Task Scheduler/System Restore Problem

I just bought a new Dell Inspiron 500m running XP home, and I have a problem with task scheduler that I can't figure out.

Actually, my real problem is with system restore, which does not automatically create system checkpoints each day (although I can manually create a restore point).

Since I read somewhere that task scheduler needs to be on in order for System Restore to automatically create system checkpoints (restore points), I tried to set a program to run in task scheduler. I chose something innocuous: system information.

But it didn't work, and here's the error message I saw in the task scheduler log:

"System Information.job" (msinfo32.exe) 9/13/2003 7:41:00 AM ** ERROR ** The attempt to log on to the account associated with the task failed, therefore, the task did not run. The specific error is: 0x8007052e: Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password. Verify that the task's Run-as name and password are valid and try again. "

Now, I know my network name is "Dkline2," and my computer is registered to "David ", and that's what shows up in the "run as" tab in task scheduler (i.e., "Dkline/David Kline ").

But maybe there's a password problem. I don't think I entered a general password for the laptop main user account when I set it up the other day, but I can't recall for sure. Nonetheless, yesterday when task scheduler still wasn't working, I thought maybe I should enter one in the "set password" tab in task scheduler, so I did.

So maybe now there's an inconsistency between NOT having a password in my general user account, and having one in task scheduler.

Or since task scheduler wasn't working even before I entered a password yesterday, maybe I have two different passwords -- one in my user account and one in task scheduler. But I don't know how to tell if any of the above is true.

Or maybe the problem in task scheduler is entirely different.

Bottom line, I really just want System Restore to automatically create restore points each day, and could care less about task scheduler except that it apparently needs to be running in order for System Restore to work properly.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for bearing with me here.

 

Add a user account (maybe schdmgr), give it a password, add it to the admin group, and use that for scheduled tasks.

I'd be interested in reading the piece you saw about task scheduler needing to be running for an automatic system restore point to be created though.

 

This is possiblely a fully un-intentional user created problem.

I do not completely understand all of XPs ways but I do know that if you get into Services and shut off one thing it may well stop something else from working.

I believe this is due to what is called " Dependencies "

I have not had my XP Pro make a RP on its own since I have had it for several months. That may be due to something that I shut off early on in Services. But I know and am aware of this so I do check and make my own RP if needed.

Sometimes XP makes a RP when you install software and sometimes it does not. ( very undependable )

This is why I have said in several of my replys. "DO NOT put your full trust in Windows XP to do as it it supposed to." You as the user may have un-intentionaly/un-knowingly done something to stop it.

That is one thing about Win98SE. It has NEVER failed to make a Registry backup at the first boot of the day. That is as long as I the user do not stop Scanregistry from loading at startup.

BillyBob

 

Before I try creating a new user account and running a new scheduled task under it, is there any way I can figure out and resolve the probable password inconsistency between my current account and task scheduler?

Can I simply eliminate all passwords in either, for example, and get it to run that way?

 

In short, is it possible to determine if I have a password set in my main user account, and if so, what it is?

 

Creating a new User HHHMMMM !!!!!!

I am also curious about that. So I will ask also.

Would it not be a requirement that that specific user be active and as always the Computer to be actually ON at the time of the scheduled task ?

I myself would prefer to see the Restore Point set up similiar to Scanregistry in 98 ( much more reliable ) so that it makes one on the first boot of that day regardless of the time of day the machine is started.

At least have it make a RP of the C: drive.

And have the same capability of deleting all existing, restart Windows and have it make a new one.

MUCH, MUCH simpler. And much more reliable.

As to the Task Schedular itself. The one in 98SE was never completely reliable either. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not. That is why I NEVER depended on it.

BillyBob

 

"Add a user account (maybe schdmgr), give it a password, add it to the admin group, and use that for scheduled tasks.

I'd be interested in reading the piece you saw about task scheduler needing to be running for an automatic system restore point to be created though. "


I have this same problem and I was just going to ask about it. You say add a user account...............how do I do this? I read something in the 'help' file that said if you're the only one using the computer you could/should make yourself the administrator and then you wouldn't have to reassign new passwords every six months. Is that a better way to go, and how do you do it, or is what I've quoted above the way to go, and how do you do that? Or is one the same as the other???

Thanks for any and all help
ziggee

 

Would it not be a requirement that that specific user be active and as always the Computer to be actually ON at the time of the scheduled task ?

Any valid user account with proper permissions will do for running scheduled tasks. That user does not need to be the logged on user.

Yup - scheduled tasks won't run if the PC is turned off at the task's start time.

 

I too would be interested in this. I've never had task scheduler running and XP has always made restore points automatically for me. I would tend to agree with BillyBob in that it's more than likely a service that's been disabled that's causing the problem. I've been wrong before though.

 

Well, Well. No wonder System Restore is not making RPs for me.

I just checked out the BlackViper printout and see that I have both;

SRSERVICE ( system restore ) and SCHEDULE ( Task Scheduler ) disabled.

