my noon), just didn't know how to find the results...
This one is from 10/31/13 @ 12:05 PM

　
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.
CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)...
268544 file records processed. File verification completed.
647 large file records processed. 0 bad file records processed. 0 EA records processed. 61 reparse records processed. CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 5)...
335024 index entries processed. Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned. 0 unindexed files recovered. CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 5)...
268544 file SDs/SIDs processed. Cleaning up 9 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 9 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 9 unused security descriptors.
Security descriptor verification completed.
33241 data files processed. CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
33571304 USN bytes processed. Usn Journal verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
268528 files processed. File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
20599923 free clusters processed. Free space verification is complete.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.
242221055 KB total disk space.
159339816 KB in 179998 files.
104492 KB in 33242 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
377055 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
82399692 KB available on disk.
4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
60555263 total allocation units on disk.
20599923 allocation units available on disk.
Internal Info:
00 19 04 00 03 41 03 00 65 fb 05 00 00 00 00 00 .....A..e.......
a7 07 00 00 3d 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ....=...........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.

 

[NoelDP]

In that case the disk at least should be fine
The main thing to look for is the 'Bad sector' count - even 4KB there is a potential sign of a failing disk (it's in multiple of 4KB for most drives, as that's the default sector size in most disks).

 

[mavil3]

So if it looks fine, what kind of problem might I be looking at : corrupt registry/files related or malware/virus related?
aaaand, will a clean install take care of either issue?

 

[Troy6]

A couple things I'm not clear on...

Is that chkdsk log entry the one that you performed just prior to booting to the black screen? If so, then it is extremely unlikely that running chkdsk caused the black screen.

Have you done a full scan for bad sectors?

It could be a virus causing both issues. I'm no expert at determining if a system is infected, but that is my guess. A clean install would solve both problems (virus, and updates failing.) Maybe Noel has some more ideas...

 

[mavil3]

The log I posted is not from the chkdsk performed before the black screen. The log is from the chkdsk Noel asked me to do after I posted the black screen occurance.

 

[Troy6]

Do you see the chkdsk results from the run just prior to the black screen in the application log? That is the most interesting run.

 

[mavil3]

I think I just want to do a Clean Install.

I found two discs that came with my computer when I bought it.
Are these the ones I would use for a Clean Install?
One says "System Recovery Media" and the other "Samsung RV520-W01 Recovery Drivers & Apps".

I have my Windows 7 Product Key on the underside of my computer; is there anything I have to do to be able to use that key? I mean, I don't want to get an error that says the product key is not valid (because it's in use, or what not).

 

[NoelDP]

You shouldn't need your own Key to use the Samsung disk - it has its own. If the system does ask for the Key use the one on your COA sticker.
Once the system is installed it shouldn't have any problems activating - and you will have 30days in which to fix it if it does anyhow

Using that disk will revert the system to the same state it was in when you bought the machine