HOW TO: Work with Scheduled Tasks on Remote Computers in Windows XP (310424)

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure scheduled tasks on remote computers. With administrative rights on a remote computer, you can view and manipulate the scheduled tasks on that computer. For example, it may be useful to create a scheduled task on one computer, and then place the task on another computer. You can also change the configuration of a task that exists on a remote computer.

The remote computer must have a share created for the drive on which the Scheduled Tasks folder is located. The Scheduled Tasks folder is the %SystemRoot%\Tasks folder (where %SystemRoot% is typically C:\Windows).

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How to Gain Access to a Remote Scheduled Tasks Folder in a Domain

1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2. Under Other Places, click My Network Places.
3. Open My Network Places.
4. Click Entire Network, and then double-click Microsoft Windows Network.
5. Double-click the domain.
6. Double-click the remote computer to view the scheduled tasks.
7. Double-click Scheduled Tasks.

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How to Gain Access to a Remote Scheduled Tasks Folder in a Workgroup

1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2. Under Other Places, click My Network Places.
3. Open My Network Places.
4. Under Network Tasks, click View workgroup computers.
5. Double-click the remote computer to view the scheduled tasks on that computer.
6. Double-click Scheduled Tasks.

You can also send a scheduled task in an e-mail message to a user with instructions to place the file in the Scheduled Tasks folder. The file name is Taskname.job, although Windows XP does not display the .job extension, even if the folder options are configured to display file extensions.

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Troubleshooting

• When you are working in a remote Scheduled Tasks folder, the Add Task icon is not available. To delete or modify existing tasks, add a task by copying it from the local Scheduled Tasks folder.
• To copy a task from one computer's Scheduled Tasks folder to the other computer's Scheduled Tasks folder, use the Copy and Paste commands, or drag the task from one computer to the other. You must supply the name and password of the remote computer account under which the task will run. The password cannot be blank.
• To edit an existing task on a remote computer, right-click the task, click Properties, and then change the schedule or configuration as needed.

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