Windows 10: WindowsApps Folder i want it back just on C: and not a different drive

Win 1909 OS Build 18363.1016

So i have a bit of a dilemma. I while back i decided to change my install location for Apps i downloaded from the Microsoft Store to a different drive. I've since changed all my storage settings back to my c: drive, and have even gone into App's and Features, to ensure nothing is installed on the 'other drive' Nothing is.. Everything that was on there was moved back to C:

However there's still a pesky WindowsApp folder, residing on there, that doesn't give me any access whatsoever. Making matters worse is i have about 500gb of other non OS related files on that drive. Given windows still considers it a 'system' drive, it's causing me some headaches.

For example, if i try and use System Image, to make an image, it looks at that drive, as part of the system and wants to include an image of that entire drive, (all that extra 500gb of non-system data included) as part the system image backup.... making a system restore take a lot longer than it otherwise would.

Any idea's on what one can do, to de-commision a once upon a time system drive, it so Windows doesn't think its still an integral part of the operating system ?

Advice appreciated.

:)

 

WindowsApps folder says permissions are corrupted and need to be deleted, is this normal or critical?

According to your description, I suggest you try the following steps:

1. Navigate to the location C:\Program Files.
   
2. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder, and select Properties.
   
3. Turn to Security tab and click on Advanced.
   
4. Click on Change and then type Users in Enter the object name to select area.
   
5. Click on OK, then click Apply > OK. You can also add the TrustedInstaller to the users list and check if it takes effect.
   

However, you might be still not able to access the files. The workaround is to go inside the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\, and repeat the same way with the Microsoft.WindowsStore* folders.

 

WindowsApps folder on other drives/partitions other than C:\

I just discovered that attempting to take ownership of the WindowsApps folder on any drive but C:\ isn't working correctly.

If you process this on C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, it works just fine. But any other drive letter; IE E:\WindowsApps, it will display that you have taken ownership, but you cannot access the folder.

A little bit more digging, after processing ownership, you CAN access it under safe mode and make further edits to the folder permissions, but if you go back into a normal boot, you cannot access the folder.

I understand that these folders have these settings for a reason, but if we are allowed to take ownership, we should then be able to access them.

 

Deleting the WindowsApps folder on secondary drive?

Hmm, which is faster. I attempted a Live Linux Drive already but it was very slow and would not boot, not to mention I don't know a thing about using linux.

Would option 2 be easier? I looked at Macrium, but the install steps themselves are confusing me, and I fear not knowing how to navigate it once I boot to it.

EDIT: I installed Macrium Reflect Free, went through these steps to create the media.
Don't forget to check the UEFI/MBR box if you are attempting this yourself.
I then booted to it, "browsed my files for an image", but for real, navigate to the WindowsApps folder on your secondary drive, and delete it. It doesn't disappear instantly, but when you exit the drive, and log back into windows, the folder will be gone.

Thanks for the suggestion cereberus!