Scheduled Tasks Cannot Start Programs from Program Shortcuts (267702)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
This article was previously published under Q267702

SYMPTOMS

When you schedule tasks for program shortcuts, .lnk files, in Scheduled Tasks, the programs may not start. When you check the task status in the Scheduled Tasks dialog box under Scheduled Tasks, you may see the following message in the status field:
Status: Could not start.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use the target program instead of the program shortcut when scheduling tasks in Scheduled Tasks.

To schedule a program using Scheduled Tasks, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Double-click Add Scheduled Task, and then click Next.
  3. Click a program that you want to schedule, and then click Next.
  4. Click a scheduling option under Perform This Task, and then click Next.
  5. Select the time and day that you want to start the task, and then click Next.
  6. Click Finish to add the task to your Windows schedule.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/14/2006
Keywords:kbprb KB267702
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