Troubleshooting Task Scheduler

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Troubleshooting

What problem are you having?

  • Task does not run at the scheduled time.
Task does not run at the scheduled time.

Cause:  The password for the user you specified when creating the scheduled task might have changed.

Solution:  Open the scheduled task, and then update the password for the user.

Note

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

See also: Modify a scheduled task; Schedule a new task; Task Scheduler and security; Task Scheduler Best practices

or

Cause:  The password for the user you specified when creating the scheduled task might be blank.

Solution:  Assign a password for the user account for which you are scheduling the task. For more information, see User and Group Accounts. After the user has a password, modify the scheduled task to include the password.

Note

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

See also:  Modify a scheduled task; Schedule a new task; Task Scheduler and security; Task Scheduler Best practices

or

Cause:  Task Scheduler cannot find the executable for the program that is supposed to run at the scheduled time because the path to it is set incorrectly.

Solution:  

  1. Open Task Scheduler.

  2. Double-click the scheduled task.

  3. In the Task tab, verify that the paths to the program executable are correct in the Run and Start in boxes.

Note

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators, Backup Operators, or Server Operators group, or have been delegated the appropriate authority, on the local computer. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

See also:  Task Scheduler Best practices; Schedule a new task; Creating and managing scheduled tasks from the Command Line; Configure Task Scheduler using Computer Management

or

Cause:  The task was scheduled to run under another user account than the user currently logged on.

Solution:  

  1. Open Task Scheduler.

  2. In the Task tab, in the Run as box, and then type the correct user name.

Note

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators, Backup Operators, or Server Operators group, or have been delegated the appropriate authority, on the local computer. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

or

Cause:  The Task Scheduler service might be stopped.

Solution:  

  1. Open Task Scheduler.

  2. In the Advance menu, click Start Using Task Scheduler.

Note

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Server Operators group, or have been delegated the appropriate authority, on the local computer. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

See also:  Administering Task Scheduler using Computer Management

or

Cause:  The Task Scheduler service might be disabled.

Solution:  

  1. Open Computer Management.

  2. In the console tree, click Services.

    Where?

    • Computer Management (Local)/Services and Applications

  3. In the details pane, double-click Task Scheduler.

  4. In the General tab, in Startup type list box, select Automatic or Manual. Click OK.

Note

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Server Operators group, or have been delegated the appropriate authority, on the local computer. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

    You can also stop and start the Task Scheduler service in the Microsoft Management Console: open the Task Scheduler Properties (computername) dialog box, and then under the General tab, under Service status, click Start or Stop.

See also:  Administering Task Scheduler using Computer Management