Windows 8 app store and PC Settings won't open.

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft community!

You've reached the right forum for your question. I am sorry to hear that the app store and PC settings not opening in Windows 8. I would suggest you to try the suggestions provided and check.

1. Did you make any changes on the computer prior to the issue?
2. What happens when you try to ope app store and PC Settings?
3. Do you receive any error message?
4. Which troubleshooting steps did you try?

Method 1:

Download and run the app troubleshooter and check.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/4/F24D0C03-4181-4E5B-A23B-5C3A6B5974E3/apps.diagcab

Method 2:

Check for Updates for the App(s) in Store

To update the app, you can either tap or click the notification or follow these steps.

a. On the Start screen, tap or click Store to open the Windows Store.

b.Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.

(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.)

c. Tap or click App updates. If you haven't signed in to the Windows Store, sign in using your Microsoft account.

d. Tap or click Check for updates.

e. If updates are available, swipe down on or right-click the app updates you want, and then tap or click Install.

Method 3: Check in Safe mode with Networking

Step 1:

Boot the computer in Safe mode with Networking and check if the issue persists. Follow these steps to start the computer in safe mode.

a) Press the ‘Windows + C’ key on the keyboard.

b) Click on settings, more pc settings and then general.

c) Scroll down to advanced startup, click restart now.

d) Click on troubleshoot, advanced options, Windows Startup Settings.

e) Click restart, select safe mode with networking and then press enter.

Note: Restart the computer to start in normal mode.

Step 2:

If the issue does not persists in safe mode then perform a clean boot to check if any third party application is causing the issue, as clean boot helps in eliminating software conflicts. Follow these steps to start the computer in clean boot.

Step 1:

a) Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.

b) In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.

c) Click the ‘Boot’ tab and uncheck ‘Safe Boot’ option.

d) On the ‘General’ tab, click to select the option ‘Selective startup’, and then click to clear the option Load startup items check box.

e) On the ‘Services’ tab, click to select the ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ check box, and then click ‘Disable all’.

f) On the ‘StartUp’ tab, click ‘Open Task Manager’. In the Task Manager window under startup tab, right click on each startup item which are enabled and select ‘Disable’.

g) Click ‘OK’, and then click Restart.

Step 2: Enable half of the services

a) Follow steps 1a and 1b to start the System Configuration utility.

b) Click the Services tab, and then click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

c) Click to select half of the check boxes in the Service list.

d) Click OK, and then click Restart.

Step 3: Determine whether the problem returns

If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Service list.

If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

If only one service is selected in the Service list, and you still experience the problem, the selected service causes the problem. Go to step 6. If no service causes this problem, go to step 4.

Step 4: Enable half of the Startup items

If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 5: Determine whether the problem returns

If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Startup Item list.

If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

If only one startup item is selected in the Startup Item list, and you still experience the problem, the startup item that is selected in the list is the service that is causing the problem. Go to step 6.

If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 6: Resolve the problem

After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item.

Step 7:

Note: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to boot to normal startup.

a) Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.

b) In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.

c) On the ‘General’ tab, click the ‘Normal Startup’ option, and then click ‘OK’.

d) When you are prompted to restart the computer, click ‘Restart’.

Method 4:

Perform System File Check (SFC), and then check if this fixes the issue.

Follow the steps:

a. Press “Windows Key + Q” to open Charms Bar.

b. Type “cmd” without quotes in the search box.

c. On the left pane, right click on the “cmd” option and select “Run as Administrator”.

d. Type ‘sfc /scannow’ without quotes and hit enter.

Note: It may ask for windows installation DVD to fix and to enable SFC to make more than minor repairs. Some files saved on your computer might get deleted when fixing corrupted files.

Method 5:

You may reset Windows Store cache and check.

a. Open Run windows.

b. Type wsreset.exe and press OK.

For more information, visit the following link.

What to do if you have problems with an app

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/what-troubleshoot-problems-app

Hope this information helps. Please reply with the status so that we could assist you better.

I haven't made any changes at all. I've only had the computer for maybe two weeks. When I try to open the programs it pulls up the loading screen and then immediately closes. I don't get any error messages. I've tried Method 1, 2, 4, and 5. I can't get into the PC Settings so I can't boot in safe mode. I went ahead and tried the other parts to that method just in case and they didn't work.

i have the exact same issue

From Event Viewer:

Activation of app winstore_cw5n1h2txyewy!Windows.Store failed with error: The system cannot find the file specified. See the Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational log for additional information.

I have the same problem. I upgraded last week from Vista to windows 8 and have been unable to connect using the Store app. I have also had great problems finding the windows 8 PC app store. When using Bing it takes you everywhere except the app store , at least you can still rely on Google !