VideoStudio Ultimate 2023 will not start

[xxup]

First some background.
I have been using VideoStudio since version X9. I am not a power user of VideoStudio - mainly, it is used to edit videos that I need for University assignments. I am running a fairly new MSI laptop with an intel i7 processor, 16Gb of RAM and plenty of free disk space. The computer runs Windows 11 Professional.

All previous versions have installed and ran for me without any problems, and I only have one version of VideoStudio installed on my computer at a time.

The symptom:
The application seems to install correctly. At the end of the installation process, it asks me for my Corel login. After this, nothing happens. On task manager, I see nothing.

I have reinstalled the application eight times with different variations. One included, installation while logged in as the computer administrator account. No difference. I also followed the instructions in this post https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?t=70393 (including running the clean up program for VideoStudio 2022 and 2023). No difference.

I have managed to reinstall and run VideoStudio 2022 without any problems - I did this in case Microsoft had made a change to Windows 11 since I had originally installed VideoStudio 2022. It is no longer installed, while I continue to try and get VideoStudio 2023 to run.

In my travels I found these two files. The difference is that in the first one, I added the login information and the second one was a simple double-click of the desktop icon.
The first file is located at: "C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Local\Temp\vstudio_PCULog0.txt". The only edit I have made to the file is to replace the serial number with xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

11/11/23 12:03:29

***************** New Log **************************

Start time: 11/11/23 12:03:29

Module: C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel VideoStudio 2023\vstudio.exe

