System restore failed to extract the file, error 0x80071160

System Restore in Windows is one of the oldest and essential features which can help you recover a deleted file, and take you to the point where everything was working fine. But what if System Restore doesn’t work and fails? One such error we have noticed is — System restore failed to extract the file, error 0x80071160 or appxstaging. This problem occurs because of permission issues and fails when trying to extract files from System Restore backup.

In this case, it is WdBoot.sys, which is the Microsoft antimalware boot driver OS file.

System restore failed to extract the file, error 0x80071160

If System Restore has failed, then to fix this System Restore error, you will need to use an admin account as you will have to change permission. Then follow these suggestions:

System Restore from Advanced Recovery Environment
Rename WindowsApps Folder
Repair Windows using DISM and SFC Commands

It is always a good idea to have a backup in place along with System Restore. In the case of System Restore failure like in this case, the backup can be used to restore missing files.

1] System Restore from Advanced Recovery Environment

Since it’s probably because of permission issues, the Advanced Recovery Environment offers better support in this case. You can boot into Advanced Startup Options from within Windows or using a Windows 10 Bootable USB drive.

Open Windows 10 Settings (Win + I)
Navigate to Update and Security > Recovery > Click on Restart now button under Advanced Startup
When in Recovery, click on Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options
Click System Restore, see if you can go back to an earlier time.

If this works, you will be all set. But if you cannot, then in the Recovery Environment, you have the option to perform startup repair. Do that, and later try to perform a system restore.

2] Rename WindowsApps Folder

One of the known and the reported solution is to rename the Windows Apps Folder available in the Programs Folder in the installation drive of Windows. It will usually be available at “C:\Program Files.” However, the folder is hidden, so make sure to check the box next to Hidden Items under the Show/Hide section of the view tab.

This has been known to help many. So create a system restore point first and then rename the WindowsApps folder either in Safe Mode or using the Advanced Recovery Environment. In the latter, you will have to choose the command prompt and execute the following commands.

Safe Mode Method

Boot into Windows Safe Mode and log in with an admin account. Find and open Command Prompt, and execute the following commands as below. It is assuming that your Windows is installed in C drive.

cd C:\Program Files
takeown /f WindowsApps /r /d Y
icacls WindowsApps /grant “%USERDOMAIN%\%USERNAME%”:(F) /t
attrib WindowsApps -h
rename WindowsApps WindowsApps.old

Reboot Windows normally, and try System Restore again.

Advanced Recover Method

Boot into Advanced Recovery mode, and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. Execute the following command:

cd C:\Program Files
attrib WindowsApps -h
rename WindowsApps WindowsAppsOld

Reboot Windows normally, and try System Restore again.

Read: System Restore stuck or hung up.

3] Repair Windows System Image using DISM

If nothing else is working, the last thing we can suggest here is to run the DISM command to fix any form of corruption that might have happened to system files. Open Command Prompt or Power Shell with admin privileges, and execute the following commands

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

System Restore, like anything else, is prone to corruption, and permission issues. It is something that should work without issues, but then Windows is not without its share of drawbacks and problems. It is the primary reason why there is should at least two backups in place, so in case one doesn’t work, you can always fall back to the second.

I hope the post was able to help you resolve the System Restore Error 0x80071160.