When I input a Wolfram|Alpha query in any notebook (Wolfram Desktop 13.1) under Windows 10, I get a LinkObject::linkd error. Hence I cannot use W|A from within standard WL notebooks.
The XML.exe file mentioned is present in my installation.
Under Windows 11 everything works fine.
Windows Pro 64bit 10 22H2 / 11 22H2. Wolfram|One 13.1. Wolfram|Alpha Pro.
I don’t use Wolfram|Alpha, so I don’t have an answer to your question, but I can tell you that I have had similar problems when updating Mathematica. I remember things that worked on 10.0, but on 11.2, they don’t work. It’s very strange, because you’d think the app would get better (while still being able to perform the same things as previous versions), but I guess that’s not the case with Mathematica.
I hope someone else is able to help you. 
