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Continued problems with black screen at session start with Windows 10

Kevin Miller

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Kevin Miller Rookie

Kevin Miller

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Hello all. Looking for some advice. 

 

We have a problem when a user launches a XenDesktop (7.17) and Windows 10 (1607) session the Windows shell does not load and presents a black screen. You can interact with Explorer via the task manager. There doesn't appear to be anything in the UPM or Windows logs that indicate an issue.

 

Adding AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches to the UPM Directories to synchronize policy does not solve the problem. (https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/xenapp-and-xendesktop/current-release/whats-new/fixed-issues.html) #LC9215

 

I would appreciate any help you may have. So far Citrix support doesn't have an answer.

 

Below are the exclusions/synchronizations I have set.

 

Directories to syncronize:

 AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches

 

Exclusion files:

*thumb*.db, *icon*.db

 

Exclusion Directories:

$Recycle.Bin
OneDrive
Dropbox
ShareFile
AppData\Local\Assembly\dl3
AppData\Local\ATT Connect
AppData\Local\Comms
AppData\Local\Downloaded Installations
AppData\Local\Dropbox
AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
AppData\Local\Microsoft\CLR-v4.0_32
AppData\Local\Microsoft\GameDVR
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Group Policy
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStore
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger
AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive
AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\15.0\OfficeFileCache
AppData\Local\Microsoft\PlayReady
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Burn
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache.old
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\PriCache
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\1033
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Notifications
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\RoamingTiles
AppData\Local\Packages
AppData\Local\Skype
AppData\Local\Sun
AppData\Local\Temp
AppData\LocalLow
AppData\Roaming\Citrix\PNAgent\AppCache
AppData\Roaming\Citrix\PNAgent\Icon Cache
AppData\Roaming\Citrix\PNAgent\ResourceCache
AppData\Roaming\com.adobe.formscentral.FormsCentralForAcrobat
AppData\Roaming\Dropbox
AppData\Roaming\ICAClient\Cache
AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys
AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UserData
AppData\Roaming\Sharefile\Outlook
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Powerpoint
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\LiveContent
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Dropbox
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word
AppData\Roaming\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache
AppData\Roaming\Sun\Java\Deployment\log
AppData\Roaming\Sun\Java\Deployment\tmp
AppData\Roaming\Sun\Java\Deployment

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Eric Stoick Rookie

Eric Stoick

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Built a new WinSrv2016 XA with 7.15 CU2 VDA. Black screen issue / missing registry keys happened within an hour of the server go live.

 

Trying 7.15 CU1 VDA as posted above to see if that avoids the black screen issue.

 

Currently have a script running every five minutes to check 7.17 VDAs for missing reg keys. When missing reg keys are detected, scripts put servers in maintenance mode, replaces the reg keys from a previous working export,  messages the users with active sessions, and reboots the server 10 minutes later.

 

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Eric Stoick Rookie

Eric Stoick

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We have been struggling with the black screen on 7.17 VDA with WinSrv2016 XA (Published desktop) as well. 

 

We also noticed that HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\AppReadiness key goes missing and that is when the black screens start. We exported that key from a working backup of the server and imported it into a broken server. Rebooted the server and the issue was fixed for awhile until the key gets deleted again. 

 

 

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Adam Clark1709152713 Newbie

Adam Clark1709152713

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I've struggled with almost the same issue last couple of days. 7.17 VDA but with WinSrv2016 XA (Published dekstop). Not sure if you have a testing machine with the error kept, but try to kill the AppReadiness Service/Exe and see if the session "starts" after that.

 

For me I get to the session but the universal apps does not work (I.e. Start menu, date/time, settings etc.).

 

If you check for the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppReadiness is it even there? When the issue occurs for me I can verify that sessions will be black/blank even before starting a test-session - when the key is gone.

 

I can also see that user-specific keys (SID) under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore are also gone.

 

Another indicator that something is wrong is that I cannot reinstall AppX-packages when the VDA is broken. On the same VDA i can reinstall all packages prefectly fine before "something" with UPM occurs and breaks the machine.

 

I'm using MCS so a recreation of the machine from the master works. But unfortunately it does only work work X hours, then the issue comes back.

 

For now it seems that disabling UPM on the 7.17 VDA before the VDA is "broken" makes everything else work, but without UPM.

 

Will follow this with interest.

Adam

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Kevin Miller Rookie

Kevin Miller

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Hello.

 

As per my exclusions I followed Carl's recommendations including James Rankin's longer list. I have not added Rankin's directory/file synchronization recommendations. I will try these as soon as I put my kids to bed later tonight. While troubleshooting I removed the recommended synchronizations before I discovered Citrix's recommendation to add AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches. Fingers crossed this will solve the problem.

 

The problem still is still present if the account is an admin\restricted, RDP/ICA, and via the console.

 

Kevin.

 

 

 

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dmohrmann24 Rookie

dmohrmann24

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First, if you already have the VDA 7.15 CU2 installed, remove it with the VDA CleanUp utility. Then get the VDA 7.15 CU2 standalone installer (or use the XenDesktopVdaSetup.exe from the ISO) and install it with command line arguments. The relevant one is /exclude “Citrix User Profile Manager”. 

VDA command line switches: bit.ly/2KqnKtr 
After that, download UPM 7.15 standalone installer and install it.

I have no issues with black screen and blank startmenu anymore. 

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George Fridman Newbie

George Fridman

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hi

2 hours ago, Eric Stoick said:

Both the AppReadiness and a good portion of the AppX key are deleted. If you export both AppReadiness and the AppX keys from a working state prior to UPM deleting them, you can put them back after the issue happens and the start menu will work.

 

I assumed that some other keys are also deleted, Citrix support responded really fast on this.

Continuing to work with them

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Eric Stoick Rookie

Eric Stoick

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1 hour ago, George Fridman said:

hi,

 

We have the same problem 7.17 and Win10 Redstone 3 and UPM

I have escalated the problem with full memory dump to Microsoft premier support they suggest that the appreadiness regkey is deleted.

I suspect that more is being deleted because once you import the regkey back the start menu is not working.

 

The case is open with Citrix support 77390382

 

Both the AppReadiness and a good portion of the AppX key are deleted. If you export both AppReadiness and the AppX keys from a working state prior to UPM deleting them, you can put them back after the issue happens and the start menu will work.

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James Richards1709158136 Newbie

James Richards1709158136

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Thanks guys, Citrix provided some instructions for the hybrid install.

 

All issues around black screen and start menu have disappeared.

 

We are just awaiting written endorsement for support-ability. 

 

___

 

1) To un-install the 7.15 CU2 UPM from the machine

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

search for Profile Management

now copy the GUID and run on cmd

 

 

2) To instal the 7.15 CU1 UPM 

Browse to the MSI/exe for the UPM (x64) and install that

Reboot the system

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George Fridman Newbie

George Fridman

Posted
Posted

hi,

 

We have the same problem 7.17 and Win10 Redstone 3 and UPM

I have escalated the problem with full memory dump to Microsoft premier support they suggest that the appreadiness regkey is deleted.

I suspect that more is being deleted because once you import the regkey back the start menu is not working.

 

The case is open with Citrix support 77390382

 

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