[BUG] AppX/MSIX Error Code 0x80073D28 and 0x80073CF6 during Claude Setup 1.8555.0 (commit 8245b7a72393fec67fa946b26a825bfbd3f947b3) fails on Windows 11 build 26200

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Claude Setup 1.8555.0 (commit 8245b7a72393fec67fa946b26a825bfbd3f947b3) fails on Windows 11 build 26200 with three compounding issues:

Pre-install remove uses invalid flag combination. The bootstrapper calls Remove-AppxPackage with PreserveApplicationData on a non-development-mode package, which Microsoft documents as unsupported. Result: 0x80073CFA: PreserveApplicationData flag can only be used on a package that was deployed in development mode.
Install uses wrong code path for service-containing MSIX. The installer log says Standard install (not split-account), using AddPackage and Installing via AddPackage (current-user). Since the package contains a windows.service extension (CoworkVMService), current-user AddPackage cannot register it even when elevated. Result: 0x80073D28: Administrator privileges required to install packaged service.
Failed installs leave orphan AppRepository records. The XML at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\Claude_<version>_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc.xml persists CoworkVMService registration across failed attempts. Subsequent installs (even via Add-AppxProvisionedPackage + Add-AppxPackage -Register) fail with 0x80070436: The name is already in use as either a service name or a service display name. DISM /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage reports success but doesn't remove the XML. The system is left in a state where the package cannot be installed and cannot be cleanly removed without TrustedInstaller-level filesystem surgery.

Workaround attempted by user: full diagnostic sequence including SCM service search (no orphan service exists), registry service-key scan (clean), Get-AppPackageLog activity ID review (confirms collision in PackagedServiceDEH), service restart of AppXSvc/StateRepository/ClipSVC, and reboot. None resolved the conflict.

What Should Happen?

I should be able to run claude desktop after install

Error Messages/Logs

Pre-install remove uses invalid flag combination. The bootstrapper calls Remove-AppxPackage with PreserveApplicationData on a non-development-mode package, which Microsoft documents as unsupported. Result: 0x80073CFA: PreserveApplicationData flag can only be used on a package that was deployed in development mode.
Install uses wrong code path for service-containing MSIX. The installer log says Standard install (not split-account), using AddPackage and Installing via AddPackage (current-user). Since the package contains a windows.service extension (CoworkVMService), current-user AddPackage cannot register it even when elevated. Result: 0x80073D28: Administrator privileges required to install packaged service.
Failed installs leave orphan AppRepository records. The XML at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\Claude_<version>_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc.xml persists CoworkVMService registration across failed attempts. Subsequent installs (even via Add-AppxProvisionedPackage + Add-AppxPackage -Register) fail with 0x80070436: The name is already in use as either a service name or a service display name. DISM /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage reports success but doesn't remove the XML. The system is left in a state where the package cannot be installed and cannot be cleanly removed without TrustedInstaller-level filesystem surgery.

Workaround attempted by user: full diagnostic sequence including SCM service search (no orphan service exists), registry service-key scan (clean), Get-AppPackageLog activity ID review (confirms collision in PackagedServiceDEH), service restart of AppXSvc/StateRepository/ClipSVC, and reboot. None resolved the conflict.

Steps to Reproduce

Pre-install remove uses invalid flag combination. The bootstrapper calls Remove-AppxPackage with PreserveApplicationData on a non-development-mode package, which Microsoft documents as unsupported. Result: 0x80073CFA: PreserveApplicationData flag can only be used on a package that was deployed in development mode.
Install uses wrong code path for service-containing MSIX. The installer log says Standard install (not split-account), using AddPackage and Installing via AddPackage (current-user). Since the package contains a windows.service extension (CoworkVMService), current-user AddPackage cannot register it even when elevated. Result: 0x80073D28: Administrator privileges required to install packaged service.
Failed installs leave orphan AppRepository records. The XML at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\Claude_<version>_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc.xml persists CoworkVMService registration across failed attempts. Subsequent installs (even via Add-AppxProvisionedPackage + Add-AppxPackage -Register) fail with 0x80070436: The name is already in use as either a service name or a service display name. DISM /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage reports success but doesn't remove the XML. The system is left in a state where the package cannot be installed and cannot be cleanly removed without TrustedInstaller-level filesystem surgery.

Workaround attempted by user: full diagnostic sequence including SCM service search (no orphan service exists), registry service-key scan (clean), Get-AppPackageLog activity ID review (confirms collision in PackagedServiceDEH), service restart of AppXSvc/StateRepository/ClipSVC, and reboot. None resolved the conflict.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.8555.0

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

<img width="399" height="182" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3f264ac6-6437-43ca-8138-2adcf5dd1284" />