No 3rd-party apps work

[vr8ce]

iPhone 3G running 2.2 (installed day it came out, so don't think it's the culprit)

I'm not sure when, but no earlier than yesterday (probably today, but I can't guarantee I used a 3rd-party app today, although I've been in Phone, App Store, etc.), all of my 3rd-party apps stopped working. All built-ins work (Contacts, iPod, Maps, etc.), but no 3rd-party app does.

"Stopped working" means you get the apps initialization screen, and then two or three seconds later it goes back to the home screen. ALL of my 3rd-party apps have this behavior (I've tried opening all 40 of them).

For example, the Google Mobile app won't start, but the built-in Maps app will.

I've shut it down and re-started it twice (held button at top right down until slider appears), to no avail.

I haven't installed any new apps in the last two days. The only thing remotely unusual I can think of is that I was syncing some music this morning and had to stop it early (by sliding the "Slide to cancel" slider on-screen, not by just unplugging it from the cable).

Any ideas on where to go from here?

 

[abijnk]

I would suggest restoring. That way you get a fresh install of all the apps. Is your phone jailbroken or unlocked?

 

[vr8ce]

I would suggest restoring. That way you get a fresh install of all the apps. Is your phone jailbroken or unlocked?

Neither. I was hoping to avoid that, but I guess I'll have to. Thanks!

 

[abijnk]

I understand, it is a pain. However, you kind of have to get used to it.

 

[wlmowery]

Before you do a full restore, try a hard reset.

Turn on your iPhone and go to your home screen.

Hold down the home button.

While continuing to hold down the home button, hold down the on/off button until the phone flashes off. (The Slide to turn off screen will appear at one point, but DO NOT use the slide to turn off feature. Continue holding BOTH buttons until the phone turns itself off completely (screen will flash very briefly).)

Turn the phone back on as usual.

On a non-jailbroken phone, this just is a hardware reset and should not reset your stored information.