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windows store has never worked & now unable to upgrade to 8.1

Hi, 

I updated my Dell XPS laptop from Win 7 to Win 8 Pro last year (5th November) and I've never been able to open the App Store. I click on the Greed Store tab and nothing.. I didn't mind so much before, but now the Windows 8.1 update is out I'd like to upgrade but I cannot, and It's becoming quite annoying..  

I bought Win 8 64bit Pro through Windows.com website, I downloaded it and it seemed to install with no issues.  I have had plenty of issues with Win 8, one of which is having to keep entering network keys whenever I change from one wireless network to another (I have two wifi networks in my house).

I've tried several things to resolve the app store not opening. I recently tried running WSReset via CMD prompt (as admin), the result of which was this error message

ms-windows-store:PurgeCaches This application failed to launch because of an issue with its licence. please try again in a moment

I have also tried to change my product key back to the original WIn 8 Pro key supplied with my purchase. The reason for trying to change is because I took up Microsoft's offer of the free media centre addition, so my current version of Win 8 Pro is showing as "Win 8 Pro with Media Centre".  I also don't seem to be able to download the ISO version of Win 8.1, because whenever I enter either of my product keys i get told they are wrong..

I have to admit, I will be glad to see the back of Win 8, as it's given me nothing but issues and I hope I can update to 8.1, if not I'll have to go back to Win 7 Pro and consider my options... 

Surely after a year there should be a fix out to repair these sort of Issues.. !?!

 

Hi,

 

 

I would suggest you to try the steps mentioned in the link to fix the Windows Store issue.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_store/windows-8-apps-store-not-working/858e8d23-b63e-4cb6-b6a0-1198bb41849f

 

If nothing works out, I would suggest you to refresh Windows 8 and check.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

 

Note: Apps you installed from websites and DVDs will be removed. Apps that came with your PC and apps you installed from the Windows Store will be reinstalled. Windows puts a list of removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

 

Let us know if this helps.

 

 

Microsoft Desktop Support Engineer

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Hi Kevin..

I've already restored to an early point, and as mentioned in the first post I've run WSReset.exe, when I try that command I get the error as posted in the first post...

There are no apps installed other than those that shipped with the downloaded version of Win8 that I purchased through windows.com/store on the 5th November 2012, because I've never been able to run/open the store.. 



I can't even open links on windows.com's home page to download the 8.1 update because I assume that links like this one

ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade?ocid=GA8-1_O_WOL_Hero_Buy_81Update_Null_01 

must open the store app??

Also when I run SFC /scannow via an admin cmd prompt I get this message

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 22% complete

WIndows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

I'm just hoping I don't have to go back to Win 7 or loose any data..


Pete
 


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It appears you need to Reinstall Windows 8 as Kevin suggested above.


Are other apps working even though you're not able to open the store?

Are you using a Microsoft Account?


Run the Windows 8 Apps Troubleshooter and check the issue status.

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

 

You may try to reset the App cache and check..

a.       Press Windows key + R to open run window.

b.      Type wsreset.exe.

c.       Press OK.

 

If you are using the Microsoft account, run the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter to check if Microsoft Account is working fine Microsoft Accounts Troubleshooter is designed to deal the issues related with Microsoft accounts. When you run it, it will automatically detect common issues.



If the above fails, I'd advise you to follow Kevin's advice and Refresh or Reset (better yet) your pc.


If you do Refresh or Reset the unit and find you're product key is not accepted, try activating by phone:



Start the Windows Activation Wizard to use the automated telephone system and activate Windows. To start the wizard, click Start, click Run, type SLUI 04, and then click OK.

If you are running Windows 8, follow these steps:

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
  2. Type SLUI 04, and then tap or click the displayed icon to open the wizard.
  3. Follow the prompts
  4. Do not press any keys or say anything.  Wait for a human to answer the phone and explain in detail the issue you're experiencing.

