Windows 10: Command Prompt Window Keeps Flashing

I have two computers of mine that keep running "system32\schtasks.exe" in a command prompt. It will appear but go away in a fraction of a second; only by capturing the frame at the right time was I able to get a screenshot of it. It launches that exe file and says "ERROR: Access is denied" even though the account is an administrator. It comes up completely randomly and I haven't been able to find out what has been causing it to run. I've tried looking for it in event viewer but with the number of tasks it has and not knowing which logs to look for I tried narrowing it down to the minute it happened, but event viewer can't load the logs cause I'm giving it to many to show at once. Is their a way I can figure out why schtasks is being launched and be able to stop it?

:)

 

Taskbar flashing Command-prompt window

It could be programs that are running at startup that are executing a batch file or something along those lines. I know I've for instance seen graphics drivers run a batch file after installation. Since this is happening after startup/restarts two places
you could always check are:

• Task Scheduler, to get there right click your start menu and click on "Computer Management" and go to Task Scheduler->Task Scheduler Library and see what is listed there
  
  
• Go to the Startup tab in task manager
  
  

I feel like task scheduler could have some clues for you, especially if you see ones with triggers of being at a logon event. From there if you are curious you can do some searches on them and see if there is some more information on what they are doing.

 

Taskbar flashing Command-prompt window

Thank you for your attention to this matter! I have gone through the Start-up items and disabled the unnecessary items already. The issue has gone away (I think it was taken care of with the last big update); but, I'll keep your suggestion of checking the
Task Scheduler in mind.

Thanks again!

RP

 

This is what it is:
Schtasks.exe (Windows)

You can try a capture with Sysinternals procmon (free, just search and download it).

As you're looking for a particular process, you can search the (extensive) capture quite easily. Hopefully it will give you a clue.

If I run it from a normal command prompt (I'm logged in as admin) I get a long listing, the first part being this:




- you could try that and see what happens.

Shorter is
schtasks.exe /?

If it's not able to run, you may have some sort of permissions error or other corruption.

- I'm surprised...