"Task scheduler" & where to find it?

DavidE · 28 Apr 2014

I don't know why the MS article (link in Post #2) says to click "System and Security" in Control Panel.
Maybe the instructions were written for an older OS / Control Panel version, and they are outdated now ?
In screen print 2 (Post # 6) Administrative Tools is displayed.
Click on Administrative Tools, and you should see Task Scheduler.

Another way to get to Task Scheduler (or other programs) you are looking for is to use the Start Menu Search option.
It' a great way to quickly and easily find programs...

1) Left click the Start Orb
2) Type in text to search for the program you are looking for
3) Left click to run the program...

My screen print example shows what is listed when I type in "Task".
The list is interactive, the more you enter the list changes, filtering the results ...

"Task scheduler" & where to find it?-smssp01.png

5tevie · 28 Apr 2014

Thanks very much, David. That's a lot clearer than the tutorial, lol.

DavidE · 28 Apr 2014

You're welcome, and glad to hear that helped.
:)

UsernameIssues · 28 Apr 2014

5tevie said:

~~~
........that simple action should have been right at the start of the Tutorial, as in .....
Open Task Scheduler by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking "View by", then "Category" then, System and Security.
Just a thought. Anyway, back to the tutorial.

Thanks for the feedback - but maybe something needs to be cleared up here. The tutorial that archer linked to is controlled by Microsoft. We do not have the ability to change it. (We are not associated with Microsoft.) There is a feedback process on the page that archer linked to if you want to tell them about your suggestion.

That said, the default view is Category. Many authors of tutorials figure if you change the view from the default setting, then you should know how/when to put it back. I try and include info that works no matter what view is selected.

If archer has pointed you to this tutorial (which we can change), then the control panel view is not an issue.

I tend to tell people to click on Start
...right click on Computer (in the right column/pane)
...select Manage from the context menu
...select Task Scheduler from the left pane

I like to show people that Manage snap-in. It contains so many goodies

But - as you have discovered - created a scheduled task is not what you want to do.

You will need to create a batch file to run stuff - then have the batch file shut the computer down. The link in post #9 can setup the computer so that this batch file runs when you tell the computer to shutdown. Or you can skip that and just click on the batch file manually.

There might be a problem with what you want to do. Running MSE (running a scan?) and running Malwarebytes (running a scan?) might require human interaction if some malware is found. The computer would not shutdown, it would just sit there waiting for a human.

Do you need help making a batch file?

I'm not sure how to "run Malwarebytes" the way that you need via a batch file.

DavidE · 28 Apr 2014

Looking back what I said in Post #11,
System and Security is correct if you have Control Panel displayed as in Post #6 /Screen Print 1.
System and Security is not correct/confusing if you have Control Panel displayed as in Post #6 /Screen Print 2.

UsernameIssues · 28 Apr 2014

archer said:

...Normally in the control panel the icons are viewed as "Small icons"....

I don't think "Small icons" is normal (Default).

DavidW7ncus said:

I don't know why the MS article (link in Post #2) says to click "System and Security" in Control Panel....

Because that is what the default settings would show a user. Do you see something different using the Category view? (edit: I see that we cross posted. You've answered that question - thanks.)

I'm beginning to question my Virtual Machines now that two members have different default settings

DavidE · 28 Apr 2014

I believe the default setting is Categories.
I never liked that as it added another "level" to find things.
I always use the non-default view to show everything...it's easier for me to find things quickly.
I've been doing it that way in Win 7 for over 4 years, so for me it's "normal" ...

UsernameIssues · 28 Apr 2014

DavidW7ncus said:

I believe the default setting is Categories.
I never liked that as it added another "level" to find things.
I always use the non-default view to show everything...it's easier for me to find things quickly.
I've been doing it that way in Win 7 for over 4 years, so for me it's "normal" ...

One of the first things that I change is:
show the Control Panel as a menu...
...so I know what you mean about 'for me it's "normal"'.
I sometimes have to open a VM before composing instructions.

5tevie · 28 Apr 2014

OK, just to clear something up.
This Dell PC is new to me and has a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro installed. Now, without me changing anything at all, when I clicked on Control Panel as advised to in the Tutorial, I got a picture just like the second image above. Once I realised that I could not follow the next instruction (namely click on System and Security) that's when I did a search and clicked on Category.
Many thanks,
Steve