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Hi Smittychat,

Last night I refreshed again but this time I used a newly downloaded win 8 file ( I used the download win 8 with product key ), and even after installing 68 updates I still have the same issues with the store not working, and I still get the same error message when I do this-->

You may try to reset the App cache and check..

a.       Press Windows key + R to open run window.

b.      Type wsreset.exe.

c.       Press OK.


which results in this error message -->


ms-windows-store:PurgeCaches This application failed to launch because of an issue with its licence. please try again in a moment


I ran the account troubleshooter, and the only thing that came up with was a personalised sync option being turned off, but as I only have one windows device I can't see why that would need to be on..


I'm now backing up 260gb of data because I feel that I have no option but to either try a fresh install of win 8 using the new win 8 file i downloaded last night or I go back to win 7.. I've always been one of those who likes to keep things updated rather than have to go backwards, so win 8 for me currently seems a huge step backwards in having to use a store / app to get updates instead of using the tried & tested method of updating windows via the built in windows update system as it has been since Windows first came out...


:(




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Are you using a proxy connection?  Disable proxy

a. Click the Gear box at the top right corner in internet explorer.
b. Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
c. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN settings.
d. Select the Use a proxy server for your LAN check box.
e. In the Address box, type the address of the proxy server.
f. In the Port box, type the port number.

 

Are system date/time correct?


Are you using a third-party anti-virus software?  Uninstall it temporarily

Are all drivers up-to-date?  Go to Device Manager.  Any yellow exclamation or question marks?  Update all drivers through Device Manager.


Finally, Clean boot the system and retry Windows Store


  1. Log on to Windows 8 computer with the administrator account.
  2. Click Desktop tile from the Start screen to go to the desktop.
  3. Once on the desktop screen, press Windows + R keys simultaneously to initiate the Run command box.
  4. On the Run command box, type MSCONFIG.EXE command in the available field.
  5. On the opened System Configuration box, make sure that General tab is selected.
  6. On the selected tab, click to select Selective startup radio button.
  7. Once selected, uncheck Load startup items checkbox.
  8. Then go to Services tab.
  9. From the bottom left corner of the selected tab, check Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
  10. On the same tab, click Disable all button at the bottom right corner to disable all the running services.
  11. Then go to Startup tab, and click Open Task Manager.
  12. On the opened Task Manager window, make sure that Startup tab is selected.
  13. On the selected tab, right-click each startup program one-by-one.
  14. From the displayed context menu, click Disable to disable the selected startup item.
  15. Close Task Manager when done.
  16. Back on System Configuration box, click OK.
  17. On the displayed message box, click Restart to clean boot the Windows 8 computer.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1656449/clean-boot-windows.html



Prior to the release of Windows 8.1, it was advised to Reinstall Windows Version that came with the system, install Windows 8, and install Windows 8.1.



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Hi Smittychat

No I don't use a proxy, and I haven't had any issues with anything else except the store.. 

I tried a clean boot of Win 8, but still no luck, and after becoming frustrated with it I wiped the HDD last night and started from scratch by installing the Win 7 64bit that came with the laptop, as soon as that installed I updated that with Win 8 and I'm now able to use the store and I'm currently updating to 8.1.. 

I've been a long term Windows user, and I hope that issues like this are not something I have to get used too..  

The Store on my laptop has not worked in a year, and there's been no update to fix it, I've tried everything on these support pages but it still wouldn't work as it should have done since day one..

I do appreciate the help though :)


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Are you still able to access Windows Store after upgrading to Windows 8.1?


As I said earlier, the advice prior to the release of Windows 8.1 was to start from scratch when the release comes by installing the Original Windows version, upgrade to Windows 8 then upgrade to Windows 8.1. 


Admittedly it is a pain but that advice had been repeated on several threads relating to Windows 8.1 Preview. 


I have Windows 8 and wiped the drive, reinstalled and proceeded to upgrade.  It went quite well.

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Question Info

Last updated April 18, 2019 Views 569 Applies to: