Random extremely long login times

[Sheridan]

We rolled out a lot of new hardware over the summer, all identical with a stock Windows 11 image. (albeit SCCM adds various packages depending on location)

 

The issue we've noticed in one particular area that randomly some of the PCs take ages to login - and its always the GPP printers policy and we see log events like: "Completed Group Policy Printers Extension Processing in 657516 milliseconds."

 

Now, that means its taking over 10 minutes to apply printers policy. All the other policies apply in a few seconds, I'd say a brand new login normally takes 1-2mins tops, and less than 20 seconds if the local profile already exists. This is a user GPP that uses item level targeting to assign printers to the user based on the PC location - this policy is applied to all staff and students and doesn't cause this issues anywhere else

 

I'm starting to pull my hair out over this now, as I can't see a reason for this - it only happens in this room, and not all the time! This room is on the same network segment/switch as a another room with identical hardware which never has this issue! Each PC has 1gbs connection and is brand new. It is only the print assignment that seems to have an issue, but if there was an issue with the server I would have thought this would impact everyone across the school.

 

From the users perspective they just see the usual 'Preparing Windows' message, sometimes CTRL+ALT-DEL will bring up the security menu and cancelling that brings up the desktop.

 

I'd be grateful for any ideas, as I'm not seeing any reason why this would happen in such a specific area - but not all the time as I've seen a full class of 30 logged in fine in 5 mins!

[kennysarmy]

We rolled out a lot of new hardware over the summer, all identical with a stock Windows 11 image. (albeit SCCM adds various packages depending on location)

 

The issue we've noticed in one particular area that randomly some of the PCs take ages to login - and its always the GPP printers policy and we see log events like: "Completed Group Policy Printers Extension Processing in 657516 milliseconds."

 

Now, that means its taking over 10 minutes to apply printers policy. All the other policies apply in a few seconds, I'd say a brand new login normally takes 1-2mins tops, and less than 20 seconds if the local profile already exists. This is a user GPP that uses item level targeting to assign printers to the user based on the PC location - this policy is applied to all staff and students and doesn't cause this issues anywhere else

 

I'm starting to pull my hair out over this now, as I can't see a reason for this - it only happens in this room, and not all the time! This room is on the same network segment/switch as a another room with identical hardware which never has this issue! Each PC has 1gbs connection and is brand new. It is only the print assignment that seems to have an issue, but if there was an issue with the server I would have thought this would impact everyone across the school.

 

From the users perspective they just see the usual 'Preparing Windows' message, sometimes CTRL+ALT-DEL will bring up the security menu and cancelling that brings up the desktop.

 

I'd be grateful for any ideas, as I'm not seeing any reason why this would happen in such a specific area - but not all the time as I've seen a full class of 30 logged in fine in 5 mins!

 

Definitely the same Group Policies applying to this room as others?

 

If you swap a PC in this room with a room that it's fine does the issue follow the PC?

[Sheridan]

Definitely the same policies as its a user policy applied to all staff and students - so for example in this room they would get 2 standard printers (global) and then the one in that room - the policy doesn't cause this delay anywhere else

 

I haven't tried moving a PC yet, purely because I rolled out 100's of the with the same image and only this location has the issue, and only occasionally! For example its being used now and 20+ kids are logged in with no issues! But yesterday about 7 or 8 got stuck with this long login and the log event showing 10 mins or so for the Printers GPP to apply. Bizarre

 

From what I can see, this only happens if its a users first login on that PC, but it doesn't happen across the school

Edited October 3, 2024 by Sheridan

[Sheridan]

Happened again just now, hung logins. Machines are stuck at 'Welcome' but can be remotely browsed ok, just the log stops at: "Starting Group Policy Printers Extension Processing"

 

I guess in 10-15 minutes they'll work. What a pain in the rear this is!

 

I guess I'll have to find a way to disable this user GPO from applying to this room instead

[3s-gtech]

We see this if the printer isn't turned on in a room. It tries to make a connection and hangs, taking forever to logon. Seems to be a weakness of GPP Printer deployment. Alternatives are a script instead, cutting the fingers off anyone who turns the printers off, updating printer firmware in case they're prone to crashing (HP P2055dn!) and burning all printers and painting yourself purple in some sort of ritual.

 

Any of them.

[Tefters]

We see this if the printer isn't turned on in a room. It tries to make a connection and hangs, taking forever to logon. Seems to be a weakness of GPP Printer deployment. Alternatives are a script instead, cutting the fingers off anyone who turns the printers off, updating printer firmware in case they're prone to crashing (HP P2055dn!) and burning all printers and painting yourself purple in some sort of ritual.

 

Any of them.

I hear paperless is the future. Been hearing it for 10 years mind you but apparently it's the future...

[kennysarmy]

con2prt still going strong here

[Sheridan]

Hmm, I've just seen the printer in that room is off, I can't believe I missed that. I also can't believe GPP is so cruddy that it takes 10-15 minutes to timeout on a printer connection!?

 

I'll power it back on and see what happens....(holds breath)

[PeterH]

Another vote for using a script. We gave up connecting to printers with GPP long ago, it slowed down the login and often didn't connect to the printer first time. A total pain. Scripting it works much better. If you're into powershell then look at Add-Printer -AsJob -ConnectionName \\yourserver\yourprinter. -AsJob parameter should do it in the background so shouldn't slow login at all.

[Sheridan]

Another vote for using a script. We gave up connecting to printers with GPP long ago, it slowed down the login and often didn't connect to the printer first time. A total pain. Scripting it works much better. If you're into powershell then look at Add-Printer -AsJob -ConnectionName \\yourserver\yourprinter. -AsJob parameter should do it in the background so shouldn't slow login at all.

 

Its on my list to tidy up, as I inherited this set of policies and to be fair it was working ok in general. Until this obviously!

[3s-gtech]

My problem with using PS scripts instead is that my GPPs use Item Level Targeting to work. Totally doable to change, but not the work of 5 minutes sadly.

[thimon]

I’ve ditched deploying printers via group policy, to help speed up user login time.

[Sheridan]

[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji637][emoji637]]I’ve ditched deploying printers via group policy' date=' to help speed up user login time.[/quote']

 

Have you found a reliable way to do this, based on location?

 

I’ve found deploying printers just hasn’t worked well since Windows

Edited October 3, 2024 by Sheridan

[thimon]

Have you found a reliable way to do this, based on location?

 

I’ve found deploying printers just hasn’t worked well since Windows

 

I’m making use of PaperCut Print Deploy. It installs printers after user logon, not during.

 

I’ve got default Follow Me print queues that are installed for everyone, then optional printers that users can install themselves, depending what department they’re in. Technically anyone can install them, however they’re locked down in PaperCut so only the specific departments can print to them.

Edited October 3, 2024 by thimon

[dapaulio]

Op oddly I just started witnessing this deploying our virtual queue via gpp just this week. I observed recently also the papercut client report print server is offline. Rebooting seemed to resolve it but it been on my list to look deeper into all week. Based on this thread it just taken a high priority