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Geek.exe? What is that?
I did try Revo uninstaller, which supposedly removed all data and registry keys for Yakuza 2 but after using it the Yakuza 2 data is still on my drive.
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You also need to reformat the effected drive because even after reinstalling windows the locked windowsapps folder still exists with all the storage taken up by it locked and if you tamper with it you could potentially break your new install of windows.
See the previous page where we were discussing the SQLite databases that need to be modified for manual removal.
I consider having to format and reinstall windows to uninstall games and reclaim HDD space a catastrophic failure and I'm willing to bet a lot of people in here would agree with that. It doesn't have to be like this, it shouldn't be this complicated, why are we jumping through hoops for something so simple?
I absolutely agree that it needs to be fixed.
It doesn't affect everyone and shouldn't scare someone away from even trying game pass.
The entries you need to delete in the first DB use the exact package name (which is unique) and then in the other DB they use the unique package id (which can be read from the first DB). So it should definitely be doable with a script.
The package name itself is seemingly quite random between publishers, but I would think a script would just take that as a parameter since it's relatively easy to figure out manually.
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What I don't understand is, why does the installer error out when it queries the SQL database and thinks the game is already installed?
Why wouldn't it just download the game anyways? What is the worst that can happen in that case? All it would be doing is re-downloading the latest version of the game.
The whole thing is just so broken and nonsensical.
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Also, I tried to use Revo uninstaller to remove Yakuza 2. It successfully removed all it's registry entries, but it didn't delete the actual game data from the drive. And I don't think it removed the SQL database entries, either.
Is manually uninstalling the game even possible now that it is missing it's registry entries?
May not actually be the database that's the issue; It's what I've been leaning towards, since it seems like the most... fiddly part, but who knows (besides the people that wrote UWP, I guess). Tough to diagnose without inside info, which it seems no one will ever get because they'll just tell you to reinstall rather than escalate up to development.
Yeah, part of the full manual process would be pulling the registry entries out regardless. Basically having done that just skips the first step.
You can edit the database without registry entries but you need to find out the package way somehow. I did just that with Tetris Effect yesterday. When I searched for Tetris in the database it came up with one result that included the full package name (the package name does not include the word Tetris) so I just took it from that.
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Revo uninstaller actually has a separate tab specifically for Windows store apps.
You would think that they would know how to completely wipe them given their entire business is removing software from PCs.
I'm starting to think that maybe that program can do it all, but unfortunately I wasn't running it in admin mode when I uninstalled Yakuza 2 so it wasn't able to access certain things to correctly remove them. I didnt get any errors from the program though.
And now Yakuza 2 doesn't show up on Revo's Windows App list do I can't try to do it again running in admin mode.
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Oh so there happened to be the word Tetris in the database entry, but the actual package name for that entry didn't have the word Tetris in it?
My god what a shit show.
Very helpful info though thanks.
Lo' and behold, I use WinDirStat for the first time in a while and I see Forza Horizon 3 is taking up 55GB on my SSD shown as 'unknown' with no way to go the folders to delete it. Guess I got some deleting to do.
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This problem seems to be even more widespread than even the poll is reflecting.
I wonder how many people have huge amounts of their hard drives invisibly locked from them filled with games they uninstalled but never actually deleted themselves and don't even realize it.
I did use RevoUninstaller to get rid of it, it worked, but it kept the DLC installed which is 20GB, so I got to find out where that is and get rid of that too.
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Did you run Revo uninstaller in admin mode?
Also, are you now able to reinstall the game?
I did, but I didn't check to see if that made a difference. I bought the game originally when it was on sale and getting de-listed. I did install it on my SSD at the time, but never touched it. DLC is still on there, but can't find where it's located, WinDirStat just says C:, and I know for a fact that it's the DLC.
I'm not going to bother reinstalling it until I'm going to go about putting time into it.
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If you don't mind, can you just try to initiate the install and see if it starts to download? Once it actually starts and you see that data is being downloaded, you can abort it.
I'm just curious to know if the act of using Revo to get rid of it still allows you to download it without getting an immediate error when it starts.
Uhhh, I took ownership of the WindowsApps Folder to see if I had any uninstalled games there before reading that it could lead to serious issues, should I change the permissions back? Xbox App still works for now.
Is there an easy way to reset permissions for the folder?
Is there an easy way to reset permissions for the folder?
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Ok, I just found another game that broke itself: Descenders.
I just tried using Revo uninstaller on it in admin mode. It removed all the registry entries for it and said it deleted all the data associated with it with no errors.
However, I get an error when trying to install it. The same error all the other broken games have given me.
So, using Revo uninstaller in admin mode to uninstall these games that have broken themselves will not allow me to then install them afterwords.
I just tried using Revo uninstaller on it in admin mode. It removed all the registry entries for it and said it deleted all the data associated with it with no errors.
However, I get an error when trying to install it. The same error all the other broken games have given me.
So, using Revo uninstaller in admin mode to uninstall these games that have broken themselves will not allow me to then install them afterwords.
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Nope. Same account, and I also made sure it was the same account logged into both the MS store and the Xbox app.
I removed all non-Gamepass files from one of my 2TB SSD where I also had some files that I could not remove. Used format on that drive and seems all space is available now. I am even able to play Deep Rock Galactic now. Before I could install it, but it would not start at all. Also had problems with Doom Eternal. Reinstalling that one at the moment. Hope this one works as well now.
lol running into this now. Just formatting my drive as it's dedicated just for games.
