Automate Tasks
in Windows
1
Open the task scheduler
Pop up the “Start” menu and begin typing “Task” to find the
Task Scheduler. It’s rarely the top result, but it is there. You
can also find it under “Windows Administrative Tools” in the
alphabetized list (“Accessories > System Tools” in Windows 7),
or in the Control Panel under “Administrative Tasks,” or you can
type “taskschd.msc” into a “Run” window [Image a].2
Make a fOlder
Once the Scheduler’s open, you’ll see the Task Scheduler
Library on the left, probably with a single folder in it—
“Microsoft.” These are the tasks created by the system. Ours has
two folders, as we’re using our gaming PC. Create a folder to
keep your tasks in one place: Right-click the Library, and choose
“New Folder.” Give it a name, and click “OK” [Image B].3
create a task
With the new folder selected, right-click it and choose
“Create Basic Task,” or use “Action > Create Basic Task.”
This opens a wizard that streamlines the process, but lacks
some of the fine control of the “Create Task” approach. When the
wizard opens, give your task a name and a description—if you’re
creating a lot of tasks, be as verbose as you can [Image c].4
chOOse a trIgger
Triggers tell the Scheduler when to activate tasks. They
can be a time, an event, or a more specific event from
a complex list. We want ours to trigger weekly, so choose that,
followed by a start date, a recurrence interval (one week), a day
(Friday), and a time (17:01). If you’re deploying a task to a lot of
PCs, you can even sync them across time zones, so globetrotters
don’t miss out [Image d].5
select a task
The “Basic Task” wizard really only has one option for
what tasks can be: “Start a program.” There are two other
options—“Send an email” and “Display a message”—but they’re
deprecated, and probably won’t be there much longer. Luckily,
Windows 10 considers lots of things programs, such as shutting
down or restarting the PC. Click “Browse” to choose one.6
pIck a prOgraM
By default, the File Explorer window that appears shows
the System32 folder—a Windows folder that’s full ofWindoWs’ Task scheduler is something of an arcane tool. It’s been around since the
Microsoft Plus! add-on pack for Windows 95. It’s also an app that’s in a state of flux. Two
of its options—the ability to send an email and to display a message on screen—have been
deprecated since Windows 8.1. They still appear in the app, though, and they’re still there in
the latest preview build that Microsoft recently pushed out to Windows Insiders. They just
don’t work. This suggests Task Scheduler is in need of an overhaul, but it’s a low priority for
Microsoft, otherwise it wouldn’t have languished in this state.
What’s left of it works well, though, enabling you to trigger the launch of programs at specific
times, or specify other events that will set them off. And it’s interesting what you can still do—
“programs” covers a lot of things. –Ian EvEndEnYou’ll nEEd thIs
WIndOWs
Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 all
support this feature.subfolders and mysterious EXE and DLL files. It helps
to know what you’re looking for, so you can search for it,
rather than scroll through the items. We want logoff.exe,
which does what you’d expect, with no warning. Click
“Next,” then “Finish” to complete the process [Image e].7
task prOpertIes
Your task has an associated Properties window
(accessible by right-clicking the task on the left).
In this window, you can set which users are affected by
the task. You can edit the name and descriptions, too,
and all the data ascribed to the task, such as the trigger.
You can take it further, specifying whether the PC needs
to be plugged in, or idle, for the task to start [Image f].8
dIsplay a Message
The logoff task we’ve created occurs without
warning, no matter what you’re doing, and
whether you’ve saved your work or not. It would be
polite, therefore, to warn the user of what’s about to
happen. Message sending is deprecated, however—it’s
still there but it doesn’t work, throwing up a cryptic error
message. As a workaround, use an option that does
work: running a program [Image g].9
Message WOrkarOund
Create a new Basic Task, and set it to run five
minutes before the logoff task every Friday.
There’s an app in System32 called msg.exe, which
displays a message on the screen. Choose it and type
your message in the “Add Arguments” box, preceded
by a “*” and a space, so something along the lines of:
“* Log off and go home.” At the trigger time, your
message appears in the middle of the screen.10
delete a task
To stop a task from running, you can either
disable it or delete it. Both can be achieved
through the right-click menu in the Scheduler window—
click the task you want to stop, then choose either
“Disable” or “Delete” from the right-click menu.
Choose “Disable” and the task’s status changes in the
list. To delete it, you’re asked if you’re sure. Click “Yes”and it’s gone forever [Image h]. (^)
70 MAXIMUMPC Aug 2019 maximumpc.com
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