Windows 10: Microsoft Store and various apps don't work in Windows 10 version 1903

Microsoft Store and around a dozen other applications don't run. I tried a lot of things including doing an in-place upgrade from Windows 10 1903 to Windows 10 1903 keeping all files and apps. What it kept was the inability of these applications to run.


Start - Settings - Applications shows around a dozen unnamed applications attributed to Microsoft Corporation. However, Microsoft Store itself is not one of these. Microsoft Store is displayed in the list of applications, but doesn't have any size (not 0 bytes, but no size displayed at all), and was updated 2019/06/04.



The command wsreset gives an error message. The specified device, path, or file cannot be accessed. There is a possibility that the item can't be accessed because of a permissions problem. However, I've observed that the Windows folder doesn't contain the subfolder needed by Microsoft Store. The in-place reinstallation of Windows 10 1903 did not create the necessary subfolders.



sfc /scannnow etc. also do not create the necessary subfolders.


This PC originally ran Windows 7 Pro Japanese and subsequently Windows 10 Pro Japanese. No other language version has ever been installed on this PC.







:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

As you may already know, Windows 10 (as well as Windows 8) allow you to log in with a valid Microsoft account, instead of creating a local account that only works on your machine. However, you may prefer to keep a local account for privacy reasons. If you do, though, some Windows 10 features—like Cortana—may not work. Despite the default behavior, the Windows 10 Store is not one of them. You can still log in to your Microsoft account for just the Store without switching to a full Microsoft account. The process, however, is not terribly obvious. To do so, follow these steps:

• Launch the Store from your Start menu.
• Click the user icon next to the search box.
• Click “Sign-in” from the menu that appears.
• Choose “Microsoft account” and log in like normal.
• When the “Make it yours” box appears do not enter your password. Instead, click “Sign in to just this app instead.”

from Lifehacker

 

Microsoft is purging a lot of low quality apps from the Windows Store

"Microsoft is sending emails to some Windows Store developers informing them that their apps have been removed from the Store for violating its quality standards."

"Neowin reports that app developers have been receiving these emails over the past couple of days:

In its latest review of the Store, Microsoft is evaluating if the published apps are good enough to be listed in the Windows Store. This includes publicly available apps as well as private beta apps. Additionally, Microsoft is also asking developers to delete any promotional campaigns for their apps to prevent advertising charges. Similarly, app name reservations are also being nullified; which means that if your app is unpublished, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to republish it under the same name.

Officially, the policies for the Microsoft Store says that apps must have "distinct and informative metadata" and "provide a valuable and quality user experience". There are also some specific standards that must be in the apps, including having a name that is not similar to another app or device, along with offering a description that is accurate about its features and functions.

There have certainly been many Windows Store users who have complained over the years about the large number of apps published that are clones of other apps or ones that are simply poorly made. Hopefully, this new move by Microsoft will help to curb these issues, at least for now."

Microsoft to remove low quality apps from Windows Store

 

Microsoft Adds Ability to Block Win32 Apps from Install on Windows 10

The problem with this is that it may be a way to gradually force you into the store.
In the past Telemetry was also opt-in. Then it was opt-out. Now you can´t turn it off unless you buy the enterprise version of Win10.

In a few months we will have the free Windows 10 Cloud OS with no Win32 app support. To be able to use Win32 apps you'll need to buy a home/pro license for $150 (if you don´t have one already). And some years from now it may be only available on enterprise versions.
I wouldn´t be surprised if some manufacturers start shipping their PCs/laptops with Win 10 Cloud only.

And BTW, looking at the current trends, it´s only a matter of time before the paid version of Windows becomes a subscription service too.