Win 10 2004 Folder Redirection - Black screen after login when not on a network

Question

After Domain PC's have been updated to Windows 10 version 2004 users get a black screen with cursor when not connected to any network. I have seen this issue listed other places dealing with screen drivers, but this is not the issue. The issue is with folder redirection when not on the Network. We have a lot of remote users now and a 10 minute, some have said as long as 45 minutes, black screen after login (with no network) is not good. Before you ask the Ctrl + Alt + Delete does not work.

Over the course of a month or so I have been testing different options, settings and policies and confirmed that it is Folder Redirection. I have ended up with some tests that I can recreate and fix the issue, but removing Folder Redirection is not an option. We have been using Folder Redirection for at least 15 years and this has started with version 2004.

I’ve taken our Main OU policy and made a copy of it (call it Test) and only removed the folder redirection settings.

With a PC and user logging on the Network everything works correctly and the desktop shows in a few seconds, which is normal. When user logs out and removes the network connection, after logon we get the black screen for about 10 minutes and then the desktop finaly shows.

Replacing the Main policy with the Test policy in the OU group and running GPUPDATE /FORCE on the PC and ran the same tests again. Only this time the desktop shows up after a few seconds both on and off the network.

To sum up starting with Win 10 2004 this is what happens with Folder Redirection:

With FR on the network no black screen after logon.

With FR off the network after login black screen shows for 10-45 minutes

With no FR on the network no black screen after login

With no FR off the network no black screen after login

BTW, once the network connection is reconnected (on my test machine) the black screen goes away within 5 seconds.

Any suggestions on how to correct this?

Answer 1

I think we have fixed the issue.

One of the several drives we have mapped through GPO is mapped to the same location as the Folder Redirection.

When I made that one drive not to be persistent the Black Screen did not show.

Answer 2

Thanks, I have added it there also.

Answer 3

Hi Mickey,

I'm Independent Advisor not Microsoft employee or support person. I have deep enough Windows knowledge and you may trust me. It's a pleasure for me to help others and I'll do all my best to help you.

Domain related questions it is more effective to ask at Q&A forum https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/index....

It is oriented to admins and corporate users, and this forum - to home users so local experts may have no corresponding knowledge, sorry.