Scheduled Tasks Start with Several Hours Delay

[Luc]

Hi, I was wondering if someone is running into the same problem as I am,
namely that tasks start later than at the scheduled time, occasionally even 2
or several more hours.

The two scheduled tasks I'm referring to in this context are a backup run
(using Genie Backup Manager 8 Pro) and a SpySweeper update on a Vista
Ultimate PC. Backup runs are scheduled every evening at 10:30 p.m.;
SpySweeper updates every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Last Wednesday, for instance,
both tasks didn't start until 1:01:28 a.m. and 1:01:26 a.m., so 2.5 and 5
hours late respectively. On several other occasions, the backup runs started
late. Disregarding the 2/100ths of a second on this particular occasion, it
seems clear that something postponed both tasks until 1:01 a.m., but I have
no idea what could be the cause of this. (Note, there was no/no virus scan
running at this time, which could have been using system resources.)

Ever since installing Kaspersky Internet Security 7, I had observed that the
backup run took somewhat longer to complete. After installing Vista SP1,
there was also a problem logging off and back on as a different user, which
froze some screens and (coincidentally?) also the system clock, which might
have been the explanation. However, disabling Registry Guard in KIS took care
of this, and the system clock again shows the correct time also in the system
tray as well as in the BIOS.

Has anyone experienced the same problem and found a solution because I'm
reliant on, particularly, backups running at the scheduled time?

 

[Julian]

Check the properties of the scheduled tasks carefully... there's an option
somewhere that allows the task to postpone itself until the PC has been idle
for a specified length of time...

As to what might be making the PC un-idle I don't know (make sure you have
Hidden Tasks shown in Task Scheduler, just in case!), but once you know
whether that is the issue you can consider the alternatives...

HTH

 

[Luc]

Thanks for your feedback, Julian. I checked the properties of the scheduled
tasks and they do look properly set, i.e., they are set to "Run whether user
is logged on or not" and, under the Conditions tab to "Wake the computer to
run this task," which is how I think it should be and how it has worked in
the past (so the option "Start the task only if computer is idle for x
minutes" is left unchecked). As far as I can tell, these settings are correct.

I have also checked under the History tab, where EventID 107 shows "Task
triggered on scheduler," including the time the event was triggered. Sure
enough, for some days it shows 10:30:00 p.m. as it should be; for other days
the time may be several minutes late; in a few cases several hours.

I still have a vague hunch it may be caused by the particular combination
Kaspersky Internet Security with Vista (or Vista SP1) that cause problems
with the system's clock, even though it shows accurate in the system tray.
But how to check, without disabling AV and firewall protection?