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Lesson 3
Using Scheduled Tasks
Lesson 3: Using Scheduled Tasks
Use Scheduled Tasks to identify programs and batch files you want to run once, atregular intervals, or at specific times. You can schedule any script, program, or docu-ment to start at a specified time and interval, or when certain operating system eventsoccur. This feature can complete many administrative tasks for you.After this lesson, you will be able to
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Identify tasks that you can schedule.
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Schedule a task.
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Configure advanced options for a scheduled task.
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Troubleshoot scheduled tasks.Estimated lesson time: 25 minutes
Overview of Scheduled Tasks
Windows XP Professional saves scheduled tasks in the Scheduled Tasks folder (see Fig-ure 18-10), which you can access through the Control Panel under Performance AndMaintenance. In addition, you can access Scheduled Tasks on another computer bybrowsing that computer’s resources using My Network Places, which allows you tomove tasks from one computer to another. For example, you can create task files formaintenance, and then add them to a user’s computer as needed.
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Figure 18-10 Schedule a task to run when you need it to.Use Scheduled Tasks to perform the following tasks:
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Run maintenance programs at specific intervals.
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Run programs at a time when there is less demand for computer resources.
How to Schedule a Task
Use the Scheduled Task Wizard to schedule tasks. You access the wizard in the Sched-uled Tasks folder by double-clicking Add Scheduled Task. Table 18-5 describes theoptions that you can configure in the Scheduled Task Wizard.Table 18-5 Scheduled Task Wizard Options
Option DescriptionApplication The applications to schedule. Select from a list of applications that are registered with Windows XP Professional, or click Browse to specify any program or batch file.Name A descriptive name for the task.Perform This Task How often Windows XP Professional will perform the task. You can select Daily, Weekly, Monthly, One Time Only, When My Computer Starts, or When I Log On.Start Time The start time for the task to occur.Start Date The start date for the task.User Name And A user name and password. You can enter your user name and pass-word or another user name and password to have the application run Passwordunder the security settings for that user account. If the user account that you used to log on does not have the rights required by the scheduled task, you can use another user account that does have the required rights. For example, you can run a scheduled backup by using a user account that has the required rights to back up data but does not have other administrative privileges.Advanced Properties Select this check box if you want the wizard to display the Advanced Properties dialog box so that you can configure additional properties after you click Finish. Advanced Properties are covered in the next sec-tion.
How to Configure Advanced Options for a Scheduled Task
In addition to the options that are available in the Scheduled Task Wizard, you can setseveral additional options for tasks. You can change options that you set with theScheduled Task Wizard or set additional advanced options by configuring advancedproperties for the task.
