Please wait for local session manager

[Bankesy]

Hi all,

 

Hoping somebody can think of something I might be missing here.

 

Having an issue with some laptops after imaging to Windows 11 (via MDT if that is relevant). They hang after a reboot at "Please wait for local session manager".

 

The laptops are slightly older but pass the Windows 11 system requirements according to the PC Health check app and in the case of some of the Dells with this issue, Windows 11 drivers are fully available.

 

To be clear, the MDT task sequence is finishing with no errors and is the same that we use for all devices so I don't think this is the issue. The issue appears to occur after they are moved into the OU that we use for all staff laptops but newer laptops are in that same OU and don't have this issue so I have ruled that out as well unless there is a policy specifically affecting these laptops for some reason.

 

If I put the devices in question back to Windows 10, the issue goes away. I wonder if it could be BIOS, firmware or possibly an Intune device configuration policy because we did migrate some GPOs to that but again these would apply to all laptops and not specific models.

 

Any suggestions welcome at this point. 

 

Thanks in advance as always.

[DavR]

A few thoughts....

 

WiFi - have you tried these on a wired connection, to check whether the wireless connection may be at fault? I'm thinking dodgy WiFi drivers, possibly even firmwares.

 

BIOS - are they on the latest

 

Event logs - can you track down what's actually happening during the hang time in Event Viewer?

 

Eliminate policies, one by one - could you put the laptop in a test OU and add each policy in turn, to see which one is causing the hang?

[Bankesy]

@DavR

Thanks for your reply.

 

In my case it might be better if I test on the wireless because I am seeing the issue on wired.

 

Could be firmware or BIOS, will check this as I seem to recall seeing some updates when running the automated Dell driver check. Perhaps they failed or perhaps I need to run them to a certain level on Windows 10 first before upgrading.

 

Event logs might be difficult to check as even after waiting a long time I cannot get back into the device.

 

Policy troubleshooting steps are sensible, will try those.

[3s-gtech]

Can you disable the MDT driver stores before imaging? I have some laptops (Lenovo E595 G1) that thoroughly soil themselves when imaged with MDT and anything other than the bare OS for drivers. Installing from a USB stick works, via MDT with the stores enabled and they crash repeatedly.

[Bankesy]

@3s-gtech

 

Thanks will also give that a go, although the imaging process is completing 100%

 

Problem appears to be after but maybe a driver installed by MDT is causing the issue at that point.

[3s-gtech]

Yeah mine would complete, even join AD or Intune, but would then break after updating drivers from Windows Update. Without drivers from MDT they would work fine even after Windows Updates.

[Bankesy]

@3s-gtech

 

Interesting, that does sound like the problem I am having. AD\Intune join also fine in this scenario.

 

Going to test this shortly, stay tuned...

[jthompson]

If there were a long-running startup script, I've a feeling that's where the computer would wait for those to complete before presenting the login screen 

[Bankesy]

@jthompson

 

Will also look at that, thanks