Home / server / Questions / 43539
In Process
samoz
Asked: 2009-07-22 06:10:27 +0800 CST

How can I script schtasks so it doesn't need a password?

  • 772

I'm trying to install some software using a batch script and using schtasks to start a service every day at midnight.

The script works fine, but it prompts for a password, which causes the script to hang. I've tried using the '/RU "user" /RP ""' flags, which seemed to work in XP, but not under Vista.

What is the right way to do this?

windows-vista windows-xp schtasks

2 Answers

  1. If you understand the security implications*, you could run tasks with the local System account without a password. 

    SCHTASKS /Create /TN MyTask /TR "C:\MyTask.bat" /SC ONSTART /RU SYSTEM
SCHTASKS /Run /TN MyTask

    This also works through the GUI, just enter SYSTEM as the user name and leave the password field blank.

    *The biggest security risk would be someone changing the script or executable your scheduled task is pointed at. Be sure to set the file permissions accordingly.

    • 4

  2. Have you tried /u and /p (without the R)?

    From the help file:

    /U username Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. /P password Specifies the password for the given user context.

    Alternatively you could try using this utility to create a run as command for your task: http://www.robotronic.de/runasspc/

    • 0