System Restore fails: AppxStaging %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApp 0x80070091

glivo · 25 Feb 2017

Please note, as I found out, the first and last quotation marks on each command are not entered at the prompt. Also note that Program Files has a space whereas WindowsApps does not. I have 'fixed' this up a bit from the original as the original post to me on the other site ended up wit ha few syntax errors that I had to deal with along the way. This should work. Get rid of emoticons. If I put a space in the syntax is wrong.
Here is the method as suggested: (some spacing fixed)
1-Boot into safe mode;
2-Right click on the start button, left click on "run prompt as admin" or something;
3-type " takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d Y"
4-type " icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant "%USERDOMAIN%\%USERNAME%"F) /t " and press enter;
5- type "rd /s "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" if you want to delete the folder or either "rename "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps(old)" " if you prefer to rename it;

Note:
rename command did not work for me with that syntax or any variation that I tried.
dir /w command did not show the directory but I was able to delete it using the command suggested here.

skeetz · 25 Feb 2017

I'm having the same problem, neither the rename or delete cmd are working for me...I get access denied or
syntax is wrong could somebody repost those here how to rename or delete the windowsapp folder

Now I get this

C:\Windows\system32>RD /S C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
C:\Program, Are you sure (Y/N)? y
The system cannot find the file specified.

It's in there I see it any ideas ?

KAVANAVAK · 25 Feb 2017

skeetz said:

C:\Windows\system32>RD /S C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
C:\Program, Are you sure (Y/N)? y
The system cannot find the file specified.

are you missing the quotes around C:\program ...
** rd /s "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" **

Or rename with
Code:
rename "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps(old)"

skeetz · 25 Feb 2017

Thanks Kavanavak...that's probably it...gonna go try again now

Results.....

takeown /f "%ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps" /a /r /d y

ALL FOLDERS HAD SUCCESS

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_2019.17012.10301.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppxMetadata\AppxBu ndleManifest.xml" now owned by the administrators group.

C:\Windows\system32>icacls "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" /grant administrators:F /t
Successfully processed 0 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>rd /s "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps"
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, Are you sure (Y/N)?Y

ALL FOLDERS CAME UP ACCESS IS DENIED
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\MIBCF2~1.0_N\AppxSignature.p7x - Access is denied.

C:\Windows\system32>rename "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps(old)"
The syntax of the command is incorrect.

Frustrating...now what ?

glivo · 25 Feb 2017

Step 3: I did not have the /a switch in my takeown command line at step 3. This should take a little while to run. /a gives ownership to Administrators Group. You don't want this. You want to Take Ownership for the profile you are presently using in order to be able to rename or remove it. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/...(v=ws.11).aspx

Step 4: icacls should then report back that "Successfully processed xxxxxx files. Failed to process 0 files"

Step 5: use rd to remove the directory as rename doesn't work here for some reason.

Where the stupid emoticon is should read " : ( F ) with no spaces between.

lx07 · 25 Feb 2017

glivo said:

Where the stupid emoticon is should read " : ( F ) with no spaces between.

This forum (and many others) does that which is very annoying especially if you are trying to be precise.

Best to put tags around things: If not :(F) looks like F) as the assumption is the colon and the open bracket is a sad face.

You can put [NOPARSE]whatever:(F)[/NOPARSE] which comes out as whatever:(F)
or
[CODE]whatever:(F)[/CODE] which comes out like this

Code:

whatever:(F)

There are some buttons in the top right of the reply window that will do it for you - you can hover your mouse over them to find which. [CODE] looks like a # and [NOPARSE] looks like a flat battery with a warning sign.

I agree with your reply though

glivo · 25 Feb 2017

Got it. :) I actually did the initial post in "quick reply" box. I was in a hurry to go out last night and didn't realise the emoticon was there till this morning. :)
Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

skeetz · 25 Feb 2017

Thank you all for your help....back to the drawing board

Well here are my results...

takeown /f "%ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps" /r /d y ran well came back with
success for ever folder

C:\Windows\system32>icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant PAS/skeetz:F /t
PAS/skeetz: No mapping between account names and security IDs was done.
Successfully processed 0 files; Failed processing 1 files

C:\Windows\system32>rd "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps"
The directory is not empty.

SimonFastEddy · 25 Feb 2017

Hello everyone. You are geting beyond me, I don't understand command prompt syntax!

It could be faster to throw the software away. At least that was until this week, when I did a fresh custom install of Windows 10 32 bit Home, from the Media Creation Tool, with very limited third party applications: Firefox, Windows Live Mail, Foxit Reader, VLC Media Player, Belarc Advisor, CCleaner, SmartDefrag5 and VTUploader. No cleaning, registry work or defragmenting done.

Result of a System Restore test: The AppxStaging fault is there.

Question: Is this fault on Pro as well as Home versions? Is it on the MCT trialware but not on the paid version? Is it on the 64bit as well as the 32bit software? I am looking for a commercial cause for it's absence.
Etiology unknown....

Good luck everbody,
From Simon.

glivo · 25 Feb 2017

I had the problem with Windows 10 Pro 64 bit.

I've fixed this up a bit so make sure you do exactly as it says. Pay attention to spaces and no spaces. If something doesn't work check spaces.

Print this out if you don't have a second device to refer to during the process.

If your worried about it do a backup.

1-Boot into safe mode;

2-Right click on the start button, left click on Command Prompt (Admin)
Window will appear with a Command Prompt ending with >

3-Keyboard: takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d Y
Press Enter. Wait for it to finish and go back to Command Prompt>

4-Keyboard: [I]icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant "%USERDOMAIN%\%USERNAME%":(F) /t[/I]
Press Enter. You will get a message: Successfully processed xxxxx files: Failed to process 0 files

5- Keyboard: rd /s "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps"
Press Enter. It will ask you to confirm. Yes. This will delete the folder. OR
rename "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps(old)"
if you prefer to rename it. I found that the rename option didn't work.

6- Now Reboot your computer and System Restore should work.

So you understand what is going on.

Step 3: As the current user, you are taking Ownership of the \WindowsApps directory and everything in it.

Step 4: You are granting the current user Full Control over that directory.

Step 5: You are deleting the directory and everything in it.