Certain EXE Files Will Not Open

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.