Deployment Server

Question

Deployment Server

Sara 20

I bought a refurbished Dell OptiPlex, Windows 11. It works great except on startup I get a window saying "cannot connect to deployment server ...retrying" then it continues to try over and over. I just x out of the box, and move on. This box appears only on startup and doesn't seem to affect anything else. But I have no idea what it means or how to stop it. I am not trying to connect to anything other than Wi-fi and just using this as a casual gaming computer.

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Answer accepted by question author

EmilyS726 267.8K Independent Advisor

That is not a normal Windows 11 message. Because the computer is a refurbished OptiPlex, the most likely explanation is that it still has a startup program, scheduled task, or management agent left behind by the previous company or refurbisher. It is trying to contact their deployment server, which is no longer available.

After you received this computer, did you do a full reset? or clean install?

Can you hold down Ctrl+Alt+Del, launch Task Manager, then go to Startup tab, and sort by status column, so enabled ones are on the top. Then share a screenshot pls.

Next, hold down Win+R keys, type in shell:startup and press enter. It should launch a folder, take a screenshot to show me what's in the folder pls.

Also, Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:

slmgr /dlv

Then share a screenshot please. Thanks!

Sara 20 Reputation points

2026-07-20T01:01:50.3233333+00:00
When I first turned it on, I had to set it up by logging in to Microsoft and going through all the normal set up stuff for Windows. I actually did try to do a full reset after because of this and it failed but I don't know why. Here are the pics in order of request. When I first turned it on, I had to set it up by logging in to Microsoft and going through all the normal set up stuff for Windows. I actually did try to do a full reset after because of this and it failed but I don't know why. Here are the first and third things you asked for. For the second, the folder was empty.Adobe Express - file.jpg resized-2446x2446.jpg
EmilyS726 267.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-20T01:07:47.4933333+00:00

I see.

Can you get rid of this search term "start" in the search in task manager please, just in case removing it yields more result.

Also, I am not seeing the 2nd screenshot regarding the folder, or was it an empty folder?
Sara 20 Reputation points

2026-07-20T17:08:43.56+00:00

Oops sorry about that. Here's the updated pic. And correct, I didn't upload the photo of the folder because it was empty20260720_130110.jpg
EmilyS726 267.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-20T17:11:47.16+00:00

Thanks Sara. can you right click on the cmd item in the list, and disable it.

Restart the computer, and tell me if it continues?
Sara 20 Reputation points

2026-07-20T17:23:55.5233333+00:00

I wasn't able to disable it from that menu for some reason. But was able to toggle it off from the Settings-Apps-Startup menu and that seemed to work! Thank you!

1 additional answer

Your answer

Sara 20 Reputation points

2026-07-20T01:01:50.3233333+00:00

When I first turned it on, I had to set it up by logging in to Microsoft and going through all the normal set up stuff for Windows. I actually did try to do a full reset after because of this and it failed but I don't know why. Here are the pics in order of request. When I first turned it on, I had to set it up by logging in to Microsoft and going through all the normal set up stuff for Windows. I actually did try to do a full reset after because of this and it failed but I don't know why. Here are the first and third things you asked for. For the second, the folder was empty.Adobe Express - file.jpg resized-2446x2446.jpg
EmilyS726 267.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-20T01:07:47.4933333+00:00

I see.

Can you get rid of this search term "start" in the search in task manager please, just in case removing it yields more result.

Also, I am not seeing the 2nd screenshot regarding the folder, or was it an empty folder?
Sara 20 Reputation points

2026-07-20T17:08:43.56+00:00

Oops sorry about that. Here's the updated pic. And correct, I didn't upload the photo of the folder because it was empty20260720_130110.jpg
EmilyS726 267.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-20T17:11:47.16+00:00

Thanks Sara. can you right click on the cmd item in the list, and disable it.

Restart the computer, and tell me if it continues?
Sara 20 Reputation points

2026-07-20T17:23:55.5233333+00:00

I wasn't able to disable it from that menu for some reason. But was able to toggle it off from the Settings-Apps-Startup menu and that seemed to work! Thank you!

Answer 1

HARDCORE GAMES™ 355

MIght be easier to make a USB stick with Windows and install it fresh to get rid of the refurbishers baggage

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