Tiles not responding

My wife has a Toshiba Laptop with windows 8, upgraded to 8.1.
About a month ago I set up Skype on her computer and all was working fine. Then 2 days ago she tells me it is not working. If you click on the tile, it tries to open, but after 3 second or so it goes back to the desktop. If I move the mouse in to the upper left corner, I can see the opening screen it gives you and I can click on it and it will come up again but only for a second or so and then goes back to the desktop. It never starts Skype. She has the same problem with Microsoft Solitaire collection. I looked in Programs and Features to do a repair, but they are not listed.
I have no clue what caused this, but would like to have it fixed, if possible. Since there is no listing in Programs and Features, I don’t even have the option to uninstall and then reinstall it.
Any help would be appreciated
Sven

 

Try installing Skype again. It will probably install right over the top of itself.

 

MrBill,
That was my intention, but I was trying to save me some time and not have to set it up again.

Evan,
I don't have an icon on the desktop, only a tile and if I click on the arrow it gives me all software installed and if I click on it from there the result is the same.
The only thing that might have happened is an automatic update from MS.
Thanks
Sven

 

Hi Sven, Maybe this is an ongoing problem: Skype: How dare Microsoft not warn us about updates Neil.

Another interesting one: Windows Update: KB2727727 - Skype 5.10

 

Evan,
I could not find Skype.exe. in win8 there is no Skype folder. I found it in win7, and followed it in win8.

Neil,
interesting read, but that was a while ago with Skype 5.xx I would think they have that resolved by now.

Came across a tester from MS and run the test. here is a screenshot

 

I know that was an old report but MS now owns SKYPE and MS still supply Security Updates. Quite often hiccups happen with MS Patch Tuesday......Neil.

 

Got it fixed,
had to uninstall and reinstall the apps. now all work again. probably something happened during automatic windows update.

Sven