Hello @Dave Barry
Sorry you’re experiencing this on a laptop that is only a week old. To narrow down the cause, could you please confirm:
- Which applications will not open? For example, Settings, Microsoft Store, Edge, or third-party programs.
- What happens when you select an app: nothing, a loading screen, an immediate closure, or an error message?
- Can you open Settings > Windows Update, and does the laptop otherwise respond normally?
For now, restart the Surface and install all available Windows updates. If Windows or every application is unresponsive, press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds until the Surface restarts, then run the Surface Repair Tool or Surface Diagnostic Toolkit.
Because the device is only a week old, if even Settings and the diagnostic tools will not open, contact the retailer or Surface Support about an exchange or warranty service rather than repeatedly resetting it.
Please feel free to let me know if you need any further assistance. Have a nice day