Troubleshooting Task Scheduler

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 8 Beta, Windows Vista

If you are having problems scheduling tasks or getting tasks to run correctly, first ensure that the Task Scheduler service is running. You can verify the service is running if you click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services and verify that the Task Scheduler service's status is Started.

noteNote
The Task Scheduler service cannot be used while the computer is running in safe mode.

Updated troubleshooting information may be available online at Troubleshooting Task Scheduler.

For information about an event or error message related to Task Scheduler, see Events and Error Message Center.

A task does not run when you expect it to run

If a scheduled task does not run when you expect it to run, ensure that the task is enabled, and also check the triggers on the task to ensure that they are set correctly. For more information see, Enable a Task to Run. For more information about updating a task's triggers, see Change an Existing Task. Also, check the history of the task to see when the task was started and to check for errors. For more information, see View Task Properties and History.

A task will run only if all of the task's conditions are met. You can set a task's conditions on the Conditions tab of the Task Properties dialog box. For more information, see Task Conditions.

Some tasks will only run when a certain user is logged on, depending on a task's security options. If a scheduled task does not run when you expect it to run, ensure that the task's security options are set correctly. For more information, see Task Security Context and Change an Existing Task.

A task ran, but the program that should have been executed did not run correctly

If a task attempts to execute a program, but the program does not run correctly, first try running the program manually (not from a task) to ensure that the program works correctly. You might need to add command-line options to the path of the program. For more information, see Actions. If available, view the help for the program that you are trying to run.

Some programs require elevated privileges to run correctly. If a task is running a program that requires elevated privileges, ensure that the task runs with the highest privileges. You can set a task to run with the highest privileges by changing the task's security options on the General tab of the Task Properties dialog box.

If a task program does not run correctly, check the history of the task for errors. For more information, see View Task Properties and History.

An error occurs when a task attempts to send an e-mail

If a task attempts to send an e-mail, but the e-mail doesn't get sent correctly, first make sure that the settings for the e-mail action on the task are set correctly. The e-mail action must have a valid value for the SMTP server, To, and From settings. For more information about these settings, see Actions.

Make sure the SMTP server that sends the e-mail is setup correctly. E-mail is sent using NTLM authentication for Windows SMTP servers, which means that the security credentials used for running the task must also have privileges on the SMTP server to send e-mail. If the SMTP server is a non-Windows based server, then the e-mail will be sent if the server allows anonymous access.  For information about setting up the SMTP server, see SMTP Server Setup, and for information about managing SMTP server settings, see SMTP Administration.

A task is using 100 percent of the CPU

A task can be scheduled that is triggered often enough to cause 100 percent of the CPU to be used. If this problem occurs, the system can become unusable.

To correct this problem, disable the task and then change the trigger for the task. For more information about how to change a task, see Change an Existing Task.

If the system is unresponsive because the task is using all of the system resources, perform the following steps:

  1. Restart the computer in safe mode (the Task Scheduler service does not run in safe mode),

  2. In the /Windows/System32/Tasks folder, rename the file for the task, or delete the file.

  3. Restart the system in normal mode and then redefine the task.

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Community Content

Doug_Ivison
Task Manager's unpredictability.
"A task does not run when you expect it to run"... ONLY HAPPENS SOMETIMES even though we've checked the points and conditions, listed for that problem.<br /><br />Task Scheduler's unpredictability (Server 2008) <br />-- sometimes skips a day (MAJOR IMPACT), <br />-- sometimes executes at a time other than scheduled (MAJOR IMPACT), <br />-- and sometimes starts two instances of a task (MINOR). <br /><br />The skipping of a day, and off-time execution, have both been observed on multiple occasions, with varied jobs/tasks.<br /><br />
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aplynn
Started/Run Duration Unavalible
<p>Starting on Monday (Oct 31th 11) task scheduler stopped sending out the e-mails it's scheduled to. When I click on Display running tasks it says Unavalible under where Started and Run Duration are. Also it shows that no tasks have been run in the last 24 hours.</p>
Tags : needsforum

