Task Scheduler not working

I'd appreciate help in getting the Task Scheduler to work. I have followed the Wizard for scheduling tasks, but the status of a scheduled task is always "Could not start ". It seems the last time the scheduler worked is 12/10/2001. I have no idea what made it stop working. I have tried XP both with and without logon passwords, but the task scheduler won't work either way. I have also tried to start the task manually from the right-click "run" pull-down menu, but that doesn't work either.

Any suggestions on what to do or try next?

 

Have you checked your services to make sure that Task Manager is enabled?

To do so; Open Control Panel, click on Performance & Maintenance, and then on Administrative Tools, then on Services. Scroll down the list of available Services until you find Task Scheduler. Check to make sure that under the Status tab it says "Started" and under the Startup tab it says "Automatic ".

If it says stopped, paused or disabled, right click on the service and select Start from the pop-up menu.

HTH.

 

Thank you for your suggestion. I checked as you suggested and Task Scheduler is listed as "Started" and "Automatic ", but it still doesn't work. I'm still at a loss at what went wrong and how to correct it.

 

I see in your first post that you mentioned that you have tried running tasks both with and without passwords. The following two links are articles from Microsofts Knowledge Base which discuss the issue you are having. Both discuss the setting of a password prior to being able to run a scheduled task. I thought you might want to review these to see if there is something you missed.

I noted in the second article that it states "Note that any valid password is acceptable, but it cannot be a blank password, and you must log off and then log on again before you schedule the task ". Didn't know if this was something you tried yet or not.

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q311119

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310715


HTH.

 

Thank you for your suggestions. I downloaded the Microsoft information and followed the instructions (again.... since I had found these instructions earlier).

I now can get the calculator to start when I log in (as a test of the scheduler) and the Symantec NetDetect says it is working. However, there are 5 other applications that still have a problem running. I'll welcome any additional suggestions on what to try next.

 

task scheduler and password

I have a similar problem. My antivirus once a week scan runs, but the automatic update feature does not work.

I'm sure it's because there is no password. I don't have a user password setup. I have a home computer and other family members use it. I DO NOT want to have to enter a password everytime windows starts. Will this be the case? If so, can the password be saved, changed, etc.?

 

GER - XP-home or XP-Pro?

zanetti - Here and use the Tweak UI option. You will need a password with the account but this allows you to automate the logon.

 

In reply to "Newt "... I have XP-home.

In reply to "zanetti "... I have entered a password and it does not solve the problem.

Any suggestions to solving the problem are appreciated.

Just to clarify my current problem..... Some applications in "Scheduled Tasks" run and some do not. In particular, both Symantec NetDetect and Norton AntiVirus - Scan my computer do work. The applications that do not run are: Maintenance-Defragment programs, Maintenance-Disk cleanup, PCHealth scheduler for Data Collection and Tune-up Application Start.

GER

 

Newt,

I'm using XP home. I printed out the instructions on how to enable autologon, but the link on that page to Powertoys for Windows XP doesn't work. I'll try to find it.

 

Powertoys

Powertoys for Windows XP can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

 

GER - the usual cause for task scheduler failures is lack of sufficient priv. level for whatever account is trying to start the task.

Afraid I can't offer specifics though since XP-home does user accounts and security in a vastly different manner than XP-pro or any other NT-based OS and I've no experience with it and no access to a PC running it.

Several thoughts. You should check your event logs and see if a specific error shows up that will tell you why the task is failing. Otherwise, you might try putting together a batch file to run the command and use task scheduler to fire off the bat file. Often you will see the problem/error that way. And especially if you have echo set to on and put a PAUSE line right below the .exe line.

 

Newt -

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure if I know where to find the event log. I did check under "Administrative Tools" and then "Event Viewer ", but didn't find anything informative or related to the task scheduler. The task scheduler merely says "Could not start" for all of the non-working items.

I'll try to follow up on your suggestions re priv. level and perhaps use the batch file approach.

Thanks,
GER