Windows 10 Apps Opening Issues

redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 09:07
Last edited 29/06/2022 - 16:00

Good morning, legends of Ozbargain.

Posted previously on this forum when I had a fonts issue with Chrome. You were all so incredibly helpful, I decided to come ask for your assistance again.

This morning I woke up, powered up my computer, it got stuck on the bios screen. Said there was an issue with my windows operating system, and that it needed to repair in order to start up - "attempting repairs". I waited for it to do that, then it started up properly.

THEN the issues started. Most of my programs work, but I can no longer open Chrome. I also have NordVPN set to open on start up, and auto connect, and that doesn't happen anymore either, nor can I open NordVPN manually.

I followed some steps that were suggested online, including:

  • making sure Windows Update service was running (through "Run" -> "services.msc")
  • making sure Application Identity was running (for some reason this is NEVER running, even when I change it to "manual -> trigger start" and then reboot, and when I try to set it to "automatic" it says "access is denied").
  • running the Windows Store app trouble shooter
  • changing ownership of the c: drive
  • going to an earlier restore point (didn't help)
  • making sure Windows is up to date

And I'm absolutely stumped. Is Application Identity causing the issue? Another side point is that after the initial "repairs" happened and Windows started up for the first time, I got a pop up saying "This app can't open - check the Windows Store for more info about Cortana".

I'm not a computer wiz by any means, and am needing Chrome to do my work.

Please advise if you have any suggestions!! Should I do a Windows clean install (where I think it will keep all my files??)?

Thanks so much for taking the time to read. And I hope my explanation has been somewhat cohesive.

UPDATE: I have gone through and done a Windows re-install through the Windows 10 "Recovery" feature. Managed to keep all my files. Currently re-installing all the apps I had. Everything seems to be working again, as per usual.

Thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions! Much appreciated!

Computing Microsoft Operating System

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 29/06/2022 - 09:09
    +1

    Windows clean install is probably the quickest if it software conflicts causing the issue. You could spend days otherwise just chasing problems.

    Is the motherboard bios the most recent?

    • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 09:11

      So going to "Recovery" and "Reset this PC", right? It says it lets you choose to keep your personal files - will that also keep all my apps and app settings and all, do you know?

      I'm not sure about the motherboard bios.. How would I check that? Going into bios settings when the PC starts up?

      • Muzeeb on 29/06/2022 - 09:16

        If you have a backup of all your data then I would perform a completely fresh install. If not then do as you said above.

        Identifying your BIOS version is easy: hold down the Windows key+ R to bring up the Run command prompt and type in msinfo32. In the System Information window which appears, select System summary on the left and look for the entry BIOS Version/Date on the right.

        Then go to your laptop manufacturers website and typically under support/downloads of your laptop model you can compare the bios version numbers.

        Follow the manufacturer's instructions to update the bios - they can vary slightly.

  • randomusername2017 on 29/06/2022 - 09:09

    Shortcut - reinstall windows

    or roll out the backup you prepared earlier

    • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 09:11

      Tried that, to no avail. :( Will go for the reinstall, most likely.

  • 7ekn00 on 29/06/2022 - 11:30

    I am guessing either a laptop or relatively old PC?
    (Laptop HDD prone to damage - old PCs prone to HDD failure)

    Boot errors and app errors actually means your boot drive is dying (both SSD and HDD can die in a similar manner) :/

    Can be verified by using something like CrystalDiskInfo to read the SMART data from the drive (if error rates or sector reallocation is high, it's dying)

    Backup all important data now while you still can and buy a new boot drive!

    Also start a Windows install from scratch, as it is too late to image the OS - you will be imaging a broken OS to a new drive if you do it now!

    • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 11:40

      Sad to say this is a Desktop that I bought in 2020 :,) The OS is on a 500gb SSD. I'll try to see if I can use CrystalDiskInfo to see if the error rates or sector reallocation is high. Thanks for the tip.

      Backing up now!!

      And will attempt a Windows reset install, after that.

      • 7ekn00 on 29/06/2022 - 12:42

        Depends on SSD model, there is a lot of crap out there :/

        Have had Kingston and AData SSDs die pretty quick!

        • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 14:14

          I installed CrystalDiskInfo - I have a bunch of drives plugged in - all the external ones have data values, but the C: drive is an NVM Express 1.3 Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB, and it just gives me "raw values"?

          I'll link a photo here: https://imgur.com/a/yH6RWIP

          How can I see if the error rates or sector reallocation is high?

  • hero000 on 29/06/2022 - 12:35

    Create a new user on the computer. Check if you are experiencing similar behaviour with the new account.

    • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 14:02

      Just created a new user. Same issues - Chrome and NordVPN both not starting up.

  • Mechz on 29/06/2022 - 14:12

    +1 for a fresh install, remember to delete all existing partitions when in the windows setup. Copy files to an external or separate internal disk (and then keep them there after you have reinstalled).

    • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 14:23

      Thank you, I'm getting close to doing this. I think I can just do "Recovery -> Reset this PC", right? The info box says it'll let me keep my personal files, and then reinstall Windows.

      • randomusername2017 on 29/06/2022 - 16:00

        Chance you'll have the same issues doing it that way
        Format and fresh install after backing up personal data is best.

        Have you tried rolling back to last successful boot?
        Uninstall chrome and Nord then reinstalled them?

        • redgymhero on 29/06/2022 - 16:02

          Went ahead with it, all issues seem to be resolved.

          I did try rolling back to last successful boot (my last restore point), and no luck :(

          Didn't try uninstalling Chrome and Nord, that could have been an option too. Oh well, all is in working order again! Thank you for your feedback!

  • Nutrino on 29/06/2022 - 19:09

    The same thing happened to me, also a pop up appeared with microsoft support number. The lovely gentleman assisted with fixing my problem.

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