AB#3732: SQL Server Launchpad service fails to start in Windows 11

Author: sevend2

support/sql/database-engine/machine-learning/sql-server-launchpad-fail-start.md

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+---
+title: SQL Server Launchpad service fails to start
+description: This article provides a resolution for the problem where the SQL Server Launchpad service fails to start after installing Windows update KB5044284 (OS Build 26100.2033) or a later version.
+ms.date: 02/13/2025
+ms.custom: sap:Machine Learning Services (in database)
+---
+# SQL Server Launchpad service fails to start after installing Windows update
+
+## Symptoms
+
+You're running a Windows 11 machine with SQL Server installed with the [SQL Server Machine Learning Services](/sql/machine-learning/install/sql-machine-learning-services-windows-install) feature. After installing Windows update [KB5044284 (OS Build 26100.2033)](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/october-8-2024-kb5044284-os-build-26100-2033-6baf4a06-9763-4d9b-ba8a-f25ba6ed477b) or a later version, you notice the [SQL Server Launchpad service](/sql/machine-learning/concepts/extensibility-framework#launchpad) fails to start. After checking the [ExtLaunchErrorlog](/sql/machine-learning/troubleshooting/data-collection-ml-troubleshooting-process?view=sql-server-ver16#system-events) file, you see the following error messages at the end of the file.  
+
+``` 
+<timestamp>	Security Context Manager initialization failed. ErrorCode: 0x8032000c.
+<timestamp>	Satellite Session Manager initialization failed. ErrorCode: 0x8032000c.
+<timestamp>	Initialization of satellite session manager failed. ErrorCode: 0x8032000c.
+``` 
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> This issue doesn't impact Windows Server operating system.
+
+## Cause
+
+Windows update [KB5044284 (OS Build 26100.2033)](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/october-8-2024-kb5044284-os-build-26100-2033-6baf4a06-9763-4d9b-ba8a-f25ba6ed477b) changed the behavior of windows API [CreateAppContainerProfile](/windows/win32/api/userenv/nf-userenv-createappcontainerprofile) that is called by the Launchpad service. This change causes the API to return an error and ultimately causes the Launchpad service to fail.
+
+## Resolution
+
+Microsoft is actively working on a fix. In the meantime, if you use the Launchpad service, revert to Windows update [KB5043080 (OS Build 26100.1742)](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/september-10-2024-kb5043080-os-build-26100-1742-407666c8-6b6d-4561-a982-abce4e7c2efb) or an earlier version. 

support/sql/database-engine/toc.yml

@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ items:
   items:
   - name: Inconsistent results in MKL computations
     href: machine-learning/inconsistent-results-mkl-computations-missing-variable.md
+  - name: SQL Server Launchpad service fails to start
+    href: machine-learning/sql-server-launchpad-fail-start.md
 
 - name: Queries, stored procedures, views, functions, triggers (T-SQL)
   items: