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Full Fix: System Restore error 0x80070091 on Windows 10, 7
8 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Windows 10 is a reliable OS, but this doesn’t mean that it’s never affected by any issues. Sometimes, due to severe issues, users are left with no option but to perform a system restore. In this manner, the PC is taken back to an earlier point in time, called asystem restore pointwhen the OS worked perfectly fine.
Many Windows 10 users have recently reported that thesystem restore processfails to complete. More specifically, the process launches, but then suddenly freezes and an error message appears on the screen.
Many first thought that this error was caused by the latestPatch Tuesday updates, but this is not the case. The firstwave of reportsarrived in February.
System Restore error 0x80070091
Here’s how one user describes the issue:
I tried SysRes from two points, both with same failure.
System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer’s system files andsettings were not changed.
Details:System Restore failed while restoring the directory from the restore point.Source: AppxStagingDestination: %ProgramFiles%WindowsAppsAn unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070091)The two attempts were from: choose a different restore point>show more restore points type Backup. I really need this function to work. Any solutions out there?
The good news is that Microsoft has recently acknowledged this issue. The company promised it would roll out a hotfix as soon as possible.At the same time, it has also offered a temporary workaround that advanced users can use to fix error 0x80070091.
System Restore Error 0x80070091 can prevent you from fixing certain issues on your PC. Speaking of this error, here are some similar issues that users reported:
1. Rename the WindowsApp folder from Safe Mode
2. Check your antivirus
Using an antivirus is rather important if you want to protect your PC from online threats, however, sometimes your antivirus can interfere with your system and cause this error to occur.
If you’re having error 0x80070091 on your PC, you might want to try disabling certain antivirus features. Sometimes your antivirus can block other applications from accessing certain directories, and that can lead to this issue.
If the problem is still present, you might have to completely disable your antivirus. In the worst-case scenario, you might even have to uninstall your antivirus. Once your antivirus is removed, check if the problem is resolved.
If your antivirus was the issue, it might be a good time to consider switching to different antivirus software. There are many great antivirus tools on the market, but the best isBitdefender, so feel free to try it.
You can as well choose from a multitude ofcompatible antivirus programsthat will not interfere with other services and cause System Restore errors.
3. Remove problematic applications
Sometimes this problem can occur due to certain applications. If you installed any new applications recently, it might be a good idea to remove them and check if that solves the problem.
There are many ways to uninstall an application, but the best way is to use uninstaller software. These applications are specially designed to remove all files and registry entries associated with the application you want to remove, so be sure to try them out.
Hence, in order to entirely delete problematic software or junk files, you can perform the task using a famous cleanup software likeCCleaner.
4. Use Linux Live CD
If you’re having problems with System Restore and error 0x80070091, you might be able to fix the problem usingLinuxLive CD. To do that, simply download any version of Linux and create bootable media.
Once you boot from the bootable media, choose the option to Try Linux without installing. Now go toC:Program Filesand renameWindowsAppsdirectory toWindowsApps.old.
After doing that, restart your PC and boot to Windows. Take ownership of WindowsApps.old directory and try to perform System Restore again.
5. Run chkdsk scan
According to users, sometimes file corruption can cause error 0x80070091 to appear while performing System Restore. To fix the problem, you need to perform chkdsk scan. This is rather simple and you can do it by following these steps:
Chkdsk scan will now start. The scan can take about 15 minutes or more depending on the size of your system drive. Once the scan is finished, check if the problem still appears.
6. Keep your system up to date
According to users, this issue can appear if your system is out of date. However, you can easily solve this issue by updating your operating system. In most cases, Windows automatically installs the missing updates, but sometimes you might miss an update or two due to certain issues.
However, you can always check for missing updates manually. To do that, just follow these steps:
Windows will now check for available updates. If any updates are available, they will be downloaded in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, you just need to restart your PC to install them. After updating your PC to the latest version, check if the issue is resolved.
7. Use third-party tools
According to users, a 0x80070091 error can appear due to problems with yourWindowsAppsfolder. However, you might be able to solve the issue by using a third-party tool such asUnlocker. To fix the issue, you need to do the following:
After doing that, you should be able to perform System Restore without any problems. As you can see, this solution is rather simple, and if you’re not too fond of the command line, you might want to try this solution out.
8. Remove problematic updates
If this issue started appearing recently, it’s rather likely that an update caused it. Windows 10 installs updates automatically, and sometimes certain updates can lead to issues such as this one. If you suspect that an update caused this issue, we recommend removing problematic updates.
Removing installed updates is rather simple, and you can do it by following these steps:
Once you remove the update, the problem should be resolved. Keep in mind that Windows 10 automatically installs the missing updates, so the update will be installed again and cause the issue to reappear.
To prevent that from happening, we advise you toblock automatic Windows updates. By doing that, you’ll stop this update from installing and the issue won’t appear anymore.
And this should help you to get rid of the error 0x80070091.
More about the topics:system restore,windows 10 fix
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
