Problems with Apps on Win 11 laptop

MouldyOldDough

My win 11 laptop has suddenly started to play up

When I select (for example) a jpg image from the desktop - it tells me

"The application cannot be started,  Try reinstalling the application to fix the problem"

similar with txt files

Word files (doc and docx) are OK as are PDF's

I have tried System Restore and that makes no difference - despite restoring to a known good time (last week)

How do I reinstall basic windows apps without a full windows reinstall ?

Default programs are all correct in Settings

gefnew

I have had the same problem i think it stems from windows update, photo calculator etc seem to load then hide from view.

MouldyOldDough

Sounds likely - yes I will try uninstalling the latest update

and am unable to do this - what are we going to do ?

reinstall Windows ?

GDB2222

Have you tried opening the app and then trying to load a file?

giraffe69

Is it possible that the file association has gone wrong?  If you go to settings then apps then default apps and look at the app giving the problem is the correct program seeking to open a file? Windows update has played with associatons before so worth a check just in case.

ih8stress

I had this in Windows 10 with my photos and screenprints. I also lost the calculator abit later too.

I think it is to do with a recent update.

A temporary way to view photos etc. is to right click on the item, scroll down to 'open with' and select the 'paint' option. Not perfect and you might have to reduce the size to view the item but at least you will be able to see it.

There are supposed to be a few different ways of fixing this.  I needed to update my Firefox browser, so re-installed it.  I now have questions about the dns settings BUT it DID fix the calculator and photo issues for me, ha ha.

Good luck

MouldyOldDough

GDB2222 said:

Have you tried opening the app and then trying to load a file?

Yes and the actual apps won't open on their own

Newcad

You could try reinstalling those particular apps.

Or run the Windows troubleshooter, in Win11 it's Settings>System>Troubleshoot.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/keep-your-device-running-smoothly-with-recommended-troubleshooting-ec76fe10-4ac8-ce9d-49c6-757770fe68f1

Neil_Jones

ih8stress said:

I had this in Windows 10 with my photos and screenprints. I also lost the calculator abit later too.

I think it is to do with a recent update.

Considering the whole drive in recent versions of Windows is towards apps, it seems pointless for that to break after an update, and I never had a problem, nor did anybody else that I'm aware of...

Something else on your system will have broken your app, usually something you installed or something else - can't blame all Windows issues on updates...