Solved Updated to Windows 8.1, store not starting anymore

Mandarb

New Member
Messages
7
Hi everyone

I just updated to Windows 8.1 Pro, and now the Windows Store isn't launching anymore, the tile expands over the whole screen and then I'm back at the start window. Some other apps did the same thing, such as mail and calendar. I uninstalled those, meaning to reinstall them, but, since the store won't launch I can't do that.

And I don't seem to be able to reinstall the windows store.

That said, I used to have all user files on a separate HDD, moved them by means of the audit mode described here on the forums. I used the same method again to undo the changes, then moved the moveable files as is supported by windows. Everything was working, then I updated.

Any idea what might have happened, or how I can fix it without doing a whole reinstall?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Professional 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-3600k
    Motherboard
    Asus Sabretooth P67
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Radeon HD6970
Alright, the store works on another account, but not on my main account. I guess some user file got corrupted on my account. Anybody knows of any way to restore the store settings (without refreshing windows and reinstalling everything... )?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Professional 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-3600k
    Motherboard
    Asus Sabretooth P67
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Radeon HD6970

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
That didn't help, but 5min ago I solved it myself, through a.. uhm.. quirky patch method ^^


I mentioned I had created a second, local, account. I disconnected my real account from my windows account, connected it to my second dummie account (Start screen -> Change PC settings -> Accounts -> Disconnect Account). Both accounts had administrative rights.

Store on the dummie account was working perfectly, store on my main account still didn't load. I tried literally everything in the microsoft support forums, from sfc /scannow to wsclear.exe, safeboot, MS troubleshoot apps etc. Since clearing the cache with the command line didn't work I tried to find it myself. Deleting the cache with Unlocker didn't help, but then I noticed a second location that was associated with the store, and curiously, the folder was named exactly the same on both users: WinStore_*insert a bunch of letters and numbers*. Desperately, as last resort before either making the dummie account my real account, or refreshing windows (which both would have meant reinstalling all my programms), I did the following, and it worked:


I downloaded and installed "Unlocker"

I used unlocker to delete the folders and containing files in the following locations (store cache and settings):

C:\Users\"real account name"\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Store
C:\Users\"real account name"\AppData\Local\Packages\WinStore_*insert some numbers and letters (presumably Store ID or PC ID)*


I then went to the same locations for my dummie account and moved all the folders and files therein to the corresponding location on my real account, using Unlocker.

C:\Users\"dummie account name"\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Store
C:\Users\"dummie account name"\AppData\Local\Packages\WinStore_*insert some numbers and letters*

I went to my real account, store started, I went to my dummie account, store logo expanded, and it threw me back to the start screen, as it did before on my real account.

I disconnected my dummie account from my microsoft account, reconnected it to my real account, deleted my dummie account without keeping anything.

I now have again a working windows store on my computer, without the need to reinstall any programs. Just took a while to figure it out, hopefully, this information is going to help some other people.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Professional 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-3600k
    Motherboard
    Asus Sabretooth P67
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Radeon HD6970
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