I have a frustrating problem.
I'm trying to run a vbscript every hour on the hour with Windows Task Scheduler. Windows 10 Pro, not on a domain, logged on locally as a Windows user, not Microsoft account. I have the task set up to run under my user account, run only when I'm logged on, if the task fails, restart every minute up to three times, if the running task does not end when requested, force it to stop and if the task is already running, then the following rule applies: run a new instance in parallel. The trigger is set to daily at 5:00 AM every day, repeat every 1 hour (or every 1 minute until I can get it to work), for a duration of indefinitely and stop task if it runs longer than 1 minute. The trigger is enabled.
I can run the task manually from the Task Scheduler UI and it runs. However it does not start periodically. With the setting above I see no reasons why it wouldn't.
The history log of the task seems erratic. it doesn't run right after I set it up, but it seemed to start logging something this morning: I have a big series of events, all 31 seconds after the whole minute, saying "missed task start rejected". The description says "Task Scheduler did not launch task "saytime" as it missed its schedule. Consider using the configuration option to start the task when available, if schedule is missed." I don't see any entries saying that the task was started, or that an attempt was made, except when I start it manually.
I checked the Windows event logs but there was nothing there.
This seems retarded. Task Scheduler, why are you so lazy? Why not just run the tasks on time rather than wait 31 seconds and then tell me it's too late now? Nowhere did I indicate that the task should only be run if Windows is idle.
Despite all the bells and whistles, Task Scheduler seems totally unreliable. I'm about to look for a cron clone because simple things like this are straightforward on Linux - it just works and troubleshooting is actually possible.
Searches online for similar problems are useless, they lead to the typical results for any issues with Windows:
- Microsoft forums where accredited professionals tell people they understand their problem, are there to help and then direct people to ask somewhere else or look for a solution somewhere else, none of them seem to know anything. I wish that stuff was kept out of Google.
- ad-filled Web pages like the one that starts with obvious suggestions, such as "check if the task scheduler service is running" then makes you set up other user accounts and finally gives up and tells you your user profile may be corrupted. Whatever.
Thanks for putting up with the rant. I'm frustrated.
What could be going on? Why is Task Manager not doing what its been told?
Thanks.