Scheduled Tasks in Win7

[antares]

Hi, how can I access and disable scheduled tasks in Windows 7 Ultimate? Thanks.

 

[archie123]

type task scheduler into the search bar and hit return

 

[Maxxwire]

The simple method would be to click Start and type and then click on Task Scheduler. Next go into the file tree and click on Microsoft and all of the scheduled tasks will appear. Select the group of tasks by clicking on the title and by right clicking on any individual task you can select which action you want to take.

You may notice in the graphic that I have deleted 3 of the scheduled CEIP information gathering tasks under Customer Experience Improvement Program because even though oficially opted out of CEIP in Win 7 the scheduled task information gathering will continue. As I understand this is new to Win 7 and there are even more scheduled CEIP information gathering tasks under Application Experience...

After Disabling these scheduled tasks along with 2 more under the heading DiskDiagnostic my Win 7 computer now boots with 4 less programs starting and running all day and that is my version of a genuine Customer Experience Improvement! I plan on deleting these CEIP information gathering tasks as soon as I am 100% sure that there have been no negative consequences to preventing this information gathering.

Speaking of which here is the Comodo Defense+ log that shows the scheduled Application Experience information gathering in progress as rundll32.exe silently opens each of the programs on my computer and spends a good 2 minutes examining each one until it starts the next which is what initially started my investigation into this matter. This is just a 1 hour excerpt out of an MS scheduled application information gathering process that went on for hours even though I had officially opted out of CEIP when I first set up the computer...

~Maxx~

 

[antares]

Thanks archie123.
Maxxwire , that was an awesome demonstration perfectly explained! I will go ahead and do the same, thanks so much

 

[antares]

I disabled those Microsoft task. Now, what about 3rd party scheduled tasks like Google Update, etc...I don't see them in that window, where can I find them so to disable them? Thanks

 

[cluberti]

A lot of 3rd party updaters run as .exe files, or hide themselves as services (either as their own service, or hidden in an svchost). You generally have to find the little buggers and disable or uninstall them, as they're not scheduled tasks. You may find a lot of them, however, by running autoruns (sysinternals).

 

[antares]

A lot of 3rd party updaters run as .exe files, or hide themselves as services (either as their own service, or hidden in an svchost). You generally have to find the little buggers and disable or uninstall them, as they're not scheduled tasks. You may find a lot of them, however, by running autoruns (sysinternals).

I wonder why in Windows XP it's much easier, all schedule tasks , Microsoft and non Microsoft show up in the Task Scheduler and it's straightforward to disable them.

 

[cluberti]

Updaters and such that don't run as scheduled tasks, but run as services (like Google Updater, Java, Adobe, and the Apple update binaries) would be the same in XP as they are on Win7.

 

[logicearth]

I disabled those Microsoft task. Now, what about 3rd party scheduled tasks like Google Update, etc...I don't see them in that window, where can I find them so to disable them? Thanks

Most should be at the root if they have added tasks. Click on "Task Scheduler Library" that is the root.

 

[Maxxwire]

Thanks archie123.
Maxxwire , that was an awesome demonstration perfectly explained! I will go ahead and do the same, thanks so much

Did you notice fewer services at startup like I did?

~Maxx~

 

[antares]

Thanks archie123.
Maxxwire , that was an awesome demonstration perfectly explained! I will go ahead and do the same, thanks so much

Did you notice fewer services at startup like I did?

~Maxx~

Yes I disabled those scheduled tasks, I also disabled many Services using this guide I used the "Tweaked" recommendation):
Windows 7 Service Configurations by Black Viper

 

[Maxxwire]

The Black Viper Guide is great isn't it! I first started using it with my Vista computer and the practice seems to have benefited me in that my Win 7 desktop now runs with even less services than the Vista computer!

~Maxx~

 

[antares]

Yes Maxx, I use the Black Viper in both XP and 7 and it has been of great benefit in saving system resources.