Can't Side Load a WAP Based Installation Package - AppInstaller.Exe Fails with Generic Error Codes

Question

Hello there

I have created a set-up for a desktop .Net Framework based application from Visual Studio Preview 2019 using the Windows Application Packaging Project. This creates an .appxbundle file. I can install the application onto the same PC on which it was developed using this .appbundle file. However, when I try to side load the application onto a Windows 10 laptop (10.0.19401 Build 19041), it fails silently, and I get the following two entries in the Windows Application Log:

1) Exception Code: 0xc0000005, Faulting application path: c:\Program Files...\AppInstaller.exe
2) Exception Code: 0x00041d, Faulting application path: c:\Program Files..\AppInstaller.exe

Any help greatly appreciated

Answer 1

Hi,

Thank you for posting your issue to our Q&A forum.

I understand your problem is that you could not successfully install the .appxbundle package generated by Windows Application Packaging Project in Visual Studio on your Win 10 laptop.

If so, please kindly follow the troubleshooting steps in below article to see if they could help to resolve your issue.
Troubleshoot installation issues with the App Installer file

1. You can first check if the Developer Mode or Sideloading apps has been enabled on your laptop.
   As per this article Enable your device for development,

if you are writing software with Visual Studio on a computer for first time, you will need to enable Developer Mode on both the development PC, and on any devices you'll use to test your code.

2. Also, you can try to install the file using Add-AppxPackage PowerShell command to have a test.

There is also another article you can refer to for installing .Appx or AppxBundle Software on Window 10.
https://www.howtogeek.com/285410/how-to-install-.appx-or-.appxbundle-software-on-windows-10/

Hope below information could help you.

Thanks,

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