Desktop Apps quit working, They just sit on the Taskbar

pvc

New Member
Messages
31
I was unpinning many apps from my start screen. Now when I try to run an app (such as Computer, or Control Panel) it creates an entry on the desktop taskbar, but not on the desktop.

I can't run anything on this Win8.0 desktop, except for IE. The only thing I can do with the taskbar icon is close the window.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I will try upgrading to Win8.1 ??? I can't seem to do anything else without tools of any kind.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I will try upgrading to Win8.1 ??? I can't seem to do anything else without tools of any kind.
Well I think maybe I updated to Win 8.1??? I got a prompt to restart. But since I couldn't run anything on the desktop I used the power button to shutdown and restart. It ran for 15 minutes or so with a blank/black screen and finally the Win8 background screen came up.

I still can't run any desktop app. So I can't even view any settings. I can run those Metro apps. Just not any desktop apps.

Question: Is there any Microsoft Technicians in this forum? Maybe I'm posting in the wrong place?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
You have 2 monitors with one (or tv) turned off?

If not, change your resolution to anything else. Save. Set it back to how it was and save again.

If you have any monitor manipulation software installed, uninstall it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
You have 2 monitors with one (or tv) turned off?

If not, change your resolution to anything else. Save. Set it back to how it was and save again.

If you have any monitor manipulation software installed, uninstall it.
Yes, I have two monitors (2nd is HDMI to TV). I unplugged the HDMI cable and now I can run desktop apps. Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
I will try upgrading to Win8.1 ??? I can't seem to do anything else without tools of any kind.
Well I think maybe I updated to Win 8.1??? I got a prompt to restart. But since I couldn't run anything on the desktop I used the power button to shutdown and restart. It ran for 15 minutes or so with a blank/black screen and finally the Win8 background screen came up.

I still can't run any desktop app. So I can't even view any settings. I can run those Metro apps. Just not any desktop apps.

Question: Is there any Microsoft Technicians in this forum? Maybe I'm posting in the wrong place?

Have you tried Classic Shell:

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I will try Classic Shell now that I am no longer dead-in-the-water.

It works good. :)

screenshot_147.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I took a look at Classic Shell. It's third party software. I thought I would give Win8 a try before I start with mods. Maybe later after after I get settled-in I will try Classic Shell in a temporary image of Win8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8700
Classic Shell is a great little piece of software. I use Start8 by Stardock but basically the same idea. It's the first thing I install for any Windows 8 system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
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