Mstask Stops Working After a Random Period of Time (293304)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
This article was previously published under Q293304

SYMPTOMS

The Task Scheduler tool (Mstask.exe) may stop performing scheduled tasks after random intervals that vary from a few days to a few months. The Task Scheduler log shows that a job started, but is not finished. From that point on, Mstask does not start other jobs.

This issue can also occur after you install the hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

272022 Mstask.exe Does Not Run Scheduled Jobs

This problem is more likely to occur if you schedule many tasks to run each hour.

CAUSE

RESOLUTION

This issue is resolved in Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2. For information about obtaining the latest version of Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you can also use the original Windows NT 4.0 task scheduler instead of Mstask. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

196731 Application That Requires Schedule Service Fails

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/26/2003
Keywords:kbIE501preSP2fix kbprb KB293304
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.