Telegram-for-desktop alternative

[Sebastian42]

There is a 'rumour' that The Philippines may ban Telegram. If that happens I need an alternative chat program that will run on android phone and x32 Win10. I have tried to install Unigram, but that requires Microsoft Store - which has disappeared from my PC - VERY LIKELY achieved by me when I decided years ago that I did not need it. I've not been unable to get Microsoft Store back by any of the several methods offered by Google. An attempt to use Powershell resulted in the absurd claim : "Cannot find path 'C:\Windows\system32\- 'because it does not exist'." Other obstacles are less rediculous. So I need help with either getting Microsoft Store back or getting another alternative to Telegram.

 

[Bastet]

Make sure you’re using the correct cmd:
Right click Start>Powershell with admin rights & enter:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

Try Solution 9: Use the Preinstalled Apps Zip to Reinstall Microsoft Store:

Windows 10 Store not Installed [FIXED]

You may not find Windows Store in Windows 10 if you are using an outdated/obsolete version of Windows on your system. Moreover, the user encounters the

appuals.com

If that doesn’t work then try the suggestion here:

You can now install new Microsoft Store on Windows 10

Microsoft originally announced Windows 11’s new app store in June, and since then, the company has been trying to improve the quality of its marketplace. Several servicing updates have been released as part of the Windows Insider Program and users have been testing the new Store on their devices...

www.windowslatest.com

Try an in-place repair:
In a nutshell you just download the media creation tool, run this by double clicking on the file & choose to upgrade/install now or if you are creating media on another PC, you download the tool, run it by double clicking on the file & choose to create media for another PC, then insert the Windows 10 media (USB/DVD) in the problem PC & run setup from within Windows.
You can also download the Windows .iso, right click to mount it & then double click the setup.exe file to run it.
Follow the instructions & ensure keep everything/keep apps & files is automatically selected. If not then please do not proceed otherwise you’ll lose everything.

Download Windows 10

 

[Sebastian42]

Thank you.
I did not get an alert about your answer.
I tried the Powershell route - there were lots of repetitions of red text including 'error' - it eventually stopped.
Search could find nothing for Microsoft Store, even after a reboot.
Solution 9 appears to provide the same 'code' as the Powershell suggestion.

The third suggestion ends again in lots of red text including negative words - indicating failure.

The fourth suggestion seems to invite a re-installation of Windows - something i am not willing to do

 

[Bastet]

A repair reinstalls Windows while keeping programs, files etc - I’ve done this many times. As long as keep personal apps & files is selected then all is fine. However if you’d prefer not to do this then I’m out of options.