Certain .exe files will not open

Hello! I have a slightly odd problem. Certain .exe files (seemingly ones that don't require an install to run) on my laptop refuse to open, responding to different commands in different ways.

When I first run them, I get a SmartScreen Filter alert. After pressing 'Run Anyway' (scans reveal them to be safe), they will appear to begin to load, but never actually open. This happens every time I try to open them subsequently, although without the SmartScreen alert. I can close the container folder and try again.

If I try to Run as Administrator, however, the folder freezes entirely. I can use other folders, but it takes a File Explorer restart to make the crashed instance disappear. I have tried deleting one of these applications after attempting to open it, and not been allowed to until a full restart, implying they are running constantly after I attempt to start them.

I had assumed this was a problem with SmartScreen, but even after turning it off, the problem persists.

Most other .exe files do work (regedit, games downloaded from Steam, etc.), so I can't understand what's making this small set of files unable to load. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe