HOW TO: Use Schtasks.exe to Schedule Tasks in Windows Server 2003 (814596)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
For a Windows 2000 version of this article, see the
following Knowledge Base article: IN THIS TASKSUMMARYIn Windows Server 2003, you can use Scheduled Tasks in
Control Panel to create, delete, configure, or display scheduled tasks. You can
also use Schtasks.exe to schedule tasks manually. back to the topOverview of the
Schtasks.exe ToolSchtasks schedules commands and programs to run periodically or at
a specific time. Schtasks adds and removes tasks from the schedule, starts and
stops tasks on demand, and displays and changes scheduled tasks.
back to the topSyntax and ParametersThe following is a list of the syntax and parameters that you can
use with Schtasks.exe:
Schtasks /CreateCreates a new scheduled task.
- Syntax:
schtasks /create/tn TaskName /tr TaskRun /sc schedule [/mo modifier] [/d day] [/m month[,month...] [/i IdleTime] [/st StartTime] [/sd StartDate] [/ed EndDate] [/du duration] [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] [/ru {[Domain\]User | "System"} [/rp Password]] /? - Parameters:
- /tn TaskName Specifies a name for the task.
- /tr TaskRun Specifies the program or command that the task runs. Type the
fully qualified path and file name of an executable file, script file, or batch
file. If you omit the path, Schtasks.exe assumes that the file is in the
Systemroot\System32 folder.
- /sc schedule Specifies the schedule type. Valid values are MINUTE, HOURLY,
DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, ONCE, ONSTART, ONLOGON, ONIDLE.
- /mo modifier Specifies how frequently the task runs in its schedule type. This
parameter is required for a MONTHLY schedule. This parameter is valid, but
optional, for a MINUTE, HOURLY, DAILY, or WEEKLY schedule. The default value is
1.
- /d day Specifies a day of the week or a day of a month. Valid only with
a WEEKLY or MONTHLY schedule.
- /m month[,month...] Specifies a month of the year. Valid values are JAN - DEC and
* (every month). The /m parameter is valid only with a MONTHLY schedule. It is required
when the LASTDAY modifier is used. Otherwise, it is optional and the default
value is * (every month).
- /i IdleTime Specifies how many minutes the computer is idle before the task
starts. Type a whole number from 1 to 999. This parameter is valid only with an
ONIDLE schedule, and then it is required.
- /st StartTime Specifies the time of day that the task starts in HH:MM:SS
24-hour format. The default value is the current local time when the command
completes. The /st parameter is valid with MINUTE, HOURLY, DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY,
and ONCE schedules. It is required with a ONCE schedule.
- /sd StartDate Specifies the date that the task starts in MM/DD/YYYY format. The
default value is the current date. The /sd parameter is valid with all schedules, and is required for a ONCE
schedule.
- /ed EndDate Specifies the last date that the task is scheduled to run. This
parameter is optional. It is not valid in a ONCE, ONSTART, ONLOGON, or ONIDLE
schedule. By default, schedules have no ending date.
- /du Duration Specifies a maximum length of time for a minute or hourly schedule in the HHHH:MM 24-hour format. After the specified time elapses, Schtasks does not start the task again until the start time happens again. By default, task schedules have no maximum duration. This parameter is optional and valid only with a MINUTE or HOURLY schedule.
- /s Computer Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer, with or
without backslash characters. The default is the local computer.
- /u [domain\]user Runs the command with the permissions of the specified user
account. By default, the command runs with the permissions of the user who is
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /p password Specifies the password of the user account that you specified in
the /u parameter. This parameter is required when the /u parameter is used.
- /ru {[Domain\]User | "System"} Runs the tasks with the permission of the specified user
account. By default, the task runs with the permissions of the user who is
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /rp Password Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in
the /ru parameter. If you omit this parameter when you specify a user
account, Schtasks.exe prompts you for the password and obscures the text you
type. Tasks that run with permissions of the NT Authority\System account do not
require a password and Schtasks.exe does not prompt for one.
