DOCUMENT:Q253942 26-OCT-2001 [winnt] TITLE :FIX: Task Scheduler Task Runs in the Background After Sysprep PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::2000 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbOPK kbHWx86 kbDSupport kbGrpDSOPK kbPreInstall ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional - Microsoft Windows 2000 Server ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Task scheduler runs tasks as background processes after sysprep-ing the master computer. After running mini-setup, in end-user mode, any scheduled task that is started through the Windows Task Scheduler never shows up as a window on the desktop. The Windows Task Manager shows the task as a process but not as an application. For example, if Calc.exe is scheduled by Task Scheduler at 3 P.M., Calc.exe runs at exactly 3 P.M. but does not appear on the desktop. Instead, Calc.exe acts like a background process. This behavior occurs only if you used SYSPREP to create the master image, and is language independent. CAUSE ===== After running sysprep on the machine, the following registry entry will contain the path to Explorer.exe and a comma at the end of the value: "C:\Winnt\Explorer.exe," HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Shell:REG_SZ:C:\Winnt\Explorer.exe, The full path to Explorer.exe, including the command, results in this behavior. RESOLUTION ========== The options to resolve this problem are: - Modify the following registry value removing the path to explorer and the trailing comma at the end of explorer as described in the Cause section above. The value should read exactly as shown here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Shell:REG_SZ:Explorer.exe -or- - If you are not using SP1 yet, then you should use Sysprep version 1.1 with the -CLEAN switch. To accomplish that task, follow these steps: 1. Add the following to your Sysprep.inf file: [Unattended] "InstallFilesPath="%systemdrive%\sysprep\i386"" (without the quotation marks) Create the \i386\$OEM$ directory structure below the sysprep directory (for example, c:\sysprep\i386\$OEM$) or drive:\distribution\$OEM$\$1\sysprep\i386\$OEM$ (for a distribution share that already contains Sysprep). 2. Create a Cmdlines.txt file in %systemdrive%\sysprep\i386\$OEM$ (or drive:\distribution\$OEM$\$1\sysprep\i386\$OEM$), which contains the following: [Commands] ""%systemdrive%\sysprep\sysprep.exe -clean"" (without the quotation marks) NOTE: Running sysprep from the audit mode or the [GUIRunOnce] section of the Unattend.txt file is still required. This method ensures that sysprep -CLEAN runs separately during the mini-setup. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. MORE INFORMATION ================ Steps to Reproduce Behavior --------------------------- 1. Perform a retail install (can be an unattended installation) of Microsoft Windows 2000. 2. Create the C:\Sysprep folder. 3. Copy the Setupcl.exe, Sysprep.exe and Sysprep.inf files into the C:\Sysprep folder. 4. Run SYSPREP without any switches. 5. Reboot the system. 6. Follow through the mini-setup wizard. 7. Run Task Scheduler in end user mode and go through the Task Scheduler Wizard. 8. Select an application to schedule (for example, Calc.exe or CDplayer.exe). 9. Select the "One time only" option and specify the date and time for the application to run. 10. Input a user name and password or use the default administrator account. 11. Wait until the specified time. REFERENCES ========== For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q248257 Program Installation Problems on Sysprep or Riprep Installed Systems For additional information, please refer to the following Web address: Preinstallation Support page on the SB website You must be registered in the System Builder Program to access the preceding link. If you are not registered, you can register at the following Web site: SB Registration Page (https://oempub.microsoft.com/scripts/oemapps/register/register.asp) Additional query words: sysprep winlogon InstallShield kbopk kbsbk ====================================================================== Keywords : kbOPK kbHWx86 kbDSupport kbGrpDSOPK kbPreInstall Technology : kbwin2000Serv kbwin2000ServSearch kbwin2000Search kbwin2000ProSearch kbwin2000Pro Version : :2000 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.