11/11/23 12:03:29 MS::Init started
11/11/23 12:03:29 CIMSGD started
11/11/23 12:03:29 CIMSGD elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:29 MS::Init elapsed time: 0.003 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:29 MS::CP started
11/11/23 12:03:29 MS::CP:MD:CPC started
11/11/23 12:03:29 MS::CP:MD:CPC:MU:VIC started
11/11/23 12:03:29 MU::CKIT started
11/11/23 12:03:29 HTTP::CONNECTORG started
11/11/23 12:03:29 WPCB:init1 started
11/11/23 12:03:29 HTTP::CONNECTORG elapsed time: 0.076 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:29 In IsInternetConnected - strURL=http://mc.corel.com/servlet/MessageCenterServer, Return=true, Reason=0, Error:0, WSAError=0
11/11/23 12:03:29 MU::CKIT elapsed time: 0.085 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:29 GLHDID elapsed time: 0.111 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:29 PCU_HD elapsed time: 0.111 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 PCU version : 13.0.0.630
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.047 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init1 elapsed time: 0.142 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MP::GAP started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MP::GAP elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MS::CP:MD:CPC elapsed time: 0.217 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MS::CP elapsed time: 0.217 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 CVL started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init2 started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init2 elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 CVL elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 CVL started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init2 started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init2 elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 CVL elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 CSL started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init1 started
11/11/23 12:03:30 PCU version : 13.0.0.630
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.012 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 WPCB:init1 elapsed time: 0.031 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 CSL elapsed time: 0.047 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 ATE started
11/11/23 12:03:30 ATE elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 VA started
11/11/23 12:03:30 VA elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 VA started
11/11/23 12:03:30 VA elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MD started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MD:ST started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MP::GAP started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MP::GAP elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MD:ST elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MD elapsed time: 0.097 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MS::InPCUUI started
11/11/23 12:03:30 IP_UI : 0 started
11/11/23 12:03:30 IS_UI started
11/11/23 12:03:30 IS_UI elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 IS_UI started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Roaming\Corel\Messages\540111158_999926\en\MessageCache2\Workflow\container.htm
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnNavigateComplete2 - URL:C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Roaming\Corel\Messages\540111158_999926\en\MessageCache2\Workflow\container.htm
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:about:blank
11/11/23 12:03:30 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:about:blank
11/11/23 12:03:30 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Roaming\Corel\Messages\540111158_999926\en\MessageCache2\Workflow\container.htm
11/11/23 12:03:30 AdjustWizardSize - called : 0
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://FrameLoaded/
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://validate/?param=/systeminfo[substring(@os_version,1,4)='MAC_']
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://CallScriptFunc/?condition=false&funcname=showcls
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://ContainerLoaded/
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:file:///C:/Users/flamsbana.HOME/AppData/Roaming/Corel/Messages/540111158_999926/en/MessageCache2/Workflow/1658411807623/body.htm?serialtype=1&pculicenseid=540111158&pcusourceid=999926&lang=en&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&profileid=&subscriptionid=&machineid=IGNEEL&version=2&regtrackingid=5402&productversion=26&runtime=0&CorelComServer=http://www.corel.com&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:30 In SetFrameElementSrc - starting the timeout timer for strURL=C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Roaming\Corel\Messages\540111158_999926\en\MessageCache2\Workflow\1658411807623\body.htm?serialtype=1&pculicenseid=540111158&pcusourceid=999926&lang=en&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&profileid=&subscriptionid=&machineid=IGNEEL&version=2&regtrackingid=5402&productversion=26&runtime=0&CorelComServer=http://www.corel.com&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU:RM started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MP::GAP started
11/11/23 12:03:30 MP::GAP elapsed time: 0.001 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 MU::USI:BSI elapsed time: 0.019 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnNavigateComplete2 - URL:file:///C:/Users/flamsbana.HOME/AppData/Roaming/Corel/Messages/540111158_999926/en/MessageCache2/Workflow/1658411807623/body.htm?serialtype=1&pculicenseid=540111158&pcusourceid=999926&lang=en&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&profileid=&subscriptionid=&machineid=IGNEEL&version=2&regtrackingid=5402&productversion=26&runtime=0&CorelComServer=http://www.corel.com&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:30 pcu_data or pcu_data_override PageDimension : 586,700
11/11/23 12:03:30 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:file:///C:/Users/flamsbana.HOME/AppData/Roaming/Corel/Messages/540111158_999926/en/MessageCache2/Workflow/1658411807623/body.htm?serialtype=1&pculicenseid=540111158&pcusourceid=999926&lang=en&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&profileid=&subscriptionid=&machineid=IGNEEL&version=2&regtrackingid=5402&productversion=26&runtime=0&CorelComServer=http://www.corel.com&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:30 PageDimension: 586, 700
11/11/23 12:03:30 AdjustWizardSize - called : 2
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://validate/?param=/registry/regkey[@name='hkcu/software/corel/pcu']/regval[@name='privacydefault'][@value='1']
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://CallScriptFunc/?condition=true&funcname=privcheckboxes
11/11/23 12:03:30 OnPCUCommand - Condition not met, not executing the command:-1
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://validate/?param=/productmanifest/licenseinfolist/licenseinfo[(@licenseid='540111160'%20or%20@licenseid='540111158')%20and%20@regtype='0']
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://CallScriptFunc/?condition=true&funcname=showbtn&param=skipbtnhtml
11/11/23 12:03:30 OnPCUCommand - Condition not met, not executing the command:-1
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://validate/?param=/productmanifest/licenseinfolist/licenseinfo[(@licenseid='540111174'%20or%20@licenseid='540111175')%20and%20@serialtype='0']
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://CallScriptFunc/?condition=true&funcname=showcorp
11/11/23 12:03:30 OnPCUCommand - Condition not met, not executing the command:-1
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://FrameDataLoaded/
11/11/23 12:03:30 In OnPCUCommand (PCU_COMMAND_FRAMEDATALOADED) - Load completed successfully
11/11/23 12:03:32 MU:RM return value 0
11/11/23 12:03:32 MU:RM elapsed time: 2.089 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:48 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://CallScriptFunc/?funcname=nextstep
11/11/23 12:03:48 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://authenticate/?username='mercury@xxup.id.au'&password='***'&showpsid='true'&onerror='processerror'
11/11/23 12:03:48 WS_ASU started
11/11/23 12:03:48 HTTP::CONNECTORG started
11/11/23 12:03:48 HTTP::CONNECTORG elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:48 In IsInternetConnected - strURL=https://iws.corel.com/ipmws/services/Su ... ionService, Return=true, Reason=0, Error:0, WSAError=0
11/11/23 12:03:50 WS_ASU elapsed time: 1.793 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://Next/
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:file:///C:/Users/flamsbana.HOME/AppData/Roaming/Corel/Messages/540111158_999926/en/MessageCache2/Workflow/1627894083757/body.htm?licenseid=540111158&lang=en&serialtype=1&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&profileid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD&alreadyexist=false&subscriptionid=2000185&classification=3&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:50 In SetFrameElementSrc - starting the timeout timer for strURL=C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Roaming\Corel\Messages\540111158_999926\en\MessageCache2\Workflow\1627894083757\body.htm?licenseid=540111158&lang=en&serialtype=1&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&profileid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD&alreadyexist=false&subscriptionid=2000185&classification=3&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:50 MU:RM started
11/11/23 12:03:50 MU::USI:BSI started
11/11/23 12:03:50 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:03:50 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:50 MP::GAP started
11/11/23 12:03:50 MP::GAP elapsed time: 0.001 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:50 MU::USI:BSI elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:about:blank
11/11/23 12:03:50 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:about:blank
11/11/23 12:03:50 pcu_data or pcu_data_override PageDimension : 586,700
11/11/23 12:03:50 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:file:///C:/Users/flamsbana.HOME/AppData/Roaming/Corel/Messages/540111158_999926/en/MessageCache2/Workflow/1627894083757/body.htm?licenseid=540111158&lang=en&serialtype=1&serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&profileid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD&alreadyexist=false&subscriptionid=2000185&classification=3&hfpid=V26C595A2D3089FE535281ED97281C804C&pcuversion=13.0.0.630&lupid=D0AC0DC3C447758AE0530100007F93AD
11/11/23 12:03:50 PageDimension: 586, 700
11/11/23 12:03:50 AdjustWizardSize - called : 2
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://replacetoken/?callback='rpt'&string='<UserID>'
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://FrameDataLoaded/
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnPCUCommand (PCU_COMMAND_FRAMEDATALOADED) - Load completed successfully
11/11/23 12:03:50 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:http://apps.corel.com/redirect?_redirec ... registered
11/11/23 12:03:50 MU:RM return value 0
11/11/23 12:03:51 MU:RM elapsed time: 0.473 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:51 In OnNavigateComplete2 - URL:https://www.corel.com/page-not-found?fu ... registered
11/11/23 12:03:52 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:about:blank
11/11/23 12:03:52 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:about:blank
11/11/23 12:03:52 OnDocumentComplete is called for URL:https://www.corel.com/page-not-found?fu ... registered
11/11/23 12:03:52 PageDimension: 586, 700
11/11/23 12:03:52 AdjustWizardSize - called : 2
11/11/23 12:03:53 In OnBeforeNavigate2 - URL:pcucmd://continue/
11/11/23 12:03:53 CloseWindow is called with return value:1
11/11/23 12:03:53 IS_UI elapsed time: 23.305 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 trialScheduled: 0
11/11/23 12:03:53 IP_UI : 0 elapsed time: 23.321 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 MS::InPCUUI elapsed time: 23.321 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 RP started
11/11/23 12:03:53 RP elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 IS_UI started
11/11/23 12:03:53 IS_UI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 IS_UI started
11/11/23 12:03:53 IS_UI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 MS::IPushMsg(0,2) started
11/11/23 12:03:53 MS::IPushMsg(0,2) elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:03:53 MS::RPI started
11/11/23 12:03:53 MS::RPI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds

