Cannot start; a window flickers then disappears

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When I try to start CormanLisp.exe, a window flickers very briefly then disappears.

When I run-debug the exe in Visual Studio it starts normally, loads a bunch of DLL's (including CormanLispServer.dll),
without warnings, then just quits "The program ... has exited with code 0x0"

Windows Event log says
"Failed with 0x57 retrieving AppModel Runtime status for package Windows"
but I think this is not the problem.

Googling the 0x57 error mentions graphics drivers, recent Windows updates etc, mostly wrt games.
I've tried all the tedious non-fixes listed for every problem;
updated windows, gfx drivers and rebooted - no change -- run SFC, DISM, no problems.
Tried turning off security, creating exceptions for the Corman exe etc, no change.

Also turned off AppModel-Runtime in Registry, same thing happens but no errors in Event log now.
So probably the problem is not even related to this,
rather there's perhaps an old version of something that windows doesn't like. Or smth.

First installed by the regular .msi installer, then after this error tried deleting all and dropped in the zip with all .NET dll's.
Also tried all combinations of Run as Administrator and compatibility mode for older Win versions (95 thru 8)

Any other tips? Is this the right place to file a bug report?

Thanks,

/robert