Upgraded PC hardware, experiencing offline apps that I can’t reinstall

Troubleshooting Post-Upgrade: Resolving Offline App Reinstallation Issues in Windows 11

Recently, after performing a comprehensive hardware upgrade on my PC, I encountered persistent issues with certain applications that I was unable to reinstall or run properly. This guide details the situation, the troubleshooting steps taken, and potential solutions to similar problems encountered after hardware upgrades.

System Overview

The upgrade included replacing my existing HDDs (D: and E:)—used primarily for storing games—with new SSDs to enhance performance. The current system configuration can be reviewed here. Post-upgrade, I noticed particular applications installed on the C: drive were facing operational issues and errors preventing reinstallation.

Identified Problems

Two key applications became inaccessible, appearing as “offline” and refusing reinstallation attempts, despite not being explicitly installed on the new drives:

Xbox App
Splice (used for downloading music samples)

During installation attempts, Windows 11 returned consistent errors:

0x80073CF9
0x80070002

These errors occurred during AppX deployment or direct installation, indicating issues with the app package management or system package repository.

Troubleshooting Efforts

Below are the strategies I employed to resolve the issue:

Removing Residual AppX Data
Utilized PowerShell commands to remove orphaned AppX application data and reset the app deployment volumes.
Cleaning Windows Store and Package Folders
Cleared the WindowsApps and AppRepository directories to eliminate any corrupted or conflicting app data.
Uninstallers and Cleanup Tools
Ran tools like Revo Uninstaller and Bulk Crap Uninstaller to thoroughly remove any traces of the problematic apps that might be causing conflicts.
Searching for Remaining App Data
Used the “Everything” search utility to locate residual files or registry entries connected to the applications.
Resetting Microsoft Store
Executed commands to reset and re-register the Microsoft Store and associated packages, attempting to repair the app distribution framework.
Local Package Installation Attempts
Tried installing .msix files directly from local storage on the C: drive, but these attempts also failed.