The second file is located at: "C:\Users\flamsbana.HOME\AppData\Local\Temp\vstudio_PCULog1.txt".
11/11/23 12:04:03

***************** New Log **************************

Start time: 11/11/23 12:04:03

Module: C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel VideoStudio 2023\vstudio.exe

11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::Init started
11/11/23 12:04:03 CIMSGD started
11/11/23 12:04:03 CIMSGD elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::Init elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::CP started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::CP:MD:CPC started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::CP:MD:CPC:MU:VIC started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::CP:MD:CPC:MU:VIC elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init1 started
11/11/23 12:04:03 PCU version : 13.0.0.630
11/11/23 12:04:03 HTTP::CONNECTORG elapsed time: 0.023 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 In IsInternetConnected - strURL=http://mc.corel.com/servlet/MessageCenterServer, Return=true, Reason=0, Error:0, WSAError=0
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::CKIT elapsed time: 0.023 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 GLHDID elapsed time: 0.030 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 PCU_HD elapsed time: 0.030 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.021 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init1 elapsed time: 0.031 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI:BSI started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MP::GAP started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MP::GAP elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI:BSI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::CP:MD:CPC elapsed time: 0.044 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::CP elapsed time: 0.044 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 CVL started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init2 started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init2 elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 CVL elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 CVL started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init2 started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init2 elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 CVL elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 CSL started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init1 started
11/11/23 12:04:03 PCU version : 13.0.0.630
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin started
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:genin elapsed time: 0.008 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 WPCB:init1 elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 CSL elapsed time: 0.016 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 ATE started
11/11/23 12:04:03 ATE elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 VA started
11/11/23 12:04:03 VA elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 VA started
11/11/23 12:04:03 VA elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MD started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MD:ST started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MP::GAP started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MP::GAP elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI:BSI:CICT started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MU::USI:BSI:CICT elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MD:ST elapsed time: 0.009 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MD elapsed time: 0.106 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::InPCUUI started
11/11/23 12:04:03 IP_UI : 0 started
11/11/23 12:04:03 trialScheduled: 0
11/11/23 12:04:03 IP_UI : 0 elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::InPCUUI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 RP started
11/11/23 12:04:03 RP elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 IS_UI started
11/11/23 12:04:03 IS_UI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 IS_UI started
11/11/23 12:04:03 IS_UI elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::IPushMsg(0,2) started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::IPushMsg(0,2) elapsed time: 0.000 seconds
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::RPI started
11/11/23 12:04:03 MS::RPI elapsed time: 0.014 seconds

Any thoughts?

Kind regards,
Adrian

[xxup]

It took a little longer, but I found the root cause of the problem.

I use OpenDNS as my forwarded DNS server. OpenDNS filters all kinds of sites. One of them was www.corelstore.com . Simply, adding this to the whitelist on OpenDNS did not fix the problem, but it did enable me to start VS2023 by forcing it to run as Administrator. This was not a satisfactory solution from a security perspective. So, I uninstalled VS2023 again, ran the cleanup tool, removed the files and registry entries listed in https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?t=70393, and rebooted the laptop, The new install process worked perfectly this time (no need for administrator rights) with the application starting as soon as I pressed the "continue" or was it the "finished" button on the popup box that asks for your Corel login.

This may go some way to explaining another earlier post where two people could not start a working VS2023 and then later it started working again. The code needs to check if www.corelstore.com is up and if not provide another more viable domain to check. VS2022 does not check for www.corelstore.com.

Cheers,
Adrian