Windows 8 apps will not work

Hi Crawfy,

I understand it could be upsetting if the system doesn't work properly.

Try running the Apps troubleshooter from the following link http://dell.to/14yYzy5. This tool can automatically identify and fix some problems with apps. Once you click on the link, a file will be downloaded. Run the file and follow the on-screen instructions to fix the issue.

Also, ensure that Windows update is up-to date. Please see What to do if you have problems with an app.

Hope this helps.

I have made sure windows is up to date.

After running the tool from  http://dell.to/14yYzy5 the only error it gave me was that my Western digital network storage device driver was out of date.  I confirmed it is in fact up to date but device manager still says it is out of date.  I can't see how a NAS on a network could be effecting my windows apps though.

Anyway, the apps are still not working. Surely it is a setting somewhere.

Hi Crawfy,

Thank you for the response. I would suggest you to perform a Refresh on your computer. The Refresh option is primarily a repair method. With the Refresh option, user accounts, data files and some settings are preserved on your PC without the need to create a backup or to make choices about what to keep or remove.

Here are the steps:

1. Open the General section of PC Settings by the key combination WIN KEY + C to open charms bar and click PC Settings.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click the Get started button under Refresh your PC without affecting your files.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click the Next button at the Refresh your PC step of the wizard.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. You may be prompted to insert installation or recovery media if there is not a recovery image preconfigured on your PC.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Click the Refresh button at the Ready to refresh your PC step.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. At this point, the PC is restarted, and the refresh actions are completed.
   
   
   
   

Once Refresh is complete, please ensure that Windows Updates are up-to-date.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

I have the very same problem on a the same DELL computer.

The repair tools says:

- Some security settings are missing or have been changed
- Check for missing or corrupt files

It says then that those problems are repaired, but they keep displayed when relaunching the tool.

The event log says for each app (change "winstore_xxx" by the appropriate app name): Activation of application winstore_cw5n1h2txyewy!Windows.Store failed with error: The system cannot find the file specified. See the Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational log for additional information.

Regards,
Math

Hi Math,

If you are still facing the same issue, then I would suggest you to perform a Refresh on the computer. This should take care of the problem.

Good Luck :emotion-21:

After running the link, I can open the store, but not other apps. When I tried to do PC refresh, it closed straightaway like other apps.

The problems found by DELL detect:

1) some security settings are missing or can not be fixed: not fixed

2) window store configuration may be damaged: detected

Appreciate if you could help.

Thanks Kate

I'm having the same exact problem as Little Swan. Contacted Microsoft support and they wanted $100 to fix the problem. I told them to get lost....does anyone have a remedy for this other than a complete clean install?

I didn't want to make a refresh too: I had a lot of programs installed... so never succeeded to make this work.

Apparently this appends when login with a domain account, so i used a Microsoft account as a palliative...

What WIn 8 are you using and have you upgraded from Win 8 to 8.1?

This problem IS NOT related to the hardware, but to Windows. 

Some things to try:

Load the Command Prompt program (with Administrative Privileges) and run SFC /SCANNOW to check for faulty windows programs.

Run an AV program and several anti-malware programs.

This problem can occur because of some basic incompatibility between Win 8.x and things like AV programs, or if running two AV programs; something downloaded running with Windows Defender is a problem. If you are running any other AV except Windows defender, uninstall it and go to Defender in the Control panel and make sure it's running. Then try some apps. Also make sure you are running Win 8.1 with all the updates. Make sure you don't have two AV programs running at the same time.

You also could uninstall all programs you have installed, but Refresh basically does the same thing. The best answer is a Refresh or Reset as recommended by Dell-Appu S. If still under warranty, ask Dell for a re-installation disk.

I'll look for more possible solutions. The only time I had this problem was with regards to AV programs. There have been many cases of individual Modern programs not working after periods of working. However this is never all the programs, and results from program authors not updating the app after the many MS Windows updates.

My one is Win 8.1. it is still under warranty. I got the email from Dell Technical Support 2 days ago that they will send me USBKEY to restore the operating system. Hope it will be fine after that.

I did a SFC /Scannow as you said. it found some files corrupted and some of the files can not be fixed. I use the computer only for surfing internet or simple games. I do not know what caused it. Thanks for your reply. It helps and I learnt something new. Cheers,