Windows 11 Task Scheduler will not schedule a VBS based Task, nor Run the Task from with in Scheduler although the task runs fine manually

Question

I am presently setting up a new system that uses Windows 11, 24H2. I am experiencing difficulties with Task Scheduler running two VBS scripts. Both scripts will run correctly when activated manually or by a batch file, BUT when I try to set up a task to activate them using Task Scheduler they will not operate. I have used the script directly (which worked in Win XP), as the object of the wscript.exe or in a batch file that runs correctly when manually executed. In all cases, when I execute a Run command in Task Scheduler, nothing happens nor does it happen at the trigger times specified. Task Scheduler says the task is running, but nothing happens. This same set of VBS scripts, trigger points and Conditions has been used successfully with Win XP, Win 7 and Win 10, they just refuse to operate with Win 11 Task Scheduler. No events or errors show to help track the problem.

Any suggestions.

I would like to run this computer without a password so that it can be remotely rebooted if necessary, but presently I have it password protected since Task Scheduler wants a password. I have found several ways around that nuisance.

Answer 1

Solution was to download free System Scheduler and use that instead of the Task Scheduler that came with Windows 11 Pro.

Answer 2

Hello,

I recommend first confirming the effects of changing the security option between "Run only when user is logged on" and "Run whether user is logged on or not."

Please follow these steps to review the full Task Scheduler logs:

1. Open Task Scheduler.
2. In the Actions Pane on the right, select "Enable All Tasks History."
3. Open Event Viewer.
4. Navigate to Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > TaskScheduler > Operational / Maintenance.
5. Look for any errors in the event log.

Additionally, you may find this article helpful: Help! My Scheduled Task does not run… | Microsoft Community Hub. It includes several experiments at the end to help you narrow down the issue.

I hope this information helps.

Best regards,

Karlie Weng

Answer 3

Karlie,

Thanks for the reply. I tried your suggestions, using the Run command in Task Scheduler to trigger, both as Run User Logged On and Run Whether User Logged on or Not, the results were the same as shown in the Event Log (short form) below:

100 Task Started

200 Action Strarted

110 Task Triggered

201 Action Completed

102 Task Completed

The desired output from the Task did not occur.

For your background, here is a summary of what I am trying to do:

I am in the process of trying to upgrade the W4APE-L computer from Win XP running EchoLink 2.0.908 to Win 11 (24H2) running EchoLink 2.3.121.  The new computer for the record is a Kamrui AK1PLUS, with 8 GB RAM and 256GB ROM (SSD).  Everything has gone pretty well with the usual need of drivers and minor hardware issues, until I got to the point of merging in the NetMode and NormalMode special software.  These two modes are used to shutoff the User Disconnect Announcement during the nightly net and re-enable the announcement later by changing which Profile is used ie NetProfile turns off the announcement and NormalProfile turns it back on.  The two VBS scripts to make this happen are shown below, but labeled .VBx to get around the Windows block of script in emails.  In the old Win 95 system the NetProfile is executed by a Task set to trigger at 8:45 PM for a 9:30 PM net and the NormalProfile is executed by a Task scheduled to trigger at 10:30 PM.  This has worked fine for a number of years. 

The issue that is driving me nuts is that I can’t get the Windows 11 (24H2) Task Scheduler to make these commands operate.  I can double click directly on the NetProfile.vbs program and it operates properly, as will the NormalProfile.vbs, but when I attempt to Run either of these programs from within Task Scheduler, it will show them as running and not show an error, but the appropriate Profile change does not happen.  I have added these programs into Batch files that were called from within Task Scheduler with the same results, even though double clicking on the Batch file directly works as it should.  I have used Wscript.exe (with and without its full path) with the vbs profile files as the object (with and without the full path, with and without surrounding quotes) and still when I try to run from within Task Scheduler, it shows them running with no errors, but the appropriate Profile change does not happen.

The VBS files being used (shown as .VBx to avoid Windows issues) are:

NormalProfile.VBx

'Change to Normal Profile

Set oEchoLink = CreateObject("EchoLink.EchoLinkSession")

 oEcholink.SwitchProfile "Normal"

NetProfile.VBx

NormalProfile.VBx

'Change to Net Profile

Set oEchoLink = CreateObject("EchoLink.EchoLinkSession")

 oEcholink.SwitchProfile "Net"

Since the EchoLink App interface is COM+, I plan to move to something like PowerShell instead of VBS, but presently the PowerShell version has the same issues, so I will stay with what worked in XP until I get everything working correctly in Windows 11.

I hope this makes my question make a little more sense.