How do I stop/start a scheduled task on a remote computer programmatically?
I want to write a script that will stop a scheduled task on a remote computer, do some stuff, and then start the schedule task back up.
How can I do it?
Here's what I found.
stop:
schtasks /end /s <machine name> /tn <task name>
start:
schtasks /run /s <machine name> /tn <task name>
C:\>schtasks /?
SCHTASKS /parameter [arguments]
Description:
Enables an administrator to create, delete, query, change, run and
end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system. Replaces AT.exe.
Parameter List:
/Create Creates a new scheduled task.
/Delete Deletes the scheduled task(s).
/Query Displays all scheduled tasks.
/Change Changes the properties of scheduled task.
/Run Runs the scheduled task immediately.
/End Stops the currently running scheduled task.
/? Displays this help message.
Examples:
SCHTASKS
SCHTASKS /?
SCHTASKS /Run /?
SCHTASKS /End /?
SCHTASKS /Create /?
SCHTASKS /Delete /?
SCHTASKS /Query /?
SCHTASKS /Change /?
Note: "schtasks" (see the other, accepted response) has replaced "at". However, "at" may be of use if the situation calls for compatibility with older versions of Windows that don't have schtasks.
Command-line help for "at":
C:\>at /? The AT command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. The Schedule service must be running to use the AT command. AT [\\computername] [ [id] [/DELETE] | /DELETE [/YES]] AT [\\computername] time [/INTERACTIVE] [ /EVERY:date[,...] | /NEXT:date[,...]] "command" \\computername Specifies a remote computer. Commands are scheduled on the local computer if this parameter is omitted. id Is an identification number assigned to a scheduled command. /delete Cancels a scheduled command. If id is omitted, all the scheduled commands on the computer are canceled. /yes Used with cancel all jobs command when no further confirmation is desired. time Specifies the time when command is to run. /interactive Allows the job to interact with the desktop of the user who is logged on at the time the job runs. /every:date[,...] Runs the command on each specified day(s) of the week or month. If date is omitted, the current day of the month is assumed. /next:date[,...] Runs the specified command on the next occurrence of the day (for example, next Thursday). If date is omitted, the current day of the month is assumed. "command" Is the Windows NT command, or batch program to be run.
What about /disable
, and /enable
switch for a /change
command?
schtasks.exe /change /s <machine name> /tn <task name> /disable
schtasks.exe /change /s <machine name> /tn <task name> /enable