how to fix windows 10 photos app

This is a built-in app (I assume you are using the Windows 10 app and not a Store Purchased App).

First, make sure you are using Build 1511 (November) and have all the latest Critical and Recommended updates. Do this and test.

If no, run System File Checker (SFC /SCANNOW) from an Admin Command Prompt.

If still no, run DISM Restore Health.

Open cmd.exe with Run as Administrator.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Scanhealth (takes 15 - 20 minutes).
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth (takes 15 - 20 minutes).
Restart the computer and test.

Try to logon as a different user first so that we can eventually rule out profile corruption.

there is only one user on this computer.  what do I do...create a new and different user account.  and if so will that user be able to have access to all of the photos so that I can see whether or not Photos is causing the same problem?
thanks,
capreol

You can create a new Windows User account (Control Panel, User Accounts). Make sure the new account is a member of the Administrators group.

Also try the repair procedures suggested.

Okay.  I will try those things in the next 3 or 4 days as this computer is in a different location.
thanks,
caporal

capreol,
If you’d like change which app is used to automatically open your photos, see Choose the apps Windows uses by default.
The Photos app shows the photos and videos not only in the Pictures library on your PC but also on OneDrive. The Pictures library is primarily your Pictures folder, but can also include external drives, shared network folders, and other folders on your PC.
To see files on OneDrive
Open the Photos app.
Tap or click Pictures library in the upper-left corner, and then tap or click OneDrive.
Note
You might need to sign in with your Microsoft account to see your OneDrive files.
Is this the duplicates you are referring to?

I am trying to solve this replication of photos problem on a windows 10 pc.  The Photos app in windows 10 appears to be solving the problem.  The owner of this computer is away for the holiday season and I will not have a chance to work on this pc until he gets home sometime in January.  Therefore I will not be able to report on what works until then.  Thanks in advance for all of your help thus far.
capreol

I recently got to work on this computer once again.  I did the scannow now, the system file checker.  No problems found.  I am not doing the DISM because I have no idea how to do that...it looks too complicated.  I created an alternate user account to check for profile corruption and everything worked okay...not problems...and the windows photos app was doing the same thing.  The wheel upper right corner constantly spins and some pictures take forever to load.  This computer owner does not use Skydrive.  Also when I try to delete a photo in the Windows 10 photos app it says that it could not delete one or more of the files...another app might be using them or you might not have permission to delete them...both user accounts were administrator accounts.  Admittedly, there are a lot of pictures on this computer...approximately 6,000 photos...11.7 GB.  I want to thank all of you for your helpful suggestions.  Much appreciated.  To me, either the Windows 10 photos app is not up to the job and should be just ignored on this PC or there is something corrupted in this edition of Windows 10.  I am not really up to reinstalling Windows 10 and all of the programs on this PC.  Do you have any other ideas?
thanks,
capreol

Thanks to both of you for your helpful answers.  As you know, I have been wrestling with this problem for a while now.  Anyway, I discovered that using my personal computer, One Drive, allows for the photos to load at a reasonable rate.  Keep in mind I also have about 5000-6000 photos on my personal computer.  The original computer I was referring to when I posed this question is about 7 years old and the chap is trying to use Windows 10 photos with a very large number of photos.  Anyway, the frustration level is high for this chap and his computer and Windows 10 photos so I will be restoring his computer to Windows 7 effective tomorrow.  He is comfortable with Windows 7.  This may not totally solve the problem but it will give him piece of mind.  Bottom line here I believe that the Windows 10 photos app is not very good and also if you are using an older computer it is especially not very good.  Once again, thanks for your patience and helpful answers.
best regards,
capreol

Thankyou capreol. agree with you about restoring to windows 7, for us old school computer users desktops etc windows 7 is perfect no need for the glam and frustrations of windows 10 which is really designed for ipads and touch screens.
All the best.
Merete

Thanks Merete.  I appreciate your insight and recommendations.
best regards,
capreol