Windows 10: Sea of Thieves (0x80073CF9) install error -- Microsoft Store is a piece of garbage.

Problem Explanation

I am attempting to download/install Sea of Thieves using Microsoft Store on my Windows 10 system, and am getting the error 0x80073CF9. I am not using Xbox subscription for this, I actually bought the complete game for full price back in January, 2019.


System Specification

• Microsoft Windows 10 Home
• Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.476)
• Razer Blade Signature Edition (Razer Inc.)
• Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H CPU @ 2.20 GHz
• Installed Memory (RAM): 16GB
• Free Disk Space: ~90 GB
• GPU: 1070 Max-Q

What I have tried...

I will list all the things I have tried, but I also would like to say that there have been 9 support agents from Microsoft that I have talked to in the past 2 days in attempt to get this issue fixed -- none of them were able to get past the error or even generate anything new. Out of those 9, 4 of them actually controlled my PC using remote desktop control in an attempt to fix it (so, it isn't me messing up on their instructions).

• wsreset (numerous times)
• logged out and logged back in Microsoft Store
• clear all the different types of caches, including MS Store cache and entire windows temp directory
• Clear SoftwareDistribution folder
• Gave permission to AppReadiness folder
• Made sure AUInstallAgent, AppReadiness exists
• Removed and reinstalled MS Store using the powershell commands
• sfc /scannow
• Made sure WindowsApps folder had the correct permissions (TrustedInstaller, SYSTEM, ALL APPLIC...)
• Checked Xbox Networking connection, it was actually giving a NAT type error and I clicked "Fix Now" and checked again and it had fixed itself. On reboot, it fails again to "Teredo is unable to qualify. This could block you from playing multiplayer games"
• Made sure Windows 10 was up-to-date
• Made sure MS Store was up-to-date
• Reinstalled Gaming Services app on MS Store
• Installed Xbox (Beta) app, Xbox Console Companion - Beta app.
• Tried installing the game using the Xbox (Beta) app, resulted in the same error.
• Tried changing the DNS to 8.8.8.8 (google open DNS)
• Tried using a different network all together (school/work network) to download the game, just to rule out my home network
• Tried disabling Firewall and Windows defender real time checks
• Tried installing Spotify and other apps (download and install just fine, no issue whatsoever)
• Activated hidden Administrator account and tried installing SoT on that account, same issue.
• Made a new regular admin user (not hidden), same issue
• Reinstalled windows using the upgrade -- keep all files setting, same issue
• Changed the Workgroup of the system to a new one (off of the home workgroup that I had it set to), same issue
• Made sure that App install location is set to the only drive I have in the system (C: drive)
• Tried using Delivery Optimization turned on to download updates/sea of thieves, didn't do anything (I had this turned off)
• I used my desktop PC to install the game, it worked perfectly fine on that. Installed within a few mins.
• Tried using wifi and LAN to download it (didnt work)
• Tried giving more permission to AppRepository folder, didnt work
• Did a disk cleanup, removed all DirectX cache, didn't work

As you can tell from the above list, I have exhausted different methods -- the last agent I talked to, she basically said that we are gonna ask the hardware team and I should see an email (I saw no email btw) from them. And she didn't know what to do. I am now asking the community if I could do anything to fix this without doing a clean wipe of my system. I would truly appreciate anyone who is able to suggest something new to try.


Also, I am sure I missed a few things I have tried -- lost track of it. But the list above is most of them.

:)

 

Unable to download Sea of Thieves from Store

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

Kindly follow the below steps.

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Store and click on the Account icon on the top right corner of Microsoft Store.

Step 2: Enter the email address that you used during the purchase of Sea Of Thieves game. (The email address that you have received as purchase verification mail for Sea Of Thieves).

Step 3: Once you have logged into Microsoft Store, search for Sea Of Thieves game by clicking on the Search bar on the top right corner of Microsoft Store.

Step 4: Select the Sea Of Thieves game, download and install.

Regards,

Mala.S

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

I cannot download Sea of Thieves on PC from microsoft store.

Hi Christopher,

Sorry for the delayed response. We identified this issue regards downloading Sea of Thieves from Windows Store App and we still working on it to fix the problem. As a workaround, we suggest following the steps below:

• Cancel all existing download on the Store app.
• Start the download of Sea of Thieves once again.
• As soon as the download starts, immediately restart the computer.
  
• After the reboot, do not launch the Store app instead wait for the passive download which you can check in the Action Center. Then it will automatically install by itself and then open the game without any issues.
  

For any results, please let us know.

 

Error code 0x80073CF9 with Sea of Thieves

Hi,

I recently got the 14-day free Game Pass trial to try out Sea of Thieves, and i keep getting an error code 0x80073CF9 and out of curiosity i tried it with my Xbox One and it worked fine. Then i tried Gears of War 4 on the PC and it gave me the same error
as Sea of Thieves. I've been researching it for the past 2 days and tried every solution i can find and even did a full PC reset and it still doesn't work. It's very frustrating and i would like to know if there's anything more i can do about it because i
would really like to try this game on my PC.

[Moved from: Windows / Apps on Windows 10 / Other Windows apps / Games]