Windows - Auto Services

(AKA: DOS Scheduler / Automatic Tasks / Scheduled Task)

Running a program at Startup or Shutdown

• OS:  Windows 2000 Professional, XP 
  1. Start, Run, gpedit.msc
  2. Group Policy
  3. Local Computer policy
  4. Windows Settings
  5. Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)
  6. Startup

Running a program at a certain time

Warning:  Do not assume a Drive or Directory in your batch files!

• DOS Scheduler (WARNING: Tied to the system account)
  • DOS Command:  at - The AT command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. The Schedule service must be running to use
    the AT command.
  • help AT - will give you help on the command.
  • AT - will list the schedule of programs.
  • Examples:
    • at 13:30 /every:M e:\temp\testbatch.bat
      (Note: Runs a batch file very Monday at 1:30pm.)
    • at 13:30 /every:1 e:\temp\testbatch.bat
      (Note: Runs a batch file very 1st day of the month at 1:30pm.)
    • at 1 /delete
      (Note: deletes the scheduled task with id = 1.
    • at /delete
      (Note: deletes all scheduled tasks.)
  • Notes:
    • Days: M,T,W,Th,F,S,Su  (You can use: M,W,F etc...)
• GUI Scheduler (WARNING: tied to a user account)
  • Drive Mappings - the drive mappings for that user are not known by the task scheduler.  You must include the command "net use <drive map letter>: \\<computer>\<share drive leter>"
  • OS:  Win 2000
    • Start/Settings/Control Panel/Scheduled Tasks
  • OS: XP
    • Start/Control Panel/Scheduled Tasks, then click "Add Scheduled Task", the click "Browse" etc...
  • Your GUI options tied to a user account/password are:
    • Schedule Task Options:
      • Daily
        • Start Time
        • Schedule Task Daily every x days.
        • Advanced options (see below)
      • Weekly
        • Start Time
        • Schedule Task Weekly every x weeks.
        • You can choose the days of the week.
        • Advanced options (see below)
      • Monthly
        • Day of the Month or the (first, last, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) (Mon,Tu,W,Th,Fr,Sa,Su) of the month.
        • You can select the months (Jan - Dec)
        • Advanced options (see below)
      • One time only
        • Start date/time
        • Advanced options (see below)
      • When my computer starts
        • No other options available.
      • When I log on
        • No other options available.
      • When idle
        • Option is for how many minutes.
    • Advanced Options:
      Repeat task ever x minutes/hours
      Until:  Time or a Duration in hours & Minutes.
      Check box for:  If the task is still running, stop it at this time.
    • The GUI has a Setting & Security tab also!
    • Manually running the Scheduled job.
      • Sign in as the user.
      • Start, Control Panel, Schedule Tasks, then right-click on the task, Run.
      • Note:  Make sure you test your task from here.
  • Notes:
    • Scheduled Tasks - to have a task run every hour on the hour all the time even after a reboot.  (I'm testing this! You need to test!!!).  I'm not sure how a reboot will affect this!
      • Schedule Tab
        • Schedule Task: Daily
        • Start Time: <a time in the future>
        • Every 1 days
      • Advanced Option
        • Start Date: <a date in the future>
        • End Date:  <Dec 31, 2099>  (a date way in the future) - no date may work - you'll need to test.
        • Repeat Task - checked.
          • Every 1 hour
          • Until Duration:  24 hours, 0 min
          • Un-Check - If the task is still running, stop it at this time.