PowerShell / PowerShell/vscode-powershell

Powershell Extension never starts. Terminal Message: "Starting server, deregistering host logger and registering shutdown listener"

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Area-Engine Issue-Bug
Dominant language
TypeScript
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Forks
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Description

Prerequisites
  • I have written a descriptive issue title.
  • I have searched all open and closed issues to ensure it has not already been reported.
  • I have read the troubleshooting guide.
  • I am sure this issue is with the extension itself and does not reproduce in a standalone PowerShell instance.
  • I have verified that I am using the latest version of Visual Studio Code and the PowerShell extension.
  • If this is a security issue, I have read the security issue reporting guidance.
Summary

Powershell Extension was working for years and then tab complete stopped working. Tying to figure it out, I noticed that on another server that while the default session was starting up, the tab complete in Code editor didn't work. As soon as the Powershell session/terminal was at a prompt, all tab functions as expected. So on my Wondws 2019 server, I noticed that the terminal never gets to a prompt.

PowerShell Version
Name                           Value
----                           -----
PSVersion                      7.4.1
PSEdition                      Core
GitCommitId                    7.4.1
OS                             Microsoft Windows 10.0.17763
Platform                       Win32NT
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0…}
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1
WSManStackVersion              3.0

Name             : ConsoleHost
Version          : 7.4.1
InstanceId       : a76ca68b-807a-4ab1-b5a6-aac0b11d35a6
UI               : System.Management.Automation.Internal.Host.InternalHostUserInterface
CurrentCulture   : en-US
CurrentUICulture : en-US
PrivateData      : Microsoft.PowerShell.ConsoleHost+ConsoleColorProxy
DebuggerEnabled  : True
IsRunspacePushed : False
Runspace         : System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.LocalRunspace
Visual Studio Code Version
1.88.0
5c3e652f63e798a5ac2f31ffd0d863669328dc4c
x64
Extension Version
ms-vscode.?[7mpowershell?[0m@2024.0.0
Steps to Reproduce

Run VS Code
Click on a PS1 script to load into the Code editor
Auto detect sees Powershell but never gets the extension started.

While troubleshooting, I tried switching to Win PowerShell x86 and it came up OK. I then reviewed the known issue however I am not running Av3cto. In addition one of the servers where this setup does work, both servers share the same security and monitoring software packages.
Problem server is Windows 2019 build 17763
Working server: Windows 2022 Server build 20348
FYI, my debug logs were not in the path listed in the troubleshooting doc. They were located here:
C:\Users<SamAccountName>\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\ms-vscode.powershell\logs\1712264618-f696d629-7e89-40d6-a0df-133a37127f071712263703182

Visuals

VS Code screen shot
There isn't much to see. The circular arrows lower right on the image spin for as long as VS Code is running. I've had VSCode for running days and the terminal never gets to a prompt.

Logs

The logs were not in the location noted in the article. From the VS Code terminal, the verbose output from debug gave the log path. C:\Users\SATrudeauJ1\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\ms-vscode.powershell\logs

EditorServices.log
StartEditorServices.log
StartEditorServices-temp3D1BB094.log
StartEditorServices-temp3207AE2C.log
StartEditorServices-temp13480F4F.log
vscode-powershell.log

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the attached EditorServices.log, StartEditorServices.log, and vscode-powershell.log, then compare the reported Windows 2019 and Windows 2022 environments using the listed PowerShell, VS Code, and extension versions. Check the troubleshooting.md guidance and reproduce the startup hang; done means the extension reaches a prompt and tab completion works.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
powershell, typescript, vscode
Domain
developer-experience, devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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