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Lesson 3
Using Scheduled Tasks
Table 18-6 describes the tabs in the Advanced Properties dialog box for the scheduledtask.Table 18-6 Scheduled Task Wizard Advanced Options
Tab DescriptionTask Change the scheduled task or change the user account that is used to run the task. You can also turn the task on and off.Schedule Set and display multiple schedules for the same task. You can set the date, time, and number of repeat occurrences for the task. For example, you can set up a task to run every Friday at 10:00 p.m.Settings Set options that affect when a task starts or stops, such as how long a backup can take, if the computer can be in use, or if the computer can be running on batteries when it runs the task.Security Change the list of users and groups that have permission to perform the task, or change the permissions for a specific user or group. This tab is available only if you have simple file sharing disabled.
How to Troubleshoot Scheduled Tasks
In general, troubleshooting the Scheduled Tasks involves checking the parameters thatyou have set up. In the Scheduled Tasks window, switch the view to Details view. Twocolumns, Status and Last Result, are useful in determining whether a task was success-ful or not.The Advanced menu provides a few options to help you with troubleshooting. Whenyou open Scheduled Tasks and click Advanced, the first option on the Advanced menuallows you to stop and start the Task Scheduler Service, and the selection is either StopUsing Task Scheduler or Start Using Task Scheduler. If your scheduled tasks are notstarting, you can check this option to be sure that the Task Scheduler Service is run-ning; if it is not, you can start it. The second option is similar to the first, only it pausesand continues the service. If the service is paused, scheduled tasks do not start.The third option on the Advanced menu, Notify Me Of Missed Tasks, causes the systemto send you a message when a scheduled task does not occur. The next option on theAdvanced menu is the AT Service Account, which allows you to change the accountbeing used from the System account. The next option, View Log, allows you to view alog of when the Task Scheduler Service started, stopped, paused, and continued. It alsologs the name of each scheduled task, the application or task that started, and the timeand date the task was started. The final option, View Hidden Tasks, allows you to viewtasks created by Windows and applications that hide the tasks by default.
Practice: Using Task Scheduler
In this practice, you schedule Address Book to start at a predetermined time. You canuse this as a reminder to review address information. You also configure Task Sched-uler options.
