Deleted WindowsApps folder and now I cant boot!

I tried deleting (after copying it to another location) the %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps folder in order to perform a system restore. The restore point gave me an WindowsApps error, so I searched the internet and found several workarounds consisting on deleting or renaming that folder.


It seemed a bit weird as I understand that folder is necessary for the normal use of the PC. But anyway, I did a copy and deleted the original after changing some permissions (I tried renaming or moving it but it would always gave my "file in use" error).


Then I tried to boot and try the restore point again but now I get a black screen at boot, with the cursor with the spinning circle as if the PC were doing some thinking.


And no, I don't want to format, thanks :)


I do have access to other PCs on the same conditions, in case I need files from it (like the WindowsApps folder).


Any ideas on how to get out of this situation?



Thanks in advance!

Can you boot into safe mode? If you can get to recovery options like in tutorial below you should be OK.

Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10

If you can I'd then do an in place upgrade (if you really don't want to do a clean install).

There is a tutorial here - it should take only 20 minutes or so after the download and you'll keep your data/apps.Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

And then think in future (or make a backup) before changing authority and/or deleting Windows system folders. I spent a lot of time deleting and compressing things and it isn't always obvious what is required by the OS at what point...

I cannot boot into safe mode, but I can access Windows RE. I don't think an upgrade is the best choice for me, but if it is the only option..

I did it because I read it on so many sites I thoguht it would be safe to a certain point.

Thanks, any other ideas?

If you can boot into RE you could try setting bcdedit to boot into safe mode from command line.

bcdedit /set {identifier} safeboot network

Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10

If that doesn't work, apart from copying WindowsApps back I don't know what to suggest really.

I'll try to copy the folder later. There's no need to edit bcdedit, I can choose safe mode from Windows RE, but the same error appears on boot.

Thanks!

If it does work, do an in-place upgrade. The WindowsApps folder has some odd permissions but repair install should fix them if you can boot at all...

Code:

C:\Program Files>icacls WindowsApps
WindowsApps NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(F)
            NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
            S-1-15-3-1024-3635283841-2530182609-996808640-1887759898-3848208603-3313616867-983405619-2501854204:(RX)
            S-1-15-3-1024-3635283841-2530182609-996808640-1887759898-3848208603-3313616867-983405619-2501854204:(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
            NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)
            NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
            BUILTIN\Administrators:(CI)(RX)
            NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE:(OI)(CI)(RX)
            NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE:(OI)(CI)(RX)
            NT AUTHORITY\RESTRICTED:(OI)(CI)(RX)
            BUILTIN\Users:(Rc,S,RD,REA,X,RA)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

Tried doing "D:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /q /c /t /reset on Windows RE with no luck. It would be nice if I had some kind of log to see the actual error behind the black screen...

lx07 said:

If it does work, do an in-place upgrade. The WindowsApps folder has some odd permissions but repair install should fix them if you can boot at all...

Code:

C:\Program Files>icacls WindowsApps
WindowsApps NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(F)
            NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
            S-1-15-3-1024-3635283841-2530182609-996808640-1887759898-3848208603-3313616867-983405619-2501854204:(RX)
            S-1-15-3-1024-3635283841-2530182609-996808640-1887759898-3848208603-3313616867-983405619-2501854204:(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
            NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)
            NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
            BUILTIN\Administrators:(CI)(RX)
            NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE:(OI)(CI)(RX)
            NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE:(OI)(CI)(RX)
            NT AUTHORITY\RESTRICTED:(OI)(CI)(RX)
            BUILTIN\Users:(Rc,S,RD,REA,X,RA)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

Permissions seems fine now...

Maybe I broke something with my restore attempts :S

Look, even here they advice the solution I tried in the first place:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...0-a1544631adb6

True - there is a long thread here too about the same issue System Restore fails: AppxStaging %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApp 0x80070091

However, to recover from where you are you need to get into Windows. Once you are (even in safe mode) you can hopefully fix it fairly easily.