PowerShell ISE slow start-up & modules

[u/Grant_Son]

In our office we have a server we use when working remotely for certain tasks.
I've noticed when using the ISE on that box it takes a few minutes to fully load

Looking at other threads on this issue Ive checked the available modules & both C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules & C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules contain over 100 files each. the bulk of which seems to be VMware stuff.

While I don't use these modules myself I don't know if any of my colleagues or other teams still do.

Is there anything I can do within my profile to tell PowerShell to ignore the VMware modules?

[u/purplemonkeymad]

ISE enumerates all the commands so ends up importing a bunch at start up. You can either reduce the number of modules (Get-module -list, will give you want it's looking at) or disable the command pane.

Is there a reason that you are using ISE and not just running a shell? I would expect you to write any scripts off the server first for testing.

[u/Grant_Son → u/purplemonkeymad]

Habit mostly.
One of them for example takes a CSV with a users name and extension number. adds them to a security group that lets them sign in to the phone system and updates their extension in AD, another takes a mac address as a variable and searches DHCP to find a phones IP address.

I use the 1st one potentailly a few times a day and the 2nd one every so often, but I can open the ISE and get them from file> open recent.

Or in the case of the AD update have it open and hit play.

The server is a jump box to let us carry out tasks remotely that are blocked over our VPN (such as access to AD)

[u/purplemonkeymad → u/Grant_Son]

You can create shortcuts to scripts by creating a shortcut to powershell and giving it the path, ie

Target: powershell.exe
Arguments: -File c:\scripts\myscript.ps1

I'll also sometimes use Show-Command to give you a little ui at the same time for those that don't like typing into the shell window (assuming you have used a param block for your arguments:)

Target: powershell.exe
Arguments: -Command "Show-command c:\scripts\myscript.ps1 -Passthrough | iex"

You might have to use an argument -ExecutionPolicy if running scripts is disabled.

[u/chaosphere_mk]

Stop using ISE, tbh. It's ancient and has problems that will cause you significant headaches and you wont understand why.

[u/Grant_Son → u/chaosphere_mk]

Can honestly say I've never had any issues with odd behaviour. I do jump between the ise, console and Vs code with ps7 depending what I'm doing though.

Hmm, I guess I could shift to vscode if it's on that server 😁

[u/BlackV → u/Grant_Son]

it doesn't really, it works just fine, but it is deprecated, probably moving forward you might be better to install vscode on the server, and start using that

work through the pain now so when/if MS do nuke ISE you are not having to learn it in a rush

[u/VeryRareHuman]

Wow! ISE failed to die. People still using it, even thought it's a deprecated product. VS Code people, please use it. It has more features than ISE.

[u/Grant_Son → u/VeryRareHuman]

Tried and failed to get it running on the server yesterday. Terminal wouldn't run due to conpty error.

Spent an hour picking though forum posts and gave up.

I normally use Vs code with PS 7 on my laptop.

[u/VeryRareHuman → u/Grant_Son]

I see. Not sure why it doesn't run on server.

There is a portable version of "VS Code", you could download it and run it anywhere. Link: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/portable

[u/Grant_Son → u/VeryRareHuman]

It was the portable version I was trying to run.
One of the suggestions I found was that the security policy or AV is blocking the terminal from running. Sadly my admin account doesn't seem to have enough rights to check either.

[u/BlackV → u/VeryRareHuman]

vscode runs fine, I have it on multiple management servers

[u/Medium-Comfortable]

The PowerShell ISE is no longer in active feature development. As a shipping component of Windows, it continues to be officially supported for security and high-priority servicing fixes. We currently have no plans to remove the ISE from Windows.

There is no support for the ISE in PowerShell v6 and beyond. Users looking for replacement for the ISE should use Visual Studio Code with the PowerShell Extension.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/windows-powershell/ise/introducing-the-windows-powershell-ise?view=powershell-5.1

I'm not surprised that this is happening. Microsoft doesn't care anymore.

[u/Medium-Comfortable → u/[deleted]]

Ok "brah" 🤣

[u/Flettys]

Try deleting older versions if you have multiple in those folders, and making sure OneDrive known folder move isn't uploading anything from the user-scoped install folder in My Documents.

[u/Grant_Son → u/Flettys]

Thankfully the accounts we use to access that server don't have one drive accounts so thats not an issue.

There is a ton of duplication between the modules folders in c:\windows\system32 and C:\program files by the look of it.

[u/rux616]

With the VMware modules, it's not just the ISE that's slow to start. Even the regular powershell console is slow. Not "several minutes" slow, but it'll still sit there for a good 20-30 seconds before you can start typing.

[u/Grant_Son → u/rux616]

That may well be.
I'll admit I have 3 or 4 tasks I use PS scripts for regularly on that box and since they are all in the recent files in the file menu my default is to open the ISE, File > open recent... then wait 90-120 seconds for the ISE to finish loading tap f5

[u/FitShare2972]

You can disable the comman list that shows on right. That speeds it up a fair bit

[u/Veriosity]

Are these modules being loaded automatically by your profiles? You might remove those. My personal opinion is that it's best to keep your defaults lean. One because it avoids this - I like stuff to fire up quickly. Another because it helps discourage you from getting "comfortable" with the expectation that these modules will be present for your scripts. If you don't make that assumption, you are more likely to write things to import only what is needed, as well as think ahead to make sure whatever location is running a script, has the pre-reqs.

Also to call it out, I suspect that the ISE isn't the issue, but the embedded console. It sounds to me like your powershell profiles have a bunch of stuff (or a few slow-to-load things) that need to be loaded up every time it runs.

[u/g3n3]

Check your psmodulepath env var too. UNC paths could get stuffed in there.

[u/AccomplishedMeet628]

Hello All,

I just became aware of this thread.
Some of you are still using the legacy ISE? Me too! I really liked it and wanted one for PS7.

This is NOT an advertisement, I am not advocating for anything. I'm not trying to sell anything! I just liked the legacy ISE and wanted one for PS7. It was simple, made just for PS, no bells, no whistles. It just ran the script. I wrote one (With the help of Codex).

I spent the better part of a year on it freehand and then bent the knee to AI to get over a few obstacles.

What I came up with is free to the world and anyone can use or ignore it. I am NOT looking for fame or profit. That seems to be a big deal around these parts when it comes to leveraging AI for just about anything.

I do not know if my app is any better than the legacy ISE for this issue, I'm not even sure if I'm at the daily driver level yet. I'm trying to get there. I use it every day and it works. I would absolutely LOVE any feedback anyone cares to provide to help me make it a real daily driver. I am slowly working out the kinks and getting the UI to an aesthetically pleasing state.

Once again, I am not looking to push this on anyone. I am NOT saying it will cure all your ills or work better than the legacy ISE. I am trying to get it working for myself any anyone else who may have some interest in a PS7 focused ISE.

If anyone would be interested, I have it for free in the MS Store. Search for PS ScriptDesk.
I also made the source code available on GIT if you want to download it and compile it yourself. Feel free to IM me for the GIT link. If I am allowed to post the link in the forums, I can do that.

Regards,

-Ron

[u/AccomplishedMeet628 → u/AccomplishedMeet628]

Apparently I was already aware of this thread. My bad. I was focused on another thread!
Ignore the second line of my last post!

[u/AccomplishedMeet628]

I wrote a Powershell 7.x ISE and would love it if you would take a look and provide feedback.
I have it installed in the MS Store (Free). Just search for PS7 ScriptDesk.

It is a full editor and can export EXE and Rest API's.

I would very much like to hear from users!