- /? Displays help at the command prompt.
back to the
topSchtasks /ChangeChanges one or more of the following properties of a task:
- The program that the task runs (/tr ).
- The user account under which the task runs (/ru ).
- The password for the user account (/rp ).
- Syntax:schtasks /change /tn TaskName [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] [/tr TaskRun] [/ru [Domain\]User | "System"] [/rp Password]
- Parameters:
- /tn TaskName Identifies the task to be changed. Type the task name.
- /s Computer Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer with or
without backslash characters. The default is the local computer.
- /u [domain\]user Runs the command with the permissions of the specified user
account. By default, the command runs with the permissions of the user who is
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /p password Specifies the password of the user account that you specified in
the /u parameter. This parameter is required when the /u parameter is used.
- /tr TaskRun Changes the program that the task runs. Type the fully qualified
path and file name of an executable file, script file, or batch file. If you
omit the path, Schtasks.exe assumes that the file is in the Systemroot\System32
folder. The specified program replaces the original program that is run by the
task.
- /ru [Domain\]User | "System" Changes the user account for the task.
- /rp Password Changes the account password for the task. Type the new password.
- /? Displays help at the command prompt.
back to the
topSchtasks /RunStarts a scheduled task immediately. The run operation ignores the
schedule, but uses the program file location, user account, and password that
are saved in the task to run the task immediately.
- Syntax:schtasks /run /tn TaskName [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] /?
- Parameters:
- /tn TaskName Identifies the task. This parameter is required.
- /s Computer Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer with or
without backslash characters. The default is the local computer.
- /u [domain\]user Runs the command with the permissions of the specified user
account. By default, the command runs with the permissions of the user who it
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /p password Specifies the password of the user account that you specified in
the /u parameter. This parameter is required when the /u parameter is used.
- /? Displays help at the command prompt.
back to the
topSchtasks /EndStops a program that was started by a task.
- Syntax: schtasks /end /tn TaskName [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] /?
- Parameters:
- /tn TaskName Identifies the task that started the program. This parameter is
required.
- /s Computer Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer with or
without backslash characters. The default is the local computer.
- /u [domain\]user Runs the command with the permissions of the specified user
account. By default, the command runs with the permissions of the user who is
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /p password Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in
the /u parameter. This parameter is required when the /u parameter is used. /? Displays help.
back to the
topSchtasks /DeleteDeletes a scheduled task.
- Syntax:schtasks /delete /tn {TaskName | *} [/f ] [/s computer [/u [domain\]user/p password]] [/? ]
- Parameters:
- /tn {TaskName | *} Identifies the task being deleted. This parameter is required.
- TaskName Deletes the named task.
- * Deletes all the scheduled tasks on the computer.
- /f Suppresses the confirmation message. The task is deleted without
warning.
- /s Computer Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer with or
without backslash characters. The default is the local computer.
- /u [domain\]user Runs the command with the permissions of the specified user
account. By default, the command runs with the permissions of the user who is
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /p password Specifies the password of the user account that you specified in
the /u parameter. This parameter is required when the /u
parameter is used.
- /? Displays help at the command prompt.
back to the
topSchtasks /QueryDisplays all the tasks that are scheduled to run on the computer,
including those that are scheduled by other users:
- Syntax:schtasks [/query] [/fo {TABLE | LIST | CSV}] [/nh ] [/v] [/s
computer [/u [domain\]user/p password]]
- Parameters:[/query] The operation name is optional. Typing
schtasks without any parameters performs a query.
- /fo {TABLE | LIST | CSV} Specifies the output format. TABLE is the default. /nh Omits column headings from the table display. This parameter is
valid with the TABLE and CSV output formats.
- /v Adds advanced properties of the tasks to the display. Queries
using /v should be formatted as LIST or CSV.
- /s Computer Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer with or
without backslash characters. The default is the local computer.
