MDT Deployment Workbench Error

Benson Grinham 11 Reputation points
2022-08-23T14:48:44.633+00:00

Hi,
I am having issues with MDT, now on two separate servers. Initially I just moved the MDT role to the Hyper-V host as a quick fix, but would like a more permanent resolution if possible, so I can move it back to the DC.
The issue is when opening MDT, I'm met with a blank MMC console with an error message stating "Initialization Error - PowerShell is required to use the Deployment Workbench. Please install PowerShell then relaunch Deployment Workbench".
The PowerShell v2.0, 5.1 and ISE features are enable in server manager (and MDT used to work fine on the server) - running $PSVersionTable in Powershell gives:

PSVersion 5.1.17763.2931
PSEdition Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}
BuildVersion 10.0.17763.2931
CLRVersion 4.0.30319.42000
WSManStackVersion 3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion 2.3
SerializationVersion 1.1.0.1

I've removed Sophos Anti-Virus, installed Dot Net 4.8, removed MDT and the ADKs, deleted the deployment share, re-installed from scratch, run sfc /scannow.

Server is a Dell R440 running Windows Server 2019 Standard (version 1809)

Below are the results of a DebugView log when opening MDT:
:
00000001 0.00000000 [11740] Suspending
00000002 2.81711650 [4744] Main
00000003 3.66778445 [4744] Exception when checking PowerShell: System.TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'Microsoft.BDD.Workbench.WorkbenchRunspace' threw an exception. ---> System.Management.Automation.CommandNotFoundException: The term 'Out-Default' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
00000004 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.PipelineBase.Invoke(IEnumerable input)
00000005 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.Pipeline.Invoke()
00000006 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.Worker.ConstructPipelineAndDoWork(Runspace rs, Boolean performSyncInvoke)
00000007 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.Worker.CreateRunspaceIfNeededAndDoWork(Runspace rsToUse, Boolean isSync)
00000008 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.CoreInvokeTOutput
00000009 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.Invoke(IEnumerable input, PSInvocationSettings settings)
00000010 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.Invoke()
00000011 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.LocalRunspace.DoOpenHelper()
00000012 3.66778445 [4744] at System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.RunspaceBase.CoreOpen(Boolean syncCall)
00000013 3.66778445 [4744] at Microsoft.BDD.Workbench.WorkbenchRunspace.Reset()
00000014 3.66778445 [4744] at Microsoft.BDD.Workbench.WorkbenchRunspace..cctor()
00000015 3.66778445 [4744] --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
00000016 3.66778445 [4744] at Microsoft.BDD.Workbench.WorkbenchRunspace.Reset()
00000017 3.66778445 [4744] at Microsoft.BDD.Workbench.PropertySheetSnapIn.Initialize()

A google with the exception in the log doesn't turn anything up. Any help will be much appreciated as I've hit the limit of my knowledge.

Many thanks,

Ben

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.PowerShell: A family of Microsoft task automation and configuration management frameworks consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language.
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3 answers

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  1. Simon Ren-MSFT 30,116 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-08-24T09:55:12.727+00:00

    Hi,

    1,Please run this cmdlet in windows powershell as adminiitrator to have a try. Similar thread: MDT 2012 - U1 on Win8: "Please install PowerShell..."

    Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

    2,If possible, we can install the latest Windows update on the MDT server and reboot to have a try.

    Thanks for your time.

    Best regards,
    Simon

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Benson Grinham 11 Reputation points
    2022-08-26T10:27:17.893+00:00

    Thanks Simon, I had previously tried that with the same result. I have now resolved this issue (of a sort...), I upgraded from Server 2019 to 2022 and now MDT is working again. Thanks for all your help with this though.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Simon Ren-MSFT 30,116 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-08-26T10:41:19.29+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks very much for your feedback and sharing. We're glad that it's working ok now. It's appreciated that you could click "Accept Answer" to the helpful reply, this will help other users to search for useful information more quickly. Here's a short summary for the problem.

    Problem/Symptom:
    When opening MDT, we get a blank MMC console with an error message stating "Initialization Error - PowerShell is required to use the Deployment Workbench. Please install PowerShell then relaunch Deployment Workbench".

    Solution/Workaround:
    Upgrade from Server 2019 to 2022 and now MDT is working again.

    Thanks again for your time! Have a nice day!

    Best regards,
    Simon

    If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our [documentation][1] to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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