So that being said I can not blame XP Pro. Well maybe I can but it is not.

BillyBob

 

Well in my case, both task scheduler and system restore are both enabled, so what's the problem? Below is a list of my services and their status. Anyone have any ideas?

(Also, is there a way to eliminate all passwords in my user account and task scheduler -- or at least to see if they differ?)


Name, Status ,Startup Type

Alerter,,Manual
Application Layer Gateway Service,,Manual
Application Management,,Disabled
ASP.NET State Service,,Manual
Automatic Updates,Started,Automatic
Background Intelligent Transfer Service,Started,Manual
ClipBook,,Manual
COM+ Event System,Started,Manual
COM+ System Application,,Manual
Computer Browser,Started,Automatic
Cryptographic Services,Started,Automatic
DHCP Client,Started,Automatic
Distributed Link Tracking Client,Started,Automatic
Distributed Transaction Coordinator,,Manual
DNS Client,Started,Automatic
Error Reporting Service,Started,Automatic
Event Log,Started,Automatic
Fast User Switching Compatibility,Started,Manual
Help and Support,Started,Automatic
Human Interface Device Access,,Disabled
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service,,Manual
Indexing Service,,Disabled
Intel NCS NetService,,Manual
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS),,Manual
IPSEC Services,Started,Automatic
Logical Disk Manager,,Manual
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service,,Manual
McAfee.com McShield,,Manual
McAfee.com VirusScan Online Realtime Engine,,Manual
Messenger,Started,Automatic
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider,,Manual
Net Logon,,Manual
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing,,Manual
Network Connections,Started,Manual
Network DDE,,Manual
Network DDE DSDM,,Manual
Network Location Awareness (NLA),Started,Manual
NT LM Security Support Provider,,Manual
Performance Logs and Alerts,,Manual
Plug and Play,Started,Automatic
Portable Media Serial Number,Started,Automatic
Print Spooler,Started,Automatic
Protected Storage,Started,Automatic
QoS RSVP,,Manual
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager,,Manual
Remote Access Connection Manager,Started,Manual
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager,,Manual
Remote Procedure Call (RPC),Started,Automatic
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator,,Manual
Removable Storage,,Manual
Routing and Remote Access,,Disabled
Secondary Logon,Started,Automatic
Security Accounts Manager,Started,Automatic
Server,Started,Automatic
Shell Hardware Detection,Started,Automatic
Smart Card,,Manual
Smart Card Helper,,Manual
SSDP Discovery Service,Started,Manual
System Event Notification,Started,Automatic
System Restore Service,Started,Automatic
Task Scheduler,Started,Automatic
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper,Started,Automatic
Telephony,Started,Manual
Terminal Services,Started,Manual
Themes,,Disabled
Uninterruptible Power Supply,,Manual
Universal Plug and Play Device Host,,Manual
Upload Manager,Started,Automatic
Volume Shadow Copy,,Manual
WAN Miniport (ATW) Service,Started,Automatic
WebClient,Started,Automatic
Windows Audio,Started,Automatic
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA),,Manual
Windows Installer,,Manual
Windows Management Instrumentation,Started,Automatic
Windows Time,Started,Automatic
Wireless Zero Configuration,Started,Automatic
WLTRYSVC,Started,Automatic
WMI Performance Adapter,,Manual
Workstation,Started,Automatic

 

Hello dkline,

In the reg key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore

Whats the value in RPGlobalinterval? The default value for SR point creation should be 86,400 seconds - 24 hours.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Charles,

It's 15180 hexadecimal, or 86,400 seconds.

 

From Task Scheduler Does Not Run Tasks When "Run As" User Account Has No Password

 

Ah, now that might be the answer!

I don't remember entering a user account password, so perhaps that's where the inconsistency is.

Before I add a password to my main user (admin) account, though, I just want to ask people here:

Is there any downside at all to assigning a password to my main user account?

Thanks, everyone, for your help.

 

One obvious downside to assigning a password to my main user account (to answer myself) is that I'll need to enter it each time I boot up.

There are three possible solutions to this problem:

1) Install TweakUI and enable its auto logon feature.

2) Enable auto logon somehow by changing the registry (anyone know how?)

3) Create a new user account with password with admin privileges and run the scheduled tasks through that (will this avoid the password entry at bootup?)

Which of the above would you choose?

 

#3 is the way I do it both at home on my 2-PC network and at work on a 75 server network. Works fine.

 

Thanks, guys. I chose door #2 and used the link that PeteC provided to configure my registry for auto logon.

That works fine, and so -- finally! -- does task scheduler. Horray!

Now I'll have to wait 24 hours and see if System Restore starts creating automatic restore points like it's supposed to.

If Sys Restore still doesn't work properly, then I'll just give up and create the **** restore points myself.

But whatever happens, thanks to all of you for your generous advice.