choco command takes time to initialise. How to skip RemovePendingPackagesTask?

[jimis]

On the Windows runners in Github Actions, there are a bunch of Packages installed already. Because of that it takes a long time for the first run of choco command.

As evident from the debug log it spends around 2 minutes in RemovePendingPackagesTask:

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 11:21:36 GMT Received arguments: install ccache --version 3.7.12 --yes --no-progress --not-silent --verbose --debug
Tue, 19 Jan 2021 11:21:36 GMT RemovePendingPackagesTask is now ready and waiting for PreRunMessage.
Tue, 19 Jan 2021 11:21:36 GMT Sending message 'PreRunMessage' out if there are subscribers...
Tue, 19 Jan 2021 11:21:36 GMT [Pending] Removing all pending packages that should not be considered installed...
Tue, 19 Jan 2021 11:23:17 GMT Performing validation checks.

Is there an option to skip this step?

[gep13]

Is this repeatable? Do you have an example workflow that you are using?

[jimis]

https://github.com/qt/qtbase/runs/1754601585
(EDIT: workflow listed here)

From the "..." button enable the display of timestamps, then check the "Prepare Windows" step.

I've been seeing this since a long time ago even though I hadn't traced it, so I'd say it's repeatable.

[jimis]

Could issue #1866 be relevant? There is also pull request #1941 that supposedly resolves it.

[jetersen]

I created a repro here: https://github.com/jetersen/test-choco-pack-github-action
See actions/runner-images#3010