unable to stop 'Task Scheduler' service

[Wannabe007]

When trying to stop de Scheduler service I get a "system error 5: access denied" error. Searching the web didn't get me very far.

The only thing I found was a matter of rights on the %systemroot%\task folder. This didn't help. Does the problem ring a bell with anyone?

Thanks in advance,
Wannabe007

PS. What I realy want to achieve is stopping the Windows Event Log service, but this means stopping the task scheduler first.

 

[brianzion]

hi there some advice for you >>> This service manages events and event logs. It supports logging events, querying events, subscribing to events, archiving event logs, and managing event metadata. It can display events in both XML and plain text format. Stopping this service may compromise security and reliability of the system.

 

[debugged]

If you disable Windows Event Log service and restart the computer, Task Scheduler service will not run, because it depends on Windows Event Log service.

Windows Event Log service needs to be started for installations, uninstallations, and event logging and diagnosis.

 

[Britton30]

Is there a problem you hope to solve by stopping the Windows Event Log service? If so we can help with that.
It isn't advisable to stop it though it can cause your system to be unstable as noted.

 

[Wannabe007]

The real reason

Sure there is a reason to try this. I want to try if this helps with the playability of the game GTA4. I found a support topic on the site of Rockstar suggesting it may be caused by the Event Log Service. (Screen flashes, pauses, and hiccups when pressing keys on the keyboard in GTAIV with Windows 7 64-bit ultimate : Rockstar Support)

So this is why. But I am still surprised that administrator rights are insufficient to stop a service.

 

[brianzion]

Sure there is a reason to try this. I want to try if this helps with the playability of the game GTA4. I found a support topic on the site of Rockstar suggesting it may be caused by the Event Log Service. (Screen flashes, pauses, and hiccups when pressing keys on the keyboard in GTAIV with Windows 7 64-bit ultimate : Rockstar Support)

So this is why. But I am still surprised that administrator rights are insufficient to stop a service.

windows does this to protect your files etc, viruses etc could and will penetrate through it and you dont want that

 

[Wannabe007]

I appreciate Microsofts concern on that matter, but there has to be a way around it. Maybe I can find it.......

 

[Britton30]

OK then, have you tried what Rockstar suggested? You may want to also uncheck Task Scheduler in msconfig too. You need to restart for changes to take effect.
Another way to try is to go to Administative Tools/Services, scroll the list to find Task Scheduler and Windows Event Log. Double click and set startup type to Disable on both then try to stop those services. If not restart again.
It sounds like the game is causing the probelm. Is there a patch/update for it?

 

[brianzion]

i forgot to suggest running Autoruns for Windows v10.07 http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/Autoruns.zip
you may find what you want to stop running in here plus its safe and you can turn settings on/off

This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.

Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.

You'll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically!

 

[Britton30]

Good point Brian. Sysinternals ProcessExplorer can kill a process too.

 

[Wannabe007]

I'm not sure if there is a patch.

The issue is that I cannot stop the service due to access rights. My plan for playing the game is to make a quick script that stops the service(s), launches the game and restarts the service(s) after terminating the game. So I'm not looking to stop the service(s) permanently but just for the time I play.

I seem to be unable to change the properties of the Task Scheduler service (see picture) all of them are greyed out.

 

[Britton30]

It was just a thought, I'm not a gamer but another user had problems with Sims3 and it had an update.
Only other thing I have is what Brianzion suggested below.
The services you need to stop are hosted on svchost and many are unstoppable.

 

[Wannabe007]

Well I'll start of with a try and see if it helps. If not so, there is no need for this anyway......

 

[logicearth]

I can tell you right now if you try and force this a lot of things WILL break. And there is no going back.

 

[debugged]

I can tell you right now if you try and force this a lot of things WILL break. And there is no going back.

It's not that bad if you know what you're doing and why. I've done what the OP wants many times on systems that have very specific purposes and hardly ever change, with no ill effects at all. Whether it will help him I don't know, as I know nothing about his game, but if he wants to try this he can.

Go to services.msc, set Windows Event Log to Disabled, don't try to stop it and don't touch Task Scheduler service. Restart the computer. Event Log does not run, and even though Task Scheduler is still set to Automatic, it does not start.

I just did it again on a spare Windows 7 (non-SP1) system, and no worries. I won't be leaving it that way, as I do use that system for general purposes and want to be able to change it freely and keep track of events, allow tasks to run etc.

I have one specialized system with Windows 7 from when it just came out, that has had Event Log, Task Scheduler, and many other unnecessary (for its work) services disabled or stopped since I set it up, never downloaded any updates, and uses no networking - really never a problem and wow is it quick!

 

[brianzion]

it could be that the processor needs de-bugging here is another sysinternals program to help Process Explorer v14.12 >>> http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/ProcessExplorer.zip

also >>> Process Monitor v2.95 >>> Process Monitor

Process Monitor
is an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity. It combines the features of two legacy Sysinternals utilities, Filemon and Regmon, and adds an extensive list of enhancements including rich and non-destructive filtering, comprehensive event properties such session IDs and user names, reliable process information, full thread stacks with integrated symbol support for each operation, simultaneous logging to a file, and much more. Its uniquely powerful features will make Process Monitor a core utility in your system troubleshooting and malware hunting toolkit.

Process Explorer
Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out. Process Explorer shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded.

The Process Explorer display consists of two sub-windows. The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you'll see the handles that the process selected in the top window has opened; if Process Explorer is in DLL mode you'll see the DLLs and memory-mapped files that the process has loaded. Process Explorer also has a powerful search capability that will quickly show you which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs loaded.

The unique capabilities of Process Explorer make it useful for tracking down DLL-version problems or handle leaks, and provide insight into the way Windows and applications work

 

[Wannabe007]

Stopping the Windows Event Log service did solve the GTA4 problem I was having. I'll need to do more research on how to stop both services (Schelduler and Event Log).

I'm still open for suggestions.....

 

[brianzion]

did you try using the sysinternals autoruns ? it has the services in there you have to make sure you have show hidden files and folders ticked in the files settings in windows explorer. its not wise to shut all services etc off

 

[Britton30]

Go to services.msc, set Windows Event Log to Disabled, don't try to stop it and don't touch Task Scheduler service. Restart the computer. Event Log does not run, and even though Task Scheduler is still set to Automatic, it does not start.

Did you try this? It worked on my system.

 

[Wannabe007]

I've used msconfig and unchecked Event Log. After the reboot the game played smoothly. After playing the game I checked Event Log and rebooted again. Win7 booted just fine (nothing 'broken').

For the time beeing this will be the workaround. I'd rather stopped and started the services without booting, preferably with a script also used to launch the game. So I will be on the look for a solution in that direction.

Is there a site with comprehesive details on the Win7 services?