- /u [domain\]user Runs the command with the permissions of the specified user
account. By default, the command runs with the permissions of the user who is
logged on to the computer that is running Schtasks.
- /p password Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in
the /u parameter. This parameter is required when the /u parameter is used.
- /? Displays help at the command prompt.
back to the top How to Create a Scheduled TaskTo create a scheduled task:
- Click Start, click Run,
type cmd, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type net
start, and then press ENTER to display a list of currently running
services. If Task Scheduler is not displayed in the list, type net
start "task scheduler", and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type schtasks /create /tn
"Application_Name" /tr
c:\apps\Application_Name /sc
Value /st HH:MM:SS /ed
MM/DD/YYYY, and then press ENTER. Note
that you may have to change the parameters for your situation. For example, you
might type schtasks /create /tn "My App" /tr c:\apps\myapp.exe /sc
daily /st 08:00:00 /ed 12/31/2004 This example schedules the MyApp
program to run once a day, every day, at 8:00 A.M. until December 31, 2004.
Because it omits the /mo parameter, the default interval of 1 is used to run
the command every day.
back to the top How to Change a Scheduled TaskTo change a scheduled task:
- Click Start, click Run,
type cmd, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type net
start, and then press ENTER to display a list of currently running
services. If Task Scheduler is not displayed in the list, type net
start "task scheduler", and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type schtasks /change /tn TaskName [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] [/tr TaskRun] [/ru [Domain\]User | "System"] [/rp Password] , and then press ENTER. Note that you may have to
change the parameters for your situation. For example, to change the program
that a task runs, type: schtasks /change /tn "Application_Name" /tr
C:\File_Path\Application_Name.exe
back to the top How to Run a Scheduled TaskTo manually run a scheduled task outside its schedule:
- Click Start, click Run,
type cmd, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type net
start, and then press ENTER to display a list of currently running
services. If Task Scheduler is not displayed in the list, type net
start "task scheduler", and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type schtasks /run /tn TaskName [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] , and then press ENTER. Note that you may have to
change the parameters for your situation. For example, to run a task on the
local computer, type schtasks /run /tn
"Task_Name" .
back to the top How to End a Scheduled TaskTo end a scheduled task:
- Click Start, click Run,
type cmd, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type net
start, and then press ENTER to display a list of currently running
services. If Task Scheduler is not displayed in the list, type net
start "task scheduler", and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type schtasks /end /tn TaskName [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]] , and then press ENTER. For example, to
end the instances of a program that was started by a scheduled task on a local
computer, type schtasks /end /tn
"Task_Name".
back to the topHow to Delete a Scheduled TaskTo delete a scheduled task:
- Click Start, click Run,
type cmd, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type net
start, and then press ENTER to display a list of currently running
services. If Task Scheduler is not displayed in the list, type net
start "task scheduler", and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type schtasks /delete /tn {TaskName | *} [/f] [/s computer [/u [domain\]user /p password]], and then press ENTER. For example, to
delete all tasks scheduled for the local computer, type schtasks
/delete /tn * /f.
back to the top How to Perform a Query of Scheduled TasksTo perform a query of scheduled tasks:
- Click Start, click Run,
type cmd, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type net
start, and then press ENTER to display a list of currently running
services. If Task Scheduler is not displayed in the list, type net
start "task scheduler", and then press ENTER.
- At the command prompt, type schtasks /query
, and then press ENTER. Output from this example displays a table
of tasks that have been scheduled to run.
For more information about how to use Schtasks.exe, search for
Schtasks.exe in Windo After the specified time elapses, Schtasks does not start the task again until the start time recurs. By default, task schedules have no maximum duration. This parameter is optional and valid only with a MINUTE or HOURLY schedule. ws Server 2003 Help. back to the top
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 6/21/2006 |
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Keywords: | kbMgmtServices kbHOWTOmaster KB814596 kbAudITPRO |
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