[BUG] Windows: Desktop MSIX stuck Staged/Servicing — survives full OS repair install AND Developer Mode; installer fails 0x80073D28 (no CoworkVMService)

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 Desktop's Windows MSIX package is permanently wedged in Staged (S-1-5-18) / Servicing state after an interrupted update, and cannot be removed or reinstalled by any documented means.

Same root deadlock as #53504, #57744, #51132, and #76925 — filing new because those threads are locked to collaborators. Two data points not documented there: a full in-place Windows repair install does NOT clear the wedged package, and neither does enabling Developer Mode.

Environment: Windows 11 Home (10.0.26200). Stuck package: Claude Desktop MSIX 1.22209.0.0. This is Claude Desktop, not the Claude Code CLI.

Stuck package state (unchanged through everything below):

• PackageFullName: Claude_1.22209.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc
• PackageUserInformation: {S-1-5-18 [S-1-5-18]: Staged}
• Status: Servicing
• SignatureKind: Developer

Everything attempted — all failed:

• Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers (wildcard and by full name) — returns silently, package remains
• Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online — "The system cannot find the file specified"
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth + sfc /scannow — completed clean, package status unchanged
• Recreated missing registry keys under HKLM\...\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Applications\ and ...\EndOfLife\S-1-5-18\ + reboot — removal then failed with "The system cannot find the file specified. Deployment operation failed."
• Full in-place repair install (Settings → Recovery → "Fix problems using Windows Update", ~3 hours, completed successfully) — the wedged package migrated intact into the repaired OS, still Staged/Servicing
• Enabled Developer Mode after the installer log showed "Windows rejected data-preserving removal (0x80073CFA, requires developer mode)" — manual removal is still a silent no-op, and the latest installer (commit 77c938ba, downloaded 2026-07-18) still fails AddPackage with HRESULT 0x80073D28
• CoworkVMService is NOT present on this machine (installer log: "Conflicting service: false") — reproduces without the service-lock variant from #63722

What Should Happen?

The installer should detect a package wedged in Servicing/Staged state and remove or supersede it. Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers should actually remove the package (or return an actionable error) instead of silently succeeding while the registration persists.

Error Messages/Logs

=== ClaudeSetup.log (installer commit 77c938ba, downloaded 2026-07-18) ===
Extracted family name from MSIX manifest: Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc
Checking for existing Claude MSIX packages...
Removing: Claude_1.22209.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc
Windows rejected data-preserving removal for Claude_1.22209.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc (0x80073CFA, requires developer mode); relying on in-place update
Installing MSIX: Claude-1944654901.msix
Standard install (not split-account), using AddPackage
Installing via AddPackage (current-user)...
MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073D28

=== PowerShell (admin) ===
PS> Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Package Claude_1.22209.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc
(no output — silent; package remains, Status: Servicing)

PS> Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackageName Claude_1.22209.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage : The system cannot find the file specified.

Full ClaudeSetup.log attached in Additional Information.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Claude Desktop for Windows installed (MSIX, family Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc), working normally
2. Desktop app update is interrupted / fails mid-update
3. Package is left Staged to S-1-5-18 with Status: Servicing; app no longer launches
4. Any removal attempt (Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers, elevated) is a silent no-op
5. Reinstall with the official installer fails: AddPackage HRESULT 0x80073D28
6. Full in-place Windows repair install and enabling Developer Mode do not clear the state

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

Claude Desktop 1.22209.0.0 — ran fine until its auto-update was interrupted

Claude Code Version

N/A — Claude Code not installed. This is Claude Desktop (stuck MSIX 1.22209.0.0, installer commit 77c938ba).

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

Windows 11 Home, build 10.0.26200. Sideloading enabled, S Mode false, Developer Mode now ON (made no difference). Happy to pull AppXDeployment-Server event logs or run further diagnostics on request.

ClaudeSetup.log