Windows Metro/Store apps are corrupted and won't open

Hi all, hoping somebody can help with this issue.

My girlfriends Windows 8.1 laptop has developed a problem which I cannot seem to solve, despite finding it is quite a common Windows 8.1 issue and having Google'd around, none of the solutions seem to work for me to sort this out.

The problem is, Windows 8.1 'Metro' apps won't open. Well, some do - like Store, Settings. But Mail, People, Skype, Weather, Music and many others do not - upon clicking on the tile for these apps, the app swishes forward then quickly disappears, showing the standard Windows desktop. There is then a blank placeholder for the app icon on the taskbar (where there would usually be an icon, the box is empty) Clicking on it does nothing.

I have tried everything. I've tried the Windows Update troubleshooter, I have tried SFC /ScanNow, I have tried disabling AVG, I have tried DISM.EXE with the cleanup image and restore health switches. I have also tried the apps diagnostic troubleshooter from Microsoft (which also is linked to in this message board) - most of these report some form of corruption, and some say they have fixed it, but nothing changes. The Metro apps will still just not open.

Short of wiping and reinstalling Windows, what else can I investigate here??

Thanks

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Acorrupted Store cache is one of the more likely candidates, forinstance, but fortunately Microsoft has provided a tool to help.Press Win+R, type wsreset and press Enter, and the Store cache willbe cleaned for you.[/FONT]

That's one thing I've not tried yet, not have I seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks! I will try it next time I have access to the machine.

Although I do recall the Apps diagnostic tool (CAB file) from Microsoft saying something about a corrupted cache and at the end of the troubleshooter, it said "Fixed" with a green tick. But nothing changed. Is this the same tool do you think??

I don't know, I copied and pasted it a while back to a "New Text document in Documents library(best way to save random info other than using Onenote) from some site(can't remember where) when I was looking for a solution for another problem with windows update.

Well your quick response is much appreciated, I will be sure to give that command a try. Seems to be some sort of Windows Update related issue as updates weren't installing through Windows Update control panel applet either. I managed to eventually (unsure how) fix this, but it didn't fix the problems with Metro apps. Think somewhere along the line some malware has screwed it up because when I first went on the laptop I did a good root and branch clean and found some apps which didn't look too good installed on the system. Removed those but guess they have broken something somewhere. I'll have to have a go at it with your advice next time I have access to the machine.

Thanks.

Hello Alex,

If what Cliff posted above doesn't help, then here's a list of more troubleshooting steps to use that may.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21051-apps-tiles-not-working-responding-fix-windows-8-a.html