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jelloland-8036 avatar image
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jelloland-8036 asked DSPatrick answered

Test Assessment Won't Open Due to AppPreLaunch (Photos)


I'm having an issue where Windows 10 is prelaunching Microsoft.Photos in the background which causes some state test assessment software to not function because that's a potential cheating violation:

92197-error.png

I've had this happen years ago but it was resolved by disabling App Prelaunch. However, app prelaunch is already disabled on these computers (and has been for years via group policy) yet I'm still getting this behavior:

92080-02.png

This is the only user logged into the computer and of course I've already tried logging off and on and rebooting. Sometimes the app doesn't preload but often it does and I don't know why.

This occurs in a computer lab and it seems kind of random if photos prelaunches or not. It happens on various builds of 20H2:

 Name       OSVersion       PhotosRunning
 ----       ---------       ------
 MV-LAB2-01 10.0.19042.928  Yes
 MV-LAB2-20 10.0.19042.928  Yes
 MV-LAB2-24 10.0.19042.928  No
 MV-LAB2-28 10.0.19042.928  Yes
 MV-LAB2-30 10.0.18363.1082 No
 MV-LAB2-31 10.0.19042.928  No
 MV-LAB2-45 10.0.19042.867  Yes

Any ideas why Windows isn't honoring the disabled app prelaunch setting (anymore)?


windows-10-general
error.png (65.6 KiB)
02.png (39.5 KiB)
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DSPatrick avatar image
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DSPatrick answered

The burden of testing and vetting software for windows certification is on the developer to do.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/win_cert/windows-certification-portal

so I'd take up the issue with the test software vendor / developer.

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jelloland-8036 avatar image
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jelloland-8036 answered

So because Windows is no longer honoring the MMAgent setting to disable ApplicationPreLaunch and keeps preloading it when nobody is using it, it's the test program's issue? I'm supposed to remove the built-in Photos app and install some third party one if they need some kind of photo viewer?

Right now a workaround is in place where we have a group policy enable AppLocker to prevent the Photos app from running. Then we disable the policy link after testing so people that the Photos app will be available if they need to use it.

As far as being able to find out what's causing the Photos app to preload suspended despite ApplicationPreLaunch set to disabled, I'm not really any closer to figuring that out. The AppLocker workaround seems to be fitting the bill for now and I've got too much other work going on, but if there are any other suggestions or ways to track this down, I'd definitely look into it.

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DSPatrick avatar image
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DSPatrick answered

Any progress or updates?

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LeilaKong-MSFT avatar image
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LeilaKong-MSFT answered

Hello @jelloland-8036 ,

Software conflicts can be one of the possible reasons why you are experiencing issues with stopping the Photos app background process. To isolate this concern, we suggest that you perform a clean boot before ending the background process.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Not a solution, but can you uninstall and remove the app?


For your reference:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-performance/how-do-we-stop-the-photos-app-from-running-as-a/1a35f5a1-7b54-46e6-82cf-d3e401a9efbf
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/apps_windows_10-photos/how-to-disableuninstall-the-photo-app-in-windows/9328ef95-2993-4be8-882a-442b96950f2b
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/apps_windows_10-photos-winpc/is-there-any-way-to-disable-the-windows-10-photo/ce616a54-7ce0-44e3-8d47-d56589fc3743?messageId=97c97ddb-fb55-408f-a2b7-a874f72ecf25&page=1


Best regards,
Leila


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DSPatrick avatar image
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DSPatrick answered

causes some state test assessment software to not function

I'd probably reach out to the vendor for support.

--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--






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