Windows 10: Task Scheduler Friend or Foe How to control?

Hi All

Task scheduler is quite powerful, and it allows you do many things.
Unfortunately, it also allows Windows and other apps. I.E. Google/Dropbox/adobe....etc etc etc...... and so on.

Some of these programs abuse the TS, by running constant chks, and updates, throughout the day, and years.

How to gain control of these abusive programs, and maintain control after updates.

Regards

:)

 

created a task scheduler task at the root Task Scheduler (Local) and can't delete it

Original title: Task Scheduler At Root

I accidentally created a task scheduler task at the root Task Scheduler (Local) and can't delete it. I realized that i needed to create a folder below the root to properly manage it. How do I remove the task at the root? I can't find it in the registry
but it seems to still run.

 

registry cleaners are bad but windows maintenance tools for a noobe are good, so what I'm asking is "Is System Mechanic worth the risk knowing it has a registry cleaner.

I know registry cleaners are bad but windows maintenance tools for a noobe are good, so what I'm asking is "Is System Mechanic worth the risk knowing it has a registry cleaner. Or am I just wasting you time and it can be shut off. It was sent to me from
my dad who uses it on his pc's and he had a extra license for me. So Friend or Foe, or a one eye'd toad. Ohh and will it play nice with Nortons Security Suite, free; courtesy of Comcast Cable. Should I try a different VP to with SM?

OP - System Mechanic Is it Friend or foe, or a little of both.

 

How do you gain control?

1. When installing some programs, you are offered the option as whether periodic checks for updates etc are done. You can choose to decline those.

2. You can inspect the scheduled tasks - if you wish, and are sure of what you are doing, you can disable them.

Abuse? I'd never have used that term. Can you give concrete examples of what you consider abuse of the T Scheduler?

 

Hello

I normally disable auto updates, some programs don't offer a way to disable. Chrome
Examples Dropbox updates. Take a look at those...
Dropbox starts an update, and then chks every hour after that.

When i say control, going into the TS, and disabling things is no problem.
Unfortunately updates break the settings.

"What I'm looking for is a way to monitor, what gets thrown into the task scheduler, that way i can yes, or no, when the program tries to create a task."

I use installers for multiple programs at once. I.E. when i upgrade dropbox, i'm also upgrading some others at the same time.
I don't need or want any of these programs, doing there own updates.

Dropbox/chrome/adobe/lenovo....Abuse.

No one needs programs constantly running, chking for updates throughout the day.
Who needs a TPM task, if you're not using TPM.

The task scheduler is full of unnecessary tasks.

Also malware can create tasks.

Looking for a more fine grained control of the TS

Regards

 

Idea - since there may not be a way (based on a quick search) to block additions or changes to scheduled tasks

Use Nirsoft's TaskSchedulerViewer
Task Scheduler Viewer for Windows 10/7/8/Vista

This has command line options.
Use this in a *Biggrin scheduled task which writes a file listing all tasks
Compare that file with one created for reference
Alert you of any change
Display the change on request

There are programs that compare text file differences.

You could achieve that within a bat file or an Autohotkey script, I think.

But what action you'd then take would be manual.

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One task you might consider is the 4 hourly scheduled task to check for universal app updates, plus the Settings that determine whether they communicate in the background.




You can monitor internet traffic to see just how significant a load your concerns represent.
E.g.



Just how great is the impact of the scheduled tasks you fear?