In Windows operating systems of any generation, there is a special tool that allows you to configure the automatic execution of any of these actions in the form of a special tool for planning them on a schedule. It is called "Task Scheduler" (Windows 7 or any other system - it doesn’t matter, the service is in all versions). In the material presented below, the basic basics of creating executable tasks, setting up the service itself and its practical application will be shown. In the meantime, we dwell on general issues.
What is the "Task Scheduler" Windows 7 and why is it needed?
If you don’t go into the technical aspects of the functioning of this tool about what the “Scheduler” is, the simple user can be given the simplest explanation: in fact, this is a software organizer in which, using a schedule with various time settings, it is set to execute actions (launching programs, sending electronic correspondence, issuing reminders or notifications, etc.). However, for the most part, users are in no hurry to use the "Task Scheduler" service of Windows 7 or other systems, not completely understanding what practical benefits can be derived from this. Some do not even know about its existence.
The main tasks of the "Task Scheduler" Windows 7
But for a complete understanding of the picture, let's see what tasks are provided for in this applet, and what you can count on when creating and activating a task. The main area of action is launching programs (sending mail or issuing notifications, by and large, also refers to calling the corresponding applications), shutting down or restarting the computer, servicing the system, say, with installed optimizer programs, checking for updates for installed applications, defragmenting or disk check, etc.
Sometimes the standard “Task Scheduler” can also be used as a powerful means of optimizing system startup, since the corresponding section in the system configuration (msconfig) may not even contain the start data of some applications, and not everyone can disable one-time running programs by deleting registry keys in RunOnce directories users But when using the graphical interface offered by this tool, managing any types of tasks becomes completely simple. In such a situation, you just need to know how to configure the "Task Scheduler" of Windows 7 in terms of scheduled actions, and what kind of actions can be set for execution.
Ways to call the Planner toolkit
In order to use this tool, you must first open its editor. Please note that in this case we are talking about opening, not launching, the service responsible for the "Planner", since it already works in the background. First, let's see where the Windows 7 Task Scheduler is located. Like all utility applets, the service file to be launched with the MSC extension is located in the System32 program directory. And you can run this file from here (for example, on behalf of the administrator through the RMB menu). But this option is somewhat inconvenient.
How to open the "Task Scheduler" Windows 7 in other ways?
There is nothing easier than using the administration section, which is located in the security settings in the standard “Control Panel”. But it is also long and extremely irrational. In fact, speaking of how to open the Windows 7 Task Scheduler using the simplest methods, it is worth noting that it is launched from the Run console or from the command line by entering the name of the application executable file taskschd.msc. But it is better to give preference to the run menu, since the command line will have to be called through it, and this is another superfluous action. Also, as a launch option, you can use the search bar in which the name of the service is entered, and start with administrative privileges is carried out, as usual, through the RMB menu.
Familiarity with the interface
So, the "Scheduler" is launched. Now is the time to familiarize yourself with the interface. It is much like all similar editors like group policies and services.
The main dialog box contains three main elements. On the left in the panel is one of them - libraries, with which you can select the type of task to be performed. On the right is the settings control panel (creating new tasks, upgrading old ones, etc.). The central field contains lists of tasks set for execution with a brief description and settings tabs that are identical to the sections used to create new tasks. We will dwell on this in more detail, but a little later.
What is in the planner libraries?
As for libraries, they contain standard template tasks that you can activate to execute. In other words, to perform some action that is not provided by the service itself or the capabilities of the operating system, simply will not work.
In addition, many users are clearly embarrassed that the dialog box with a list of services includes both Russian and English names of tasks. And it really can perplex anyone. However, not everything is so bad. It is enough to select the desired task in the list in the middle, as a short description of the process used will immediately appear in the window below, which will be enough to understand exactly what action will be performed when such a task is activated.
