Windows 10: WindowsApps with a twist (Long read)

So, very very long story shorter.

I had a dual 512GB NVMe + SSD on a PCI card solution running well, but after installing some games using Xbox App for PC Flightsim 2020, Forza Horizon and F1 2019 plus some other large titles using Game Pass, I found that I was just running out of space.

I decided to image the offending (small) drives and restore on to some larger NVMe's that were destined for something else.

Anyways this addressed the storage problem BUT due to the unique way Windows 10 seems to manage the WindowsApps folder the Xbox App decided that I didn't have them installed anymore and wouldnt let me run them.

A few uninstall/reinstall presses later and some of it sprang to life. That's been working for the last month. The Japan Flightsim update came along and wouldn't install. I had a poke around but couldnt see the problem.

Lots, and I mean lots of jiggery pokery later, I ended up restoring the drives from a month ago (using Acronis), this restored pretty much everything back to the way it was and the Japan update worked...RAH...

However, the space on those drives didnt look right, I was missing some 150GB, not really what you want to hear when NVMe's are involved.

I had a dig around and decided to delete a few games I had finished with, only it didnt free up any space.

I then dug around the Windowsapps folders of which I have 3, there appeared to be huge swaths of space taken up by games I'd uninstalled, but Win10 choose not to remove.

The twist, I'm happy to get stuck in as I was previously in IT for 20+ years. so had a looksee around, seems I cant take ownership of the offending folders (aside from the encryption, read only, typical permissions issues) as there appears to be 2 administrator accounts, one has full control (I presume that is the main account) but one has List folder contents only.. Could that be a remnant from the original OS before I restored the images and restoring them borked something??

I've got over 100GB lost and its proving to be a pia. I'd like it back, but fear a rebuild might be on the cards, I've got a ton of non MS installed games that will take forever to do.

I've tried creating a new account with admin permissions, to try and take ownership( and tried to delete) without success, ensured my main account has the right permissions etc no joy.

Is there a way to consolidate those Windowsapps folders where the permissions might get resolved? eg: consolidate all to a single drive with the hope of managing the space better. I swap builds and drives around regularly and expect to get bigger drives at some point but not for a while, I'd like my flexibility back. This has totally put me off Windows Store/Xbox App and unless I get it sorted will be dropping it entirely and going back to 7 other launchers.

I thought about coming in on a Windows RE and trying to take ownership that way but frankly I don't think I"ll get passed the encryption or even see into the offending files.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

submitted by /u/TayUK
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:)

 

WINDOWSAPPS FILE

Hi,

For us to provide you an accurate resolution regarding your WindowsApps folder issue, we would like to know the following:

• Were there any updates made on your computer prior to this concern?
• Send us a screenshot of your WindowsApps and WindowsAppsOld folders so that we can double check the issue.
• When did the issue first begin?
• What troubleshooting steps have you taken so far to resolve this?

We look forward to your response.

 

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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.