Automatic Shutdown

[Cosmo Donato]

Thanks for the recommendation and the program Doug. They work under
the admin account but not as the limited user for me, maybe I set them up
wrong?
I set up the shutdown command line in scheduled tasks on the admin
account with its password but if the admin account isn't logged in as well
as the limited it didn't work for me. Same problem with the program you
gave me the link to. I tried setting it up under the limited user in
scheduled tasks but it keeps telling me that the task could not run because
of an invalid password or missing password. The limited user accounts don't
have any password, is there a way around this?
Thanks,
Cosmo Donato

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Scheduled tasks require a password on the account that is used to run them. I can't explain why, if you set it up under the Administrator credentials, that it didn't work. I logged off my Administrator account, after setting the 'task', and logged into the Limited User account. Right on time, it said that it was logging me off of the Limited account and proceeded to shutdown.

There is a method of disabling the requirement for passwords on Scheduled Tasks, but it isn't recommended, as it allows for the use of blank passwords for remote network access and other "non-local" activities.

If you're running XP Pro, click Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC Go to:

Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, Security Options

Look for Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only. This is enabled by default, meaning that blank passwords can only be used for logging on. Set this to Disabled to allow Scheduled Tasks to run with out a password.

For XP Home, you have to make this change manually. Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

In the right pane look for a value called "limitblankpassworduse" Double click this value and change it to 0 (zero). A value of 1 requires passwords. If the value doesn't exist, right click in a blank area of the right pane and select New, DWord value. Name it "limitblankpassworduse", without the quotes, and set it as desired.

Again, this is at your own risk as it exposes your computer to threats from outside sources that wouldn't normally be a problem.