I. Introduction

• Brief definition of error code 0x80070091
• Impact of this error on users

II. Main Causes of Error 0x80070091

• Corrupted system files
• Misconfigured registry
• Conflicting applications
• Hard drive issues

III. How to Fix Error 0x80070091

• Run SFC scan
• Reset Windows Update components
• Uninstall recent updates
• Check hard drive for errors
• Repair registry issues
• Update or reinstall drivers

IV. Preventing Future Occurrences of 0x80070091

• Keep Windows updated
• Don’t install incompatible software
• Maintain your hard drives
• Backup system periodically

V. Conclusion

• Brief summary of error and fix
• Note about contacting Microsoft support

If you are a Windows user, you may have encountered the error code 0x80070091 when trying to install updates or run certain applications. This frustrating error essentially means that Windows was unable to correctly process files, leading to a failure in the requested operation.

The 0x80070091 error typically displays the message “Invalid argument/parameter” and prevents you from updating Windows, installing new programs, modifying settings, or even launching apps. Understandably, this error can significantly impact your productivity and user experience.

In this guide, we’ll cover the main causes of the 0x80070091 error code and the most effective solutions to resolve it on Windows 10 and Windows 11. By the end, you’ll be able to fix error 0x80070091 and prevent it from returning in the future.

What Triggers Error 0x80070091?

There are a few common culprits behind error code 0x80070091:

Corrupted System Files: The Windows system files can become corrupted over time, often due to invalid shutdowns, hard drive errors, or conflicting software installations. Damaged system files cause problems when Windows tries to access them.

Registry Issues: The Windows registry stores system configurations and settings. If these registry entries get corrupted or changed incorrectly, critical system processes may fail with error 0x80070091.

Incompatible Applications: Installing outdated or incompatible software can modify registry keys and system files incorrectly, leading to conflicts and errors. The 0x80070091 error often arises after installing problematic apps.

Hard Drive Problems: If your system drive is corrupted or damaged, Windows may be unable to correctly read/write crucial files, resulting in read/write errors like 0x80070091.

If any of the core Windows system files become inaccessible due to these issues, you’ll encounter the ambiguous 0x80070091 error. Now let’s look at the steps to resolve this error on your system.

How to Fix Error Code 0x80070091 on Windows

1. Run SFC and DISM Scans
   The System File Checker (SFC) scans Windows system files for corruption and replaces damaged files. You can run SFC scan to fix error 0x80070091 with these steps:

• Open the Command Prompt as admin
• Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter
• Restart your PC once the scan completes

You can also run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to repair system image files:

• Open Command Prompt as admin
• Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” and hit Enter
• Please await the completion of the scan before rebooting your computer.

These scans will replace corrupt system files that may be responsible for the 0x80070091 error.

2. Reset Windows Update Components
   As error 0x80070091 often occurs when installing updates, you can try resetting the Windows Update components to default settings:

• Open Command Prompt as admin
• Input the command “net stop wuauserv” and then press the Enter key.
• Following that, input “net stop cryptSvc” and then press the Enter key.
• Now type “net stop bits” and press Enter
• Lastly, enter “net stop msiserver” and then press the Enter key.

This will stop the Windows Update services. Now type the following commands (pressing Enter after each) to re-register the Windows Update files and folders:

• “Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old”
• “Ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old”

Restart your PC after running these commands. This should reset the Windows Update components and resolve any issues that were causing the 0x80070091 error.

3. Uninstall Recent Updates
   If the 0x80070091 error started appearing after a particular Windows update, uninstalling that latest update may fix the issue.

To uninstall updates:

• Navigate to Settings > Update & Security.
• Click on View Update History
• Select Uninstall Updates
• Find the latest update and select Uninstall
• Restart your computer once the update has been removed

This should undo any registry/system file changes made by the problematic update.

4. Check Hard Drive for Errors
   As mentioned before, hard drive corruption can also manifest as error code 0x80070091. It’s good practice to periodically scan your system drive for any logical or physical errors.

To scan for drive errors:

• Open Command Prompt as admin
• Input the following command: “CHKDSK C: /f,” and then proceed by pressing the Enter key.
• Type “Y” if prompted and let the scan run
• Restart your PC once it completes

This will scan drive C: and repair any bad sectors or file system errors. Consider replacing your hard drive if the scan reveals excessive drive damage/corruption.

5. Repair Registry Issues
   Corrupted registry files can also trigger error 0x80070091. You can use the SFC scan mentioned previously to automatically restore altered registry files.

Alternatively, you can manually re-register core .dll files using these Command Prompt commands (as admin):

• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\normaliz.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\softpub.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\wintrust.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\initpki.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\dssenh.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\rsaenh.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\gpkcsp.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\sccbase.dll
• regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\slbcsp.dll

Restart your PC once done for the changes to take effect.

6. Update or Reinstall Drivers
   Outdated and broken drivers can also sometimes trigger runtime error 0x80070091. It’s recommended to update your drivers to the latest available versions, especially for critical components like storage controllers, GPU, chipset etc.

You can update drivers automatically using Device Manager or manually from your hardware manufacturer’s website. Reinstalling problematic drivers can also help resolve driver-related issues causing this error.