Microsoft Knowledge Base Email Alertz

Windows Vista onwards scheduled tasks fail to run if the path in Start in (Optional) field has quotes

Search KbAlertz

Advanced Search

Receive Microsoft Knowledge Base articles by E-Mail?

Every night we scan the Microsoft Knowledge Base. If technologies you're interested in are updated, we'll send you an e-mail. You only get one e-mail a day, and only when new articles are added.

Click here to create a
FREE account
Already have an account?
[Click here to Login]











Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Trademarks

Article ID: 2452723 - Last Review: June 10, 2011 - Revision: 1.1

Windows Vista onwards scheduled tasks fail to run if the path in "Start in (Optional)" field has quotes

Support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) ends on July 12, 2011. To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2). For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/end-support-windows-xp-sp2-windows-vista-without-service-packs) .

SUMMARY

In Windows Vista and onwards, scheduled tasks fail to run if the path in Start in (Optional): field for the task is enclosed within quotes.To workaround this problem, please do not enclose the path in Start in (Optional): within quotes. The quotes are not required even if the path includes spaces.

The Start in (optional): entry is found on the Actions tab of a scheduled task by clicking the Edit button.

MORE INFORMATION

The following events are logged in the "TaskScheduler/Operational log" when the task fails to run:

Note: You can also view these events in the History tab for the task.

Log Name:      Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler
Date:          <date and time>
Event ID:      103
Task Category: Action start failed
Level:         Error
Keywords:      (1)
User:          <username>
Computer:      <system name>
Description:
Task Scheduler failed to start instance "<instance guid>" of "<task name>"  task for user "<username>" . Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942667.

Log Name:      Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler
Date:          <date and time>
Event ID:      203
Task Category: Action failed to start
Level:         Error
Keywords:     
User:          <username>
Computer:      <system name>
Description:
Task Scheduler failed to launch action "<action for the task>" in instance "<instance guid>" of task "<task name>". Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942667.

The error code - 2147942667 translates to ERROR_DIRECTORY.
Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500) for other considerations.

APPLIES TO
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 2
  • Windows 7 Professional
  • Windows 7 Enterprise
  • Windows 7 Ultimate
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
Keywords: 
KB2452723
       

Community Feedback System

Very often, it takes hours to solve a problem. Very often, you've looked high and low, and have tried a lot of solutions. When you finally found it, chances are, it was because someone else helped you. Here's your chance to give back. Use our community feedback tool to let others know what worked for you and what didn't.

Please also understand that the community feedback system is not warranted to be correct, it's simply a system that we've built to let people try and help each other. If something in a feedback response doesn't make sense to you, or you're not comfortable making changes that the feedback talks about (like registry edits), please consult a professional.

Thank you for using kbAlertz.com Feedback System.

-- Scott Cate