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I personally like "SpaceSniffer" more. The interface and information display is much better IMO.
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Also, be sure to run it in Admin mode. Then it will pick up all the locations and sizes of games installed by the Xbox App/MS Store.
Let us know if you find anything that you uninstalled but stayed on the drive
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Y'all use the Windows built-in disk cleanup tools, right? Those usually catch anything hanging out in terms of temp files without risking giving a third-party tool the power to potentially fuck up your registry.
Tho for me the app just works, so idk.
Tho for me the app just works, so idk.
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One of the first "fixes" I tried was to run the disk cleanup tools. They didn't remove any of the games that had broken on my system
Quite myself here. Doom Eternal also working now.
I think I may have fucked thinks up myself a little. Upgraded my former SSD with a bigger one and just replaced the old one after tryingto copy everything to the new one. (Windowsapps folder of course caused problems)
With steam that never is an issue.
Will just use one specific drive for Gamepass from now on. At least I only have to format it should I notice new problems.
Reinstalling windows is a pain in the ass, a big one, so I can easily see why people would say to not bother with gamepass till the issue is fixed.
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Like I said before, it's not just reinstalling windows. You need to completely format the drive these broken and inaccessible games are on.
If you just reinstall windows, the locked WindowsApps folder will still exist taking up space on the drive, and messing with it could then corrupt your new install of windows. This folder will also most likely cause further issues with your new windows install similar to what made you reinstall in the first place.
If you have these broken games on your system drive, you then have to back up all your data off the system drive, reformat it, and then reinstall. Which is an even riskier proposition.
Tons of people haven't been able to access Gamepass on PC for the last few days and Microsoft barely acknowledges the issue. People should be reconsidering their subscriptions
I honestly think this is a much bigger problem than it appears. I might even be affected when Tetris Effect refused to update but would still launch, and when The Outer Worlds was gone from gamepass app but still on my desktop and worked. I can't say one way or the other though, as I didn't check my size before I uninstalled TOW and after (same with Tetris) because I didn't think this was a problem.
There has to be some people this is affecting who have no idea it's a problem and not tech savvy enough to even realise it's a problem and just think it's other things taking up space/"windows updates".
I feel this is something that should be looked into by some social media influencer, since MS won't even acknowledge this issue before that.
I like Gamepass for trying out things I prolly would entirely miss, but paying a price through ruined hardware isn't something I'm comfortable with. I've had bunch of problems with GP, chiefly not being able to start installed games.
Not savvy enough to prolly understand if my SSD is fracked by the service. I hope it isn't, but, now there's this doubt always in my mind.
I like Gamepass for trying out things I prolly would entirely miss, but paying a price through ruined hardware isn't something I'm comfortable with. I've had bunch of problems with GP, chiefly not being able to start installed games.
Not savvy enough to prolly understand if my SSD is fracked by the service. I hope it isn't, but, now there's this doubt always in my mind.
Verifying that this method actually works!
Followed it to the letter and it was pretty stressful, but I can finally re-download Crusader Kings 3 again!
Thank you! (And screw UWP Apps)
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What exactly happened to you?
Were you able to initially install and play it, but then when a patch came out it disappeared from your Xbox app and you couldn't run it? Do you remember what error it gave you when you tried to reinstall it ?
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No, consoles are fine.
Funny story about that. When I was on the phone with MS support, the third level tech that told me I had no option but to format my drive also told me that the reason these games were breaking was because "PCs can't have too many games on them or this happens and they break. That's why Microsoft made the Xbox, and if you play a lot of games you need to get an Xbox".
I had this with Forza Apex or a Forza Demo... I don't remember. Managed to delete the folder by taking over the rights back then.
It freed up the space sure, but as it still showed as installed on the drive, I wouldn't be able to redownload it.
It is terrible, but isn't MS working on redoing the whole Windows store entirely? Maybe it just works then.
Sure, this equates to "hey the wiring in my house has problems, trying to find the exact issue and fixing it seems like a nightmare, so I'm just building a new house with good thought through wiring"... but hey, as long as I'm not paying for the house and it doesn't take 3 years to build it, sure, go ahead Microsoft.
It freed up the space sure, but as it still showed as installed on the drive, I wouldn't be able to redownload it.
It is terrible, but isn't MS working on redoing the whole Windows store entirely? Maybe it just works then.
Sure, this equates to "hey the wiring in my house has problems, trying to find the exact issue and fixing it seems like a nightmare, so I'm just building a new house with good thought through wiring"... but hey, as long as I'm not paying for the house and it doesn't take 3 years to build it, sure, go ahead Microsoft.
Reading through this thread, I've never had any of these issues, and I've had Game Pass since last year. I also bought Dead Rising 4 and Gears 4 on the Windows Store. Hopefully, you folx find ways to fix your issues.
I installed PSO2 through the windows store, when I stopped playing this summer and had uninstall it, it was still taking space on my ssd drive.
Took the nuke option, Formatted the drive, now I can't install anything Microsoft related on that drive from Game pass. Other games from Game pass do install though.
Took the nuke option, Formatted the drive, now I can't install anything Microsoft related on that drive from Game pass. Other games from Game pass do install though.