Error Message from Hotfix.exe: the Fix Is Already Installed (165709)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

You may receive the following error message when you attempt to reapply a hotfix that is more recent than the service pack after you reapply the service pack:

Hotfix: The fix is already installed.
Hotfix: Internal consistency error: Invalid Tree pointer = <garbage characters displayed>.

If you then try to remove the hotfix by using the /R switch, you may receive the following error message:

Hotfix: Fix <"hotfix name"> was not removed.

CAUSE

Hotfix.exe checks the Hotfix key in the registry to determine if the hotfix being applied has already been installed.

When you remove a hotfix using the /R switch, Hotfix.exe checks the New Link Date key stored in the Hotfix key in the registry. If the link date of the current file listed in the New File key is older than the date contained in the New Link Date key, then Hotfix.exe does not remove the file and replace it with the original file stored in the %SystemRoot%\Hotfix folder on your hard disk.

RESOLUTION

When you apply a hotfix, Hotfix.exe adds a registry value that indicates the hotfix has been applied. Perform the following steps to successfully reapply the hotfix after reapplying the service pack:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

Run Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), and go to the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\Hotf

NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.
Select the hotfix key you wish to delete, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
Reinstall all applicable hotfixes.