Error: "Task Scheduler service is not available."

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  1. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 1709
       #1

    Error: "Task Scheduler service is not available."


    Without any apparent reason (no update, no new software installed") the task scheduler issues this message, followed by "Task Scheduler will attempt to reconnect to it." Clicking OK repeats the message, clicking on X too, so the task scheduler can only be closed by killing the process in the task manager.

    sfc /scannow finds nothing to fix.

    What should I do??

    Thanks for suggestions,
    Steinspecht
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, try this: go to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule
    Find the DWORD called start
    Is it 2?

    Set a system restore point/back up the registry before making changes

    Also this (read article carefully and check):
    you may also disable (or change) the startup process on the SCHEDULE service with the following:
    PSEXEC -i -s CMD
    (this opens a CMD prompt with the "NT Authority\SYSTEM" account)
    SC CONFIG SCHEDULE start= auto (changes start to Automatic)

    From:
    Task Scheduler Service (Schedule) cannot be stopped in Windows 2008 R1 +
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 1709
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    Hi, try this: go to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule
    Find the DWORD called start
    Is it 2?
    Thanks.
    Yes the value is 2.
    And yes the service start is set to automatic.
    It seems that the Scheduler tries to re-connect when I hit OK, but can't. See pic (German, alas).
    Error: "Task Scheduler service is not available."-aufgabenplanung.jpg
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    I'm sure you've looked for solutions.. this seems a difficult one.
    It may be worth waiting a little and see if someone else here has a suggestion.

    Otherwise: Do you have any useful restore points? Or disk images?

    Failing those, you could try an in-place upgrade repair install:

    However this suggests this will not fix it:
    Task Scheduler issue - Windows 10 Forums

    - leaving you with clean install.
    ==================================
    In-place repair install:
    Precede it with this in case sthg has happened to your file system:

    Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)
    chkdsk C: /F
    Your PC will need to restart.
    Make sure the result is clear or fixed.
    Post back the result, which will be on the screen briefly.
    Otherwise you can get the result as follows:
    How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!

    An In-place upgrade repair install will fix many things, but not those where the settings are not changed by the procedure.

    For this you need an installation medium with the same base build as you have installed.

    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Forums

    This will refresh Windows, after the manner of a Windows installation.
    - all/most associations will be unchanged
    - all your programs will be left installed
    - you will lose any custom fonts
    - you will lose any customised system icons
    - you may need to re-establish your Wi-Fi connection
    - you will need to redo Windows updates subsequent to the build you have used for the repair install
    - Windows.old will be created
    - system restore will be turned off- you should turn it on again and I recommend you manually schedule a daily restore point.
    - you will need to redo any language downloads including the display language if you changed that)
    - inactive title bar colouring (if used) will be reset to default
    - if Qttabbar is installed, you need to re-enable it in explorer (Options, check Qttabbar)
    This is one of the better features of Win10: as each major build comes out, that's your updated reference build, and as updates are mostly cumulative, there will be few to do.

    Recommendation:
    Before you perform this major repair procedure, do create a disk image.

    Please consider using disk imaging regularly. It's a brilliant way to
    - preserve your system (and your sanity)
    - back up your data
    - restore your system to a previously working state in a relatively short time

    Recommended: Macrium Reflect or Aomei Backupper (free) + their boot disk/device + large enough external storage medium.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 1709
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thx a lot for this comprehensive reply, great! Yes I've looked around for a fix. This all began after a scan with the Avira Pro antivirus software. Some files were quarantined. Avira have sent me an inspection tool, I've sent them the log file and will wait for their response. If of no use I'll revert to your suggestion. Might take a day or two before coming back here.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 67
    windows 7 pro
       #6

    If it happened after scaning with Avira you might try to use system restore to before the scan.
    In general I never use 3rd party scanners unless I do not have any other choich.
    The best scanner and the safest one is MSERT.EXE.

    Regards
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #7

    Doesn't seem to be an obvious result linking Avira + task scheduler... however, inspect the items in quarantine, if you think sthg is a false positive, upload it to Virustotal.


    Before attempting the in-place repair you could try downloading Tweaking.com's Repair tool (free) and try e.g. repair 26 - important services.

    Do not select all the repairs, and do work through the cautious steps.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 1709
    Thread Starter
       #8

    @ dalchina

    Back here with the response from Avira: Not our problem, it is Windows. Sort of expected it.

    I got one step farther by using Procmon.exe. I have a log file in the native .PML format. It shows various things, like:
    17:19:39,0305877 mmc.exe 3868 RegOpenKey HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CTF\KnownClasses NAME NOT FOUND Desired Access: Read

    Since I cannot attach a text file here, about 2MB, I wonder (1) whether you'd be inclined to look at the log file, and if so, (2) how best to make it available to you.
    I hesitate to do the in-place Windows thingy before I fully understand what's going on.
    Thanks and regards,
    Steinspecht
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #9

    Sorry, wouldn't be very helpful- would need to know what to look for and when. A normal Procmon log contains a lot of apparent registry read fails and reattempts.

    Try my idea about the repair tool in #7

    Task Scheduler Startup Error
    - has some interesting ideas.
    The one about comparing tasks with the schedule is one I've had to do before.

    Noted you didn't comment on restore points and disk images, so assume you have none.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 1709
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Ok, point taken. I'll see what the Tweaking.com's Repair tool can do for me. The idea with the new user is intriguing...
    You're right, the restore points were disabled when I looked for them. Three weeks ago I updated to V. 1511. Meanwhile I read posts about the restore points being disabled by default in Threshold 2, which is mega-stupid. The were not in the previous build, so it never ocurred to me to look.
    And yes, I have a 1511 x64 ISO.

    BTW, the log is tailored to mmc.exe, nothing else. But thanks.
      My Computer


 

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