Task Scheduler

[Connie Martin]

I'm not sure where to post this question. Will start here and if it's not
here that I should post it, please tell me. My problem is this: when I open
Task Scheduler, I get 53 pop-up error messages that various scheduled tasks
no longer exist, and to get them back click on refresh. When I click on
refresh, I get the same pop-up that it no longer exists. I identified all
the folders that have the pop-up error messages, checked in
c:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows and then opened one of the
folders that's generating the error message and verified that the file named
in the task that is failing is indeed there. I went back into Task Scheduler
and attempted to import the task, and then it tells me, "An error has
occurred for <such-and-such> task. Error Message. A task or folder with
this name already exists." Someone's advice was then to just delete the
task. Why would I do that? These are default Windows tasks and I'm having
problems with Windows Calendar's alerts not working, and I believe it's
coming from the fact that Window's default tasks "no longer exist", even
though they do! Can anyone stear me in the right direction? I've been all
over the Internet for answers. I'm only gaining knowledge but not answers.
Thank you. Connie

 

[Connie Martin]

Dave, thank you for replying. This is overwhelming. Why should we have to
configure these computers like this? It worked fine at one time, and then
suddenly it doesn't work any more. I can't even open Disk Defrag, not even
as administrator. Many people also have this problem. I don't understand
all that they are talking about in this forum that you sent, and I'm not
comfortable with doing a system restore. I did that one other time and
messed things up royally, and had to take the computer into the shop to be
straightened out. I don't understand about deleting tasks in the folder
because why is the task there if it's not needed? And if it's needed after
it's deleted, then what? I will voice what many other people are saying and
that is Microsoft should be responsible for this and put out a fix for it.
Many of us are not IT people, nor should we have to be. I do appreciate you
responding. Seems like most people do not want to go there. It's a big
problem, and I think MS knows it, too. It's widespread. Even Windows 7 is
having a problem with it. Why bother to upgrade to Windows 7? Maybe Apple
would be a better route to take. Once again, thank you for responding. I've
bookmarked the link you gave and will maybe some day look at it again. Right
now, there's too much I don't understand about it all to venture an attempted
repair, which for some people didn't work anyway. Thanks again. Connie

 

[Questor]

--->

I have found one task in the Media Center folder giving me the two error
messages. There is a line of code inside with a date of
1982 ?? The actual file date is December 2009. Also the author is listed
as me (or rather my account) but I know I have never created a task to
update the Media Centre.
Perhaps ticking a box or clicking an OK button somewhere created the
thing. Anyway, if you decide you want to try and sort out your task
errors then post back.

I have the exact same two errors when I open my Win7 Task Scheduler.
Was there any solution to this problem? I looked for a Media Center
folder, but didn't fine it.

Questor

 

[Questor]

--->

On my box this error was caused by a task , mcupdate_scheduled.
Open Task Scheduler, OK out of the error boxes.
On the left pane open out Microsoft > Windows.
There should be around 40+ folders and Media Center is one of them.
To find out which folder is giving your error message select the first
folder under Windows and click on the Refresh icon in the right pane.
Continue down the list until you find it.

The only place where I get the error is when I highlight "Task Scheduler
Library" and hit Refresh. I git no errors in any other place. There is
nothing in the center panel however so this must be some sort of ghost
task as it isn't listed anywhere that I can find.

I went all the way down the Microsoft entries and never had an error.
Funny thing is that when I get the error and go to another folder all
the taskes that used to be there are gone now and I have to restart the
task scheduler to get them back.

Something is definitely messed up somewhere as I created a task and it
was entered in the folder Task Scheduler Library, but nowhere else. If
I do create one, should it be in it's own folder down with Microsoft and
the others?

Questor

 

[Questor]

--->

--->

The only place where I get the error is when I highlight "Task Scheduler
Library" and hit Refresh. I git no errors in any other place. There is
nothing in the center panel however so this must be some sort of ghost
task as it isn't listed anywhere that I can find.

I went all the way down the Microsoft entries and never had an error.
Funny thing is that when I get the error and go to another folder all
the taskes that used to be there are gone now and I have to restart the
task scheduler to get them back.

Something is definitely messed up somewhere as I created a task and it
was entered in the folder Task Scheduler Library, but nowhere else. If I
do create one, should it be in it's own folder down with Microsoft and
the others?

Questor

Sorry. In addition, I went to Services and found that the "Task
Scheduler" service is completely greyed out. There are NO entries I can
make on the pop-up properties at all. How to handle failures, is
non-functional as are every checkbox on every tab. It looks as if this
service just does not exist (even though the other 'svchost' functions
work just fine.

Q

 

[Questor]

--->

--->

Sorry. In addition, I went to Services and found that the "Task
Scheduler" service is completely greyed out. There are NO entries I can
make on the pop-up properties at all. How to handle failures, is
non-functional as are every checkbox on every tab. It looks as if this
service just does not exist (even though the other 'svchost' functions
work just fine.

Q

Even more info: I opened a command window, navigated to ststem32 and
manually entered the command:

svchost.exe -k netsvcs

there were no errors in the command window. When I went back to the
Task Scheduler, it did NOT give me the two errors. Not only that, but
it showed me three tasks that I'd tried to start but when I clicked the
final 'Finish' button it did not appear anywhere - no error given - it
simply wasn't there.

After manually starting the service they all appeared again.

I rebooted and the service failed to start again. I had to manually
start it. Something is just wrong but I haven't a clue where it is.

Questor

 

[Questor]

--->

If you create a task it will be listed in the Task Scheduler Library.
In Explorer it will be here: C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
(along with all the Windows tasks)
If you want to move it into another folder, create a folder here and it
will be added to the tree.
The Task scheduler service is normally greyed out, to stop people
from stopping it. It should be set to automatic and the service status
should be ' Started '. Check it's running in Task Manager, it's listed
as 'Schedule'.

You're right. I didn't think of the consequences of a person messing
with the task that starts other tasks. Not a good thing. I went to my
other computers and they all showed grey-out for this particular
service. It is definitely running though as Process Explorer says so.

I don't get the error in Task Scheduler now for a reason I'm not sure
of. I tried a couple of things and when I rebooted, the errors were
gone. I hate it when that happens because I don't really learn anything.

Thanks much for letting me know where these tasks are stored. Makes
things much easier.

Questor