Store updates and downloads

I have had this W8 64 bit laptop for 6 weeks now and I wish I had never bought it. Can someone plse help? recently I have found that I am unable to update apps in Store or even to download new apps. I have read the responses from other members to previous requests on this subject and I have applied the 'fixes' they recommend but the problem is still there. Can anyone please please help with this problem?

Hello kmob, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Without knowing what you have tried already, see if clearing the Store cache may be able to help afterwards if you have not already.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13133-store-cache-clear-windows-8-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for that, it's something I had already tried. I have done a 'refresh' (wish I hadn't as I lost a lot, but that's life) and it seems to have worked as I can now download and update but .......... There's always a but! I needed to download Firefox again as it was one of the programmes I 'lost' and after at least 10 attempts I reluctantly gave up as I continuously received the following during the install "7-zip, the system cannot find the file specified". My lack of computer knowledge has made me unable to continue. By the way I also tried Chrome and Opera with the same result. I am able to go onto the net via IE. this request for help is being sent via the very reliable Apple iPad system.

What antivirus or security program do you have installed?

If it's a 3rd party program, then it may be blocking internet connection for those programs, and the program needs to be added to it's exception or safe list.

You should be able to download the .exe for Firefox at the link below.

Mozilla Firefox Web Browser ? Download Firefox in your language ? mozilla.org

I'm using McAfee Security Suite and I have tried to find out how to include 7 Zip as an exception but as I am not too good on Pc's I couldn't find out how to do it. I'm sure you are correct in what you say about the programme being blocked. I think its time to start asking friends lolol.

First off, I would advise you to do a complete malware scan before attempting any further action. If clean, then please consider my options as identified in the following paragraph.

Did your PC exhibit this behavior when you tried to download the Firefox exe from the link recommended by Brink? Also, there should be no need to place an exception for 7-zip anywhere. Alternatively, you can try disabling your AV, reboot, and click the recommended exe by Brink. That site is safe to trust. However, I'm fearing that your previous download may have come from an untrusted site and/or it was a portable version and that may be why the 7-zip issue is being entered into the mix. McAfee may have done a scan and that is somehow a warning of a possible infection (if unzipped). Anyway, once installed via the exe recommended by Brink, you can turn your AV back on and see what happens. Good luck.

In reply, yes the behaviour did occur when I used the download link.
I have done as you suggested my2cents, I did a malware scan using malwarebytes, in fact I did it twice and found lots of PuP's on both occasions. I ten downloaded from the link but the same happened i.e "7-zip the system cannot find the file specified"
I don't know what to do now. I wish I had stayed with W7.
Thanks for your help Brink and my2cent.

If you are downloading an exe file (not a zip file), and you are clicking on it, and you are getting a 7-zip not found message, then you default file associations must be messed up. Try this procedure to fix your issue:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8486-default-file-associations-restore-windows-8-a.html

Good luck.

ok I have downloaded default file associations (exe.reg) to my desktop but its the next two bits (3 and 4 on your list) that i dont understand. Remember I am not to ok with PC files.

kmob,

No worries. Please let us know what you need help with on the next steps. You would just need to double click on the exe.reg to merge it, then approve any prompts you may get.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8486-default-file-associations-restore-windows-8-a.html


3. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.

4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

Brink, when you say double click/tap on the .reg file this is where I am getting lost. The Firefox file I download is an .exe file, so I am not sure what u mean by the .reg file! Sorry to be such a thicko!
If you could just run through the process in simple terms I am sure I would grasp what I am supposed to do.
Thanks

Sorry kmob,

I'm referring to when you download the .reg file for the .exe option in the tutorial below to fix the associations for .exe files.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8486-default-file-associations-restore-windows-8-a.html

well I have downloaded the Firefox file again, double tapped it but all it does is extract and I get the "7-zip" response again.
I give up. thanks for your help. I will go back to W7.Sorry I had problems understanding the instructions but I am a senior citizen and although I have been using a pc for a number of years I have never delved to deeply hence my lack of understanding.

Kmob,

Did you try what we recommended above to fix this with?

kmob said:

well I have downloaded the Firefox file again, double tapped it but all it does is extract and I get the "7-zip" response again.
I give up. thanks for your help. I will go back to W7.Sorry I had problems understanding the instructions but I am a senior citizen and although I have been using a pc for a number of years I have never delved to deeply hence my lack of understanding.

Click to expand...

Hello kmob,

So, let's try it a different way before you waste all that time trying to go back to windows 7.

Can you provide a link to your download site for Firefox? That way, I can actually try to recreate your condition on one of my test rigs to see where your issue is really cropping up. It would also be beneficial if you could provide a screenshot of that error too. Here's how you could do that:

When the error message is visible, simply depress the Win key + print screen key and it will take a snapshot of you failure. Once done, go to you Pictures folder and you'll see a folder called Screenshots and you snapshot should be in there. Once found, you can attach it to your next post.

However, if not, Good luck.