Solved Windows Apps don't work for one user, but work for others.

crimson

Member
Member
Messages
103
I have checked everywhere online, and I haven't found a single explanation for this.

I have 3 user accounts.

1. Administrator
2. initial user
3. new user

So the initial user is the one you are forced to create when first setting up Windows 8.1. It's a local user meaning that I set it up without signing into a MSA.

In both the Administrator and the initial user, all the WinRT apps/tiles work. Like the weather will show up and everything.
WITNESS:
desk1.png

user1.png


Whether I change the Initial User to Standard or Administrator, everything still works fine. Of course, the Administrator can't open WinRT apps which is standard and normal. And the initial user can't use apps without signing into MSA. But it all still works perfectly fine.




The problem is with the new user. The new user is meant to be in Administrator mode because it's my main account. But whether I set it up as Standard or Administrator, it's the same thing. None of my WinRT apps work.
WITNESS:
Screenshot (1).png

Even when I sign into my MSA with the new user, it's still the same thing. It synchronizes to my OneDrive online. It recognizes that I'm completely signed in online. Yet it's still the exact same thing with the WinRT apps. None of them work. Even when I try to open up the Windows Store. It just continues to try to open, but doesn't go all the way through. So whether I'm signed into my MSA for the third user or not, it still gives the same problem.

I ran Windows Update, and it worked perfectly. Everything is up to date.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor
I created a 4th account using an MSA instead of creating it as a local account. And it still has the same problem as the third account. Like I said, whether the account is created with an MSA or if an account was created as a local user, and signed into a MSA. It's the same extremely frustrating problem. I can't do anything like this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor

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
I did the #5 - restart explorer, it was taking forever, then the screen went blank (turned off). Now the tablet won't turn back on. I'm just going to hold down the power button to shut it off.

If this didn't work, I'm probably going to just delete this fourth account that was created with the MSA. The third account isn't signed into anything, so it's basically a regular offline account.

Then I'll try using the Bar Code account which is working, and sign into my MSA. Then see what I can do in the Windows store to reset whatever I can, and see if that will get my third account working.

If that doesn't work, #12 said to turn on Windows Firewall if there's no other firewall installed. I have Online Armor installed. And it's not causing any conflict with the Administrator and the original Bar Code user.

But I can try resetting Windows Firewall to automatic in Services without actually turning it on. Then see if that works to stop the problem of disabling apps for newly created users.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor
But then there's still the whole problem of why the hell did my screen just turn off when restarting explorer.exe process?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor
My guess is that something may have prevented explorer from actually restarting after it was killed leaving you with a blank screen.
 

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
iquit.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor

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
So Jesus fixed it.
difix.png


I didn't even do anything. All I did was post that jacked-up image in the previous post. I even tried restarting a few times, and still got that same thing. So I quit. So after quitting, it just decides to work. After restarting multiple times, I move on with my life. During my excursion, it goes to sleep while logged into this tester account. I come back, turn it on, and suddenly everything is working. How rude.


So I'll go through the steps on what I did despite not knowing why it was being gay up until I quit.

1. The first thing I did was log into Administrator, and delete that 4th user account that was created with my MSA. Restart computer.

2. I then log into my second user account, Bar Code which is a local account. As I said, everything works on this despite not being signed into a MSA. I'm able to open, and browse the Windows store, and whatever. Just not able to download or manage apps or do anything that requires signing into a MSA. So at this point, it's the same as the OP in which my third account, Source Code (which is local -not signed into MSA) is experiencing the problem.

3. While in my second account, I sign into my MSA. But I don't do that #18 sync thing. Instead, I just do the #15 which is to update apps. Completely ineffective.
WITNESS:
appupdate.png

4. Completely ineffective, but not completely useless. That error message about the firewall really supported my original suspicion which I stated in my previous post. That your remark on #12 was only somewhat right.

You stated: "If you do not have a 3rd party firewall program installed, the "Windows Firewall" service must be set to "Automatic" and running (start) or it will prevent you from installing and using any Store apps."

My suspicion was that the problem might be exactly as you said, except not just in the absence of a 3rd party firewall. It might apply even with a 3rd party firewall installed. (Even though it makes no sense to have Windows Firewall Service enabled when you have a 3rd party firewall installed.) Hence, if this app update thing didn't work, I was planning to go back, and re-enable the Windows Firewall Service anyway. And this error message just emphasized that it might really work.

5. I restarted the computer, and log into my third account, Source Code. I notice that it still has the same problem as seen in the OP. I sign out, and log into my Administrator account. I delete the Source Code account.

6. I go into services, and set Windows Firewall service back to Automatic. But I don't start it back up. I restart the computer so that it restarts itself.

7. After restarting, I log back into Administrator to check if everything is OK. The Windows Firewall service is set to automatic, and is running. Windows Firewall itself is completely off.

8. At this point I'm practically certain it will work. I proceed to create a new local user account - tester1. Restart computer.

9. After restarting, I log into the tester1 account. And everything is jacked up. I really thought this would work, but it didn't, so I decided I should quit. I post the image "iquit.png" in the above post, and quit. And that's when Jesus up and decides to fix it. Story of my entire life.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor
Needless to say, this case is SOLVED.


CONCLUSION
A. To avoid this problem: do not disable Windows Firewall in Services. Even if 3rd party firewall is installed. Windows Firewall being disabled in Services is what causes this whole problem of WinRT apps not functioning in newly created User Accounts.


B. If you're having this problem: it probably means that Windows Firewall is disabled in Services. Log into the built-in Administrator account, and set Windows Firewall Service to Automatic.
STEPS:
Open Control Panel.
Open Administrative Tools
Open Services.
Right-click Windows Firewall service.
Open Properties.
Set the "Startup type" drop-down to Automatic.
Restart computer.
Windows Firewall Service will run.
This will make WinRT apps begin to work again.
(You can still turn Windows Firewall completely off in Control Panel. )

NOTE: It may be necessary to wait a few minutes while logged into the user account so everything can update properly for all the apps to start working. Restarting the system again might be necessary. (The user account can be local, and need not be signed into any MSA.)


C. Or don't do anything. Just quit. Perhaps pray. And Jesus will fix it.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor
Ah, yep, disabling the Windows Firewall service will break quite a bit.

Glad you got it sorted. :party:
 

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
Ya thanks. I've seen it happen in Windows. Like in 2010, I installed Allods, and it wouldn't work until I re-enabled Windows Firewall in Services.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    i5-4300U
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 2
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Rip-off type cover
    Antivirus
    Avast, Malwarebytes, Online Armor
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