Windows 10: Deleted "Appdata/Local/Package Cache" Cannot properly uninstall programs

I have accidentally deleted the "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Package Cache" folder, now I can't uninstall programs properly. For example, when I try to uninstall Python 3.9.5 the error is:Windows cannot find "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Package Cache\{ $some random strings here like a mac address }\python-3.9.5-amd64.exe". Make sure you type the name correctly ,

:)

 

Windows Store Broken - Windows Store cache may be damaged

Hi,

Since you already run wsreset.exe, We suggest clearing/deleting the local cache by following these steps:

• Run Command.
• Click Users.
• Select the username that you're using to login on the computer.
• Click AppData.
• Select Local.
• Click on Packages.
• Select on Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
• Click on LocalCache.
• Delete all files and folders.
• After you have deleted cache try to open Windows App Store again.

Get back to us if you need further assistance.

 

Move the Edge browser cache to a RAM disk

Update:

BUMMER After reboot this did not work but here is what I did anyway!!

I had to change step 5 when copied from the site

from

:mklink /D"%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "E:\Edge Cache"

to

:mklink /D "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "E:\Edge Cache"

And Since I am using MSI RAMDisk my 3 and 5 steps looked like this

3

robocopy"%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "B:\Cache-IE" /E /COPYALL /DCOPYAT

5

mklink /D "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "B:\Cache-IE"

 

Move the Edge browser cache to a RAM disk

Not a very bright response from a supposed support engineer.

What should have worked is a Symbolic Link, but both Edge and Groove (probably the same for all metro native apps) fail to utilise them (edit: properly). Incredibility short sighted to bloat and wear SSDs and provide no option to place the used folder paths
to a separate disk.

Fun implementation, no? /rant

Edit: native metro apps do work with SymLinks if you do them very carefully. Here's a step by step (wrote this elsewhere since ms wont let me sign in on pc, but happily on phone):

*These steps are exactly as I did them (also works with ZuneMusic_8wekyb3d8bbwe if you stream a lot and don't want it to wear/bloat your SSD - yes, "stream" apparently means "save to disk"), some steps may be unnecessary, but worth
doing just in case. Your mileage my vary, if you follow these steps you do so at your own risk. Depending on restarts, step 1. may need to be repeated. MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe may have a different name on your PC.

• Run cmd from the start menu with admin rights (right-click command prompt and select run as administrator).
• Take full ownership of the cache folders to be safe, you may want to clear using disk cleanup first. Type takeown /F "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" /A /R and press enter (%USERPROFILE% should
  work, but if not replace it with [Drive]:\Users\[Username] as per normal).
• When it finishes (depends on size) make an exact copy to your other drive (replace E:\Edge Cache as desired; and make sure Edge\Groove\etc. isn't running or you will get 'in use' errors). Use: robocopy"%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "E:\Edge
  Cache" /E /COPYALL /DCOPYAT ensure that there are no skipped\failed files, otherwise retry after disk cleanup.
• Instead of deleting the original as required for Symbolic Links, suggested you rename it: ren "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "AC Backup" in case the SymLink fails when you can just rename
  it AC again, deleting the SymLink (you can do this using windows explorer as well). If the renaming encounters 'in use' errors even though Edge\Groove\etc. isn't running then restart your PC and retry.
• Create the SymLink as follows (replacing E:\Edge Cache as needed):mklink /D"%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC" "E:\Edge Cache" then restart your
  computer.

After some time if everything is working smoothly and you're sure its the other drive being used for caching then you can safely delete the original AC Backup file, but I just deleted #!001\MicrosoftEdge\Cache from the backup. If you don't use disk clean
up, all your Edge cache should be retained.