Windows 10: Metro games crash immediately with DCOM timeout error - with AzureAD

hi,
i've read dozens of threads here and elsewhere where windows 10 users have lost their start menu, lost their store app, lost the ability to open all store apps, or lost cortana. these all seem to stem from the 1511 update. i am familiar with all the troubleshooting steps listed on these threads, and they have all been unsuccessful for me. changing registry permissions, NTFS permissions on WindowsApps etc for the All Application Packages user, system restore etc.

i have 5 machines all with clean windows 10 installs. these are Windows 10 Pro "N" installs on various hardware. 4 of the machines are joined to AzureAD and my win 10 tablet is not joined to any domain or AzureAD. the tablet is the only one that can play xbox games. since the 1511 update, the other 4 have lost the ability to open games, they crash immediately with DCOM error 10010 The server App did not register with DCOM within the required timeout. and a corresponding "Apps" application log entry: "Activation of application Microsoft.HaloSpartanAssault2_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App failed with error: The app didn't start. See the Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational log for additional information." i am certain that a re-install will result in the same problems because i have replicated identical behaviour on 4 independent machines. the definition of stupidity now would be to reinstall the OS and expect it to be any different!

i can confirm that the start menu store works fine, i receive app updates and can use one-note, calculator, solitaire and every other metro app i can think of. however any xbox games will not open, example Age of Empires Castle Siege, and Halo Spartan assault. Cortana is not available in Ireland so it is disabled by windows.

does anyone have any ideas how to fix this? i've tried logging in as a local administrator user and the problems are the same. AzureAD jumps out as the most likely culprit, perhaps with some security policy that has been applied to the 4 problematic machines, but i have been unable to identify the cause. i searched around in the AzureAD control panel and could find no relevant settings. thanks for any help!

:)

 

Start, search and task bar not working.

In System Windows Log are errors such as:

The server App did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

The server Windows.Security.Authentication.Web.Core.BackgroundGetTokenTask.ClassId.WebAccountProvider did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

The server CortanaUI.AppXn73w0hsq3g4wx1h9fhf7q02vw2wta6qc.mca did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

 

Forza Horizon 3 won't launch

I play the game since Christmas. Today I played for 3-4 hours. Two hours ago I closed the game and now I tried to launch it again, but after the start, the game immediately crashes. The following error is displayed:

Unable to start a DCOM Server: Microsoft.OpusPG_1.0.101.2_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe!OpusReleaseFinal as Unavailable/Unavailable. The error:

"317"

Happened while starting this command:

"C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.OpusPG_1.0.101.2_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\forza_x64_release_final.exe" -ServerName:OpusReleaseFinal.AppXhz3m1thxb88yczd2ax0k426vzefwnnmc.mca

What should I do?

 

to answer my own question, the reason apps were failing to launch is because the media pack was not installed, i used a Windows 10 "N" install, and this requires a special media pack, note you must install the version of the media pack for update 1511, the previous version will fail to install. here is the link:
Download Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10 from Official Microsoft Download Center