Microsoft Store is broken in Windows 10 and I can't fix it

Hello, I was receiving an error whenever I attempted to install an application via the Microsoft Store after receiving my brand new Surface Book. I found a fix to my specific issue here. The relevant bits are:

Code:

As you are unable to install an app from the Windows store, I suggest you to try the below and check if it helps.Method 1: Run WSReset.exe .

Press Windows+R key to open Run box
Enter wsreset.exe in the Run command and then tap or click OK.
Restart your computer and check.
If resetting Windows Store cache does not help. Try the below,
Method 2: Re-register Windows Store by running the following commands in a CMD window started as Administrator:
Follow the below steps.

Open the Start menu, type Windows PowerShell in the search bar.
Right click on the Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
Then enter the chkdsk command
​PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted 

$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest

After running #3 in method 2 the Windows Store wouldn't even start. So based on what I was seeing I tried what was suggested at this link, relevant bits below:

Code:

Now, use the Add-AppxPackage command to reinstall the Windows Store. Use the following command:Add-AppxPackage -register "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\<PackageFullName>" –DisableDevelopmentMode

That didn't work, and using PowerShell I discovered the following:

Code:

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Get-AppxLog -ActivityID 09462e3c-4b34-0002-e9a9-4609344bd101


Time                      ID           Message
----                      --           -------
1/9/2016 17:19:04         301          The calling process is powershell.exe
1/9/2016 17:19:04         603          Started deployment Register operation on a package with main parameter:
                                       AppxManifest.xml and Options: 0. See
                                       http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app
                                       deployment issues.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         10002        Creating Resiliency File C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\c3cdab2d
                                       -e25e-406f-b455-3544be3a01eb_S-1-5-21-2305095937-2236513845-535014027-1001_1.rsl
                                       c for Register Operation on Package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         607          Deployment Register operation on package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe has been de-queued and
                                       is running for user HAASTS-EAGLE\bilek.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         613          Adding uri to the list of Uris: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsSt
                                       ore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppxManifest.xml.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         561          Not staging roaming data for package Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe. The
                                       application state is already present.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         10000        About to service package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe. Setting the package
                                       state to disabled returned with 0x0.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         827          Capability parsing started for the package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
1/9/2016 17:19:04         5502         Merge Failure : error 0x80070003 : Cannot register the
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe package because there
                                       was a merge failure with the following file: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Micros
                                       oft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_neutral_split.scale-150_8wekyb3d8bbwe\resources.pr
                                       i
1/9/2016 17:19:04         303          error 0x80070003: While preparing to process the request, the system failed to
                                       register the windows.MRT extension due to the following error: The system
                                       cannot find the path specified.
                                       .
1/9/2016 17:19:04         300          error 0x80070003: Cannot register the Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe
                                       package due to the following error: The system cannot find the path specified.
                                       .
1/9/2016 17:19:04         605          The last successful state reached was ResolvedDeferredRegistrations. Failure
                                       occurred before reaching the next state RegistrationChanged.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         10001        Finished servicing package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe. Setting the package
                                       state to enabled returned with 0x0.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         401          Deployment Register operation with target volume C: on Package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:
                                       (AppxManifest.xml)  failed with error 0x80073CF6. See
                                       http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app
                                       deployment issues.
1/9/2016 17:19:04         404          AppX Deployment operation failed for package
                                       Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe with error 0x80073CF6.
                                       The specific error text for this failure is: Merge Failure : error 0x80070003 :
                                       Cannot register the Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
                                       package because there was a merge failure with the following file: C:\Program Fi
                                       les\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_neutral_split.scale-150_8wek
                                       yb3d8bbwe\resources.pri

Any ideas on how to fix this merge error? I don't have a system restore point as the Surface Book is brand new, and I don't know how to completely uninstall and reinstall the Microsoft Store.

Thank you for your response. Let's assume that I go with the not recommended option, and remove the Microsoft Store from all accounts.

What then would be my next step, to reinstall it?

I don't have the installation media, unless it's on a partition on the hard drive.

You could try this to fix the store Store - Re-register in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums - it might work. If not I'd also recommend repair install.

khelvan said:

I don't have the installation media, unless it's on a partition on the hard drive.

You can download the ISO for the repair install from here as linked to in the tutorial @dalchina quoted above in post #2

Don't uninstall the store though - you'll not be able to install it again (without doing a repair install).

Hopefully I have learned of a method to restore the Store app in Windows 10
I recently came across a method suggested in a forum which has worked for me. I don't know WHY it works but it did for me, and hopefully for you, It seems to be so unlikely, and I even had a tech from Microsoft work on it, which sadly gave me no resolution to the problem. However unlikely it seems here it is:

______________________
1. Turn off your antivirus program

2. Restart your computer

Result: Store app works again! Don't forget to TURN ON YOUR ANTIVIRUS AGAIN if it doesn't do so immediately.
_________________________________________

Yes! Amazing! Will it work for you? It seems too simple for me and not understandable. BUT IT WORKED