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

Having the same issue since last night. 

1. I believe an NVIDIA driver update was pushed/installed through Windows update, which prevented the computer from fully starting Windows after reboot.
2. I rebooted, pressed F8, and used Windows Restore to remove all installed apps/updates but preserve my user files (documents, etc.).
3. Windows 8 now boots and I can login with my MS Account password (locally).
4. I then disabled auto-installation of Windows Update downloads so I don't have this issue going forward.  I set Windows Update so I can review updates before installing and will avoid Nvidia updates.
5. I can sign into my Windows account locally with my MS Account password, but the Action Center on the desktop requests that I "Click here to enter my most recent password (Important)."
6. I click on that, it loads the Windows 8 settings splash screen (the gear symbol), but then immediately exits back to the desktop.
7. I try to manually go into the Settings option from the Charms bar, but have the same result: splash screen displays but Settings won't open.  Therefore, I can't enter the MS Account password it is requesting.
8. The Windows Store shows the same behavior.
9. Other non-admin accounts on the PC also exhibit the same behaviors.
10. I'm going to try to restore again, but I expect the same issue.
11. My guess is that the MS Account info is corrupted locally, but it's severe enough that it won't allow me to launch and re-authenticate with the service over the internet.

1. I shoud also mention that I tried to install the MS Accounts troubleshooter: http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/4/F24D0C03-4181-4E5B-A23B-5C3A6B5974E3/microsoftaccounts.diagcab but I receive an error stating "A problem is preventing the troubleshooter from starting."  Error code 0x80070005 is returned.
2. I then tried running a fix for this issue: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=23510, but that won't install either!

l found a simple solution to the same problem,you have to have windows firewall enabled to connect to windows store,i disabled my AVG firewall and then enabled the windows firewall and was able to go straight to the store.

I ended up having to do a Windows Reset by forcing the boot-up sequence to fail by turning the PC off toward the end of boot (since I couldn't enable the Reset using the Windows Settings that failed to load).  This wiped all account info (I had previously moved all data files to an external drive), but allowed me to add back each MS account I had on the PC.

I then set Windows Update to allow me to review all updates before installation, so that the Nvidia drivers won't automatically install.

I have the same issue, just 'crashes' to the start menu D: