My Dell G16 is running Windows 11 version 24H2. Notepad, Paint, Photos, and several other built-in apps have stopped opening and show an error saying "Package failed updates, dependency or conflict validation." SFC reports that everything is fine, but the apps still do not work. I also tried removing Photos with PowerShell using Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | Remove-AppxPackage, but that failed too. Malware scans were clean. I have not used these apps in about a month, and I've also noticed that the power icon now looks unusual. Could this be corrupted Windows component or app-package data, and what is the safest way to repair it?
1 Answer
Since several built-in apps are failing and DISM is not repairing the underlying components, the most reliable next step is an in-place upgrade using a Windows 11 ISO. Download the current ISO, run setup.exe from within Windows, and choose the option to keep your files and installed applications. This reinstalls Windows system components without performing a full wipe and should rebuild the damaged app-package dependencies. Back up important files first and make sure the ISO matches your Windows edition and language.
Is the newer 25H2 release safe to install? I’ve heard reports of it causing problems or even bricking some PCs.