Windows 10: System Restore fails: AppxStaging %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApp 0x80070091

Hi, thought I'd check if System Restore was still functional and got

System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer's system files and
settings were not changed.

Details:
System Restore failed while restoring the directory from the restore point.
Source: AppxStaging
Destination: %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps
An unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070091)

I found SFC /scannow failed, so used Kyhi's excellent Image Health tool
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
#2
to resolve DISM issues and get SFC /SCANNOW passing.

System Restore still fails.

I've run some repairs using Tweaking.com's repair tool for permissions, turned System Restore off and on, turned off Avast, tried System restore from Safe Mode. The event log contains nothing useful I've seen- just a bare statement of An unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070091).

Research shows some reports of this, but I've found no clear resolution.
This exact report was posted on this forum earlier this year, with no replies.
I've not done anything to %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps like changing its ownership as some do.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

:)

 

System Restore error 0x80070091

One of our laptops have this issue ever since the Anniversary update. Haven't tried yet on the new Creators update. Have you tried using it on the new update?

The best way to get attention is by posting this in the
Feedback hub.

There's a long thread about it on another forum with some solutions working for some people (but a lot of them are technical). If you are comfortable with the steps, might be worth taking a shot

->
Windows 10: System Restore fails: AppxStaging %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApp 0x80070091

->
Windows 10: System restore Error 0x80070091

 

Can no longer get restore from any Restore Point on System Restore

I have failed to get System Restore to work. I get the following response each time I try:

SYSTEM RESTORE FAILED WHILE RESTORING THE DIRECTORY FROM THE RESTORE POINT

SOURCE: AppxStaging

DESTINATION: %ProgramFiles%WindowsApps

An unspecified error occurred during System Restore (0x80070091)

Any help please?

 

I have given up using System Restore years ago, as I found it very unreliable, back when I was testing 3rd party software.
Now I just export the complete registry using RegEdit, before doing something.
But seeing you have Tweaking.com's Windows Repair, you can use that to do it too.

 

Hi Cliff S, appreciate the thought.. and understand it. And naturally I use Macrium R for disk imaging.

In this instance I'm curious, since it relates to the WindowsApps folder. Begs the question as to what SR is intended to protect as regards the universal apps.

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but since this came up as a first result for this exact problem I have, I just want to inform that it can be resolved by renaming (or deleting) the WindowsApps folder. You can do this in the command line:

First, you must be in safe mode since the files will be in use.

Then, take ownership of it:
Code: takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d y[/quote] Next, give yourself permissions
Code: icacls "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" /grant administrators:F /t[/quote] Either delete with
Code: rd /s "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps"[/quote]

Or rename with
Code: rename "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps(old)"[/quote]
Reboot your PC, run system restore and it should work fine now.

 

Next, give yourself permissions
Code: icacls "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" /grant administrators:F /t[/quote] Either delete with
Code: rd /s "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps"[/quote]

Or rename with
Code: rename "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps" "C:\Program Files\Windows Apps(old)"[/quote]
Reboot your PC, run system restore and it should work fine now.


[/quote] Thank you for posting that, because I ran into the same issue; i tryed your solution, but the prompt claim that "takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d y" contain a sintax error due to y not being an allowable parameter for /d (despite being reported as allowable in the documentation); how can I fix that?

 

I have a similar error to report: AppxStaging error 0x80070091, on a Dell Optiplex 755 running Windows 10 v 1607 Pro 64 bit. Cause unknown. The computer was in hibernate with Wake-On-LAN check boxes un-ticked for the Network Adapter and mcupdates deleted, so it was stable, quiet and not waking at a specific time or randomly waking for over a month. It was running OK. It woke up one night recently and the next day I was missing Desktop icons and I had the error notification.

I tried the solution posted "takeown /f...." but I couldn't get the command line entries to work....same experience as Forum Member "mattws10".

All running now after a two-day Custom install of Windows 10. I'm inexpert when dealing with command prompt and try as I did, I couldn't reason out the problem or syntax. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...that is certain. I am on my fourth install and commisioning of a PC in two months and getting weary.

King regards to all those who contribute with thanks. Simon

 

THIS IS FOR en-us language if your system is another language you WILL have to get the proper command options (as in the Y is the first letter of whatever "yes" is in your language)


boot to SAFE MODE


then
Code: takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d y[/quote] AND no space in Windowsapps on ANY commands AND put your username not administrators

Code: icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant YOURUSERNAME:F /t[/quote] (whatever you login to safe mode with)


and to rename you have to

Code: attrib "c:\program files\windowsapps" -h[/quote] then

Code: rename "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" WindowsAppsold[/quote]

I then moved (select all ,move,)the contents of windowsappsold back to windowsapps after I restored the system , you'll probably have to unhide the windowsapps folder and maybe do it in safe mode but if I recall I didn't do it in safe mode

 

Pard me, I'm not sure I understood. Do you mean it takes you 2 full days to reinstall Windows 10 in place?
By the way, i tryed to type the help command ( ?/takeown or something) to see what I was doing wrong, but the syntax I used seemed right to me. Now I'm gonna try cgdsatx latest advice.

PS: I apology for any language mystake, English is not my first idiom.

 

Sintax was correct, still say y is not an acceptable parameter;
The attrib line returns "Access denied"

 

Hi there ... Mttws10...Pleased to meet you.

Yes! It took about two days to fully install Windows10 (again) on the Dell Optiplex 755, with the third party applications, export/import contacts and bookmarks and configuration changes. So this is quite important.

The etiology is uncertain. We both may have an insight as to what may have caused the corrupted registry. No malware detected (Avira). I suspect the WOL was something to do with it. I've been doing a lot of installation work on three Dell computers, on my network and it was the Dell 755 that had the problem and just a few days after it had a memory problem that caused the computer to bleep, requiring a prior new installation. Possibly Microsoft detected unusual activity and it triggered a security device. I don't know.

System Restore is fragile....Keep going....we need someone to test a Fix. The world will be eternally grateful.
Kind regards from Simon.

 

are you going into safe mode with your user account or as Administrator? It works so I'm not sure what your doing

 

What language is your Windows installation?

Apparently the default answer you specify after the /d switch has to be the first letter of the word that means "Yes" in your Windows system language.

I can't confirm as I always install en-US but it is what it claims here: https://social.technet.microsoft.com...10itprogeneral
and here:
Take Ownership - Add to Context Menu in Windows 10

So in French you would specify (from an administrator command prompt)

takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d O
(because "O" is short for "Oui" which means "Yes").

All the examples I could find were French so just try picking the first letter of whatever the word "Yes" is in your language if it is something else.

 

This worked for me, thanks. Quick question though. After system is Restored, should I change the name back to WindowsApp or does it matter for functionality.

I should add that I was getting an error message in the Command line after the Rename stage. After going back in and looking at the file (WindowsApp), I realized that the folder was Read Only and Hidden, then I had to authorize administrators to view/edit. After I made those changes I was able to Restore my system back.

One issue I have and still have, is that Windows10 mysterious lost/hid every file and some sub folders within a folder I use often. I noticed it was missing after I downloaded an app, which asked for updates, so I deleted the app and Restored the system. Still can't see files in folder.