Hi, we have this error logged on regular basis on our Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: Error 9/1/2012 8:02:34 AM Security-SPP 16385 None Failed to schedule Software Protection service for re-start at 2012-09-01T20:52:34Z. Error Code: 0x80070057. Running command "schtasks /query /tn \Microsoft\Windows\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\SvcRestartTask /xml" results in "ERROR: The parameter is incorrect." wmic service sppsvc get * /format:list AcceptPause=FALSE AcceptStop=TRUE Caption=Software Protection CheckPoint=0 CreationClassName=Win32_Service Description=Enables the download, installation and enforcement of digital licenses for Windows and Windows applications. If the service is disabled, the operating system and licensed applications may run in a notification mode. It is strongly recommended that you not disable the Software Protection service. DesktopInteract=FALSE DisplayName=Software Protection ErrorControl=Normal ExitCode=0 InstallDate= Name=sppsvc PathName=C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe ProcessId=3360 ServiceSpecificExitCode=0 ServiceType=Own Process Started=TRUE StartMode=Auto StartName=NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService State=Running Status=OK SystemCreationClassName=Win32_ComputerSystem SystemName=WINFDEV TagId=0 WaitHint=0 wmic service schedule get * /format:list AcceptPause=FALSE AcceptStop=TRUE Caption=Task Scheduler CheckPoint=0 CreationClassName=Win32_Service Description=Enables a user to configure and schedule automated tasks on this computer. The service also hosts multiple Windows system-critical tasks. If this service is stopped or disabled, these tasks will not be run at their scheduled times. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. DesktopInteract=FALSE DisplayName=Task Scheduler ErrorControl=Normal ExitCode=0 InstallDate= Name=Schedule PathName=C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs ProcessId=948 ServiceSpecificExitCode=0 ServiceType=Share Process Started=TRUE StartMode=Auto StartName=LocalSystem State=Running Status=OK SystemCreationClassName=Win32_ComputerSystem SystemName=WINFDEV TagId=0 WaitHint=0 There is also this error in the error log: Task Scheduler failed to load task "\Microsoft\Windows\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\SvcRestartTask" at service startup. Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942487. How can I fix this problem? The server was instantiated using the Windows Server 2008 R2 image in the Windows Azure library. Best regards, Jozef.-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

These steps are not clear enough to follow. I don't understand why you can't provide us with a automated scripts that can fix the bug instead of manually executing steps which can lead to other errors.-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

When I opened the Task Scheduler, the error message "Task Scheduler service is not available. Task Scheduler will attempt to reconnect to it." appears.-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

The SvcRestartTask file is empty. I can't recreate a new task from it.-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

These steps are not clear enough to follow. I don't understand why you can't provide us with a automated scripts that can fix the bug instead of manually executing steps which can lead to other errors. -- Jozef Izso (MCPD) Please understand that, you are getting FREE support here ! No need to be RUDE and UNGRATEFUL when some one is trying to help you. It clearly looks like you marked Yan Li's suggestion as abusive unnecessarily ! If you cant get SOMETHING RIGHT, why BLAME others ? I am sure , you are going to reply on my post and say something which will be even irrelevant.But who cares... ? GO **** YOURSELF and CRY IN THE CORNER you Spineless A.... you know I what I wan't to say ;-)

Ou, it's not free. I paid for the Windows Server. And the steps are not clear enough. And I'm solving this thing for months already. So yes, it gets me upset that the server is not working properly for *months*.-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

Hi, I feel sorry that I have not found out a proper method to solve the issue, so I would like contact others to help to resolve the issue. Thanks for you understanding. Regards, Yan Li TechNet Subscriber Support If you are TechNet Subscription user and have any feedback on our support quality, please send your feedback here.Yan Li TechNet Community Support

Omg, these forums are so useless. You won't provide a solution and mark your post as "Answer"? Do you even know, that if you replace Tasks files from another Windows installation, you will get errors in Task Scheduler that the tasks image is corrupted?-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

After replace the task file, you also need to follow Yan's steps, to import the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache from the working machine and a reboot, since the registry and the task files are correspondence. Actually Yan's steps are try to to manually recreate the corrupt task. You can refer to the following KB as a example for recreating a not working task. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2535270Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi, i am just following up to check if you have any updates on this issue. Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

No, there is no update, the server is still not working properly. Restoring TaskCache registry in test environment didn't fix the problem and I'm definitely not doing such a risky operation in a virtual machine running in Windows Azure where a small mistake can cause be to loose access to the machine.-- Jozef Izso (MCPD)

I don't know what Jozef is doing wrong, because this solution solved the problem for me. Thank you so much!!!

Good day. When do STEP4, my system show next message: The format is not valid. The following error was report: (24,9):Priority: _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?> <Task version="1.4" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task"> <RegistrationInfo> <Version>1.0</Version> <SecurityDescriptor>D:P(A;;FA;;;SY)(A;;FA;;;BA)(A;;FRFW;;;S-1-5-80-123231216-2592883651-3715271367-3753151631-4175906628)(A;;FR;;;S-1-5-87-431836887-2321537645-4075769387-3393595759-2187231311)</SecurityDescriptor> <Source>$(@%systemroot%\system32\sppc.dll,-200)</Source> <Author>$(@%systemroot%\system32\sppc.dll,-200)</Author> <Description>$(@%systemroot%\system32\sppc.dll,-203)</Description> <URI>\Microsoft\Windows\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\SvcRestartTaskNetwork</URI> </RegistrationInfo> <Principals> <Principal> <UserId>S-1-5-20</UserId> <RunLevel>LeastPrivilege</RunLevel> </Principal> </Principals> <Settings> <AllowHardTerminate>false</AllowHardTerminate> <DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>false</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries> <ExecutionTimeLimit>PT0S</ExecutionTimeLimit> <Hidden>true</Hidden> <MultipleInstancesPolicy>IgnoreNew</MultipleInstancesPolicy> <RestartOnFailure> <Priority>3</Priority> <Priority>PT1M</Priority> </RestartOnFailure> <StopIfGoingOnBatteries>false</StopIfGoingOnBatteries> </Settings> <Data><![CDATA[network]]></Data> <Triggers> <EventTrigger> <Enabled>true</Enabled> <Subscription>&lt;QueryList&gt;&lt;Query Id="0" Path="Microsoft-Windows-NetworkProfile/Operational"&gt;&lt;Select Path="Microsoft-Windows-NetworkProfile/Operational"&gt;*[System[EventID=10000]]&lt;/Select&gt;&lt;/Query&gt;&lt;/QueryList&gt;</Subscription> </EventTrigger> </Triggers> <Actions> <ComHandler> <ClassId>{B1AEBB5D-EAD9-4476-B375-9C3ED9F32AFC}</ClassId> <Data><![CDATA[network]]></Data> </ComHandler> </Actions> </Task> _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- What will you recommend to do in this situation? Thanks. Dmitriy K. м TECHNET.

Hi Dmitriy, The error message isn't very helpful, but comparing the XML with that of SvcRestartTaskLogon, I noticed that the following section in SvcRestartTask <RestartOnFailure> <Priority>3</Priority> <Priority>PT1M</Priority> </RestartOnFailure> in SvcRestartTaskLogon is <RestartOnFailure> <Interval>PT1M</Interval> <Count>3</Count> </RestartOnFailure> I changed the offending lines in SvcRestartTask and it now imports correctly - give that a try and see how you get on. Don't forget to reboot after!