Creating a task in simplified mode
What is the "Task Scheduler" Windows 7, a little understood. Now let's look at creating assignments in practice. You can use two types of task creation in this editor: regular and simplified. For most users it will be enough to use a simple task (the usual one has more diverse time settings).
So, the appropriate action is selected in the right pane, and then in the window of the “Wizard” that appears, which facilitates the execution of all necessary actions, you must first enter the name of the created task with a brief description. When you press the continue button, you go to the trigger section (all sections are duplicated in the menu on the left, but the transition from one to the other is done only by pressing the forward / back buttons.
What are triggers?
The trigger section is one of the most important, since it is in it that all the necessary parameters for the time and frequency of the planned actions are set.
For example, you choose to create a reminder with a weekly repeat. After activating the corresponding field, an additional subsection will automatically appear in the trigger menu, in which you can set the task launch parameters by day or week. Please note that the time selected for the start date can be synchronized between the belts.
Action selection
The next step is to select the action to be performed. There are only three options: starting the program, sending email and issuing a notification.
It’s a little incomprehensible, however, why the actions with issuing messages in the “Task Scheduler” of Windows 7 are not recommended, but you can ignore this.
After that, you will need to enter the name and text of the reminder (for example, indicating to feed the cat), and at the final stage, check the settings and press the ready button. As you can see, nothing complicated.
The practical application of the "Scheduler" to optimize autorun and perform automated tasks of third-party applets
As it is already clear, it is absolutely elementary to create tasks for launching programs, entering them into the startup section (for example, for a single start on a certain day of the week and at the right time) is impossible to carry out using conventional system tools.
Here it is important to note one more important point. The fact is that not only the user can create their own tasks in the "Scheduler". Many programs put tasks there that can be performed either continuously or periodically.
As an example of the periodic execution of the established task, we can cite the Windows and Office activator service called KMSAuto Net, which is, so to speak, a semi-legal activator and which, at the stage of selecting the license, creates its own task of reactivating both software products in the Scheduler (this is necessary give consent), although you can create a task yourself. If you remove the program itself, the task will become impossible, and the operating system or office suite will again require you to enter a license key. The same goes for deleting the job itself. In this case, only re-activation with the inclusion of the task in the appropriate list of the "Scheduler" will help.
Finally, the biggest problem is that even with a high level of user registration control (UAC service), tasks and many virus applets can enter here. They will not be visible at startup of the system, but in this editor you can find and disable them. Only after such actions are completed, some threats can be completely and completely removed.
Possible service errors and ways to fix them
As for the failures in the work of this tool, the main error of the “Task Scheduler” is related to the inability to fulfill some scheduled tasks that they recognize as nonexistent (a failure with a message like “The selected task“ {0} ”no longer exists”).
In this case, you must first enter the services section (services.msc), stop and restart the service responsible for the "Scheduler", setting the automatic start type.
If this does not give an effect, and the active task still fails, you will need to delete files from the Task folders in the Windows and System32 directories one by one with a reboot after each deletion. It is possible that the conflict between some tasks will be resolved by this method. By the way, very often such a problem is observed with the planned defragmentation.
Just in case, you should check the Schedule \ TaskCache sections in the HKLM registry branch and remove all suspicious keys from there. But before performing such operations, it is strongly recommended that you either create a system restore point or export the registry file. If anyone does not know, it is just possible to restore Windows to working by importing settings from a saved REG file. Only when performing the export, you need to set the save for the entire registry, and not for a separately selected branch.
Instead of an afterword
In general, the "Scheduler" is a very useful thing, because it allows you to configure the execution schedule for launching programs very accurately. In principle, all tasks can be attributed specifically to the launch of applications that are responsible for them (both sending mail and issuing messages). And you cannot underestimate the means of this editor. And in some cases it is with its help that you can disable even the automated actions of some virus threats. It’s just a pity that many users simply don’t know about this unique service, and, if they do, they almost never use it, considering its configuration to be a waste of time.