John461
Creating an event for Scheduler
I need to create a schedule to run on an event. A file is downloaded to a directory using an FTP transfer program (Pyrobatch). I need to copy the downloaded file to two other networked PCs. The event would be the change of modification date of the downloaded file. The task is copying/overwriting the file on the other PCs. Can scheduler do it and if so, what do I need to set it up?
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JackDPhillips
Tech help, 2007 Vista Home Premium
<p>Computer Back Up/ will not operate, "Task Scheduler Service not available", attempts to start the Task Scheduler "Error 1068 dependency service failed to start"<br /><br />Can I get any help ??</p>
Tags : jakdphillips

SED40
How about fixing the line Events and Error Message Center.
<p>I clicked on it and got 'we're sorry the requested page has moved...'</p> <p> <br /> </p> <p>This content provides very little help in toruble shooting a scheduler problem. <br /></p>
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hartman5000_can
A task ran, but the program that should have been executed did not run correctly
I am upgrading from Windows XP and trying to run a custom program that downloads data from a database even if the user is not logged in. The task runs successfully under Windows XP when the computer is in sleep mode. In Windows 7 when the "Run only when user is logged on" radio button is checked. The program opens, works and closes itself.<br /><br />When the "Run whether user is logged on or not" radio button is pressed, the process starts and hangs. <br /><br />When a process is hidden like this does it not have access to resources like "Data Sources (ODBC)"?<br /><br />http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/why-is-a-windows-7-scheduled-task-running-hidden/d5196c53-5ebd-40a9-8180-d97bde69d060#_self

amannuc
Task scheduler does not start tasks
Windows task scheduler will not start any programs I provide, including Notepad.exe. For tasks that just display a message, the task will start. I know this because the history shows it as starting, and the task will wake the computer. However, I admit I've never actually seen any message. (I just used this task to wake the computer from sleep). <br /><br />Instead of displaying a message, I've tried to start a program. I used notepad.exe as an example, although my goal is to use my own script. Programs have never started. I created a password for my user name, to no avail. I've changed security settings in the scheduler, to no avail. Why doesn't scheduler start any programs? It just sits there and lets the trigger time pass and does nothing. How can I troubleshoot this? Thanks. <br /><br />

Duffman330022
Starting Task Scheduler
I cannot get task scheduler to start. I keep getting error #1053
Tags : contentbug

neumah48
Task Scheduler
<p>My task scheduler is corrupt, can I get it back somehow. Is there a download program to reinstall<br /><br />Need Help! Thanks, Neumah</p>
Tags : contentbug

Thomas Lee
Problem with Task Sheduler
I cannot get my task sheduler to start. If I so into services it is disabled and doesn't let me access anything to get the task sheduler to start. I am at a loss for waht to do I have reviewed all the troubleshooting in the help and support but have had no luck.<br /><br /> Thanks...<br /><br /><pre>[tfl - 05 12 09] Hi - and thanks for your post.You should post questions like this to the Technet Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/technet or the MS Newsgroups at <br /><br />http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quick response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:<br />Exchange : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.exchange%2C&amp;<br />SQL Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&amp;<br />Windows : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&amp;<br />Windows Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows.server%2C&amp;<br />Virtual Server : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.virtualserver/topics?lnk<br />Full Public : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&amp;<br /></pre><br />

Thomas Lee
Deleting error history
I have too much erro histroy. O was advised to clear the history to see if it the erros would correct themselves. How can I do this for only specific tasks. I am using the task scheduler. Most of the tasks work, but I know that you have to empty history that is not needed to make your computer run more efficently.<br /><br /> Thank you for any help you can provide.<br /><br /><pre>[tfl - 05 12 09] Hi - and thanks for your post.You should post questions like this to the Technet Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/technet or the MS Newsgroups at <br /><br />http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quick response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:<br />Exchange : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.exchange%2C&amp;<br />SQL Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&amp;<br />Windows : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&amp;<br />Windows Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows.server%2C&amp;<br />Virtual Server : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.virtualserver/topics?lnk<br />Full Public : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&amp;<br /></pre><br />

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