I have a scheduled task ( called CimplicityRun) that I want to run with a shortcut on the desktop . the shortcut is as follows Target = C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /tn CimplicityRun Start in = C:\Windows\System32 It will only run from the shortcut if i first start up the Task Schedluer MMC or the Computer Management MMC. i.e Tack Scheduler C:\Windows\system32\taskschd.msc I get the following 2 error message each time I try to launch via the shortcut. 1 Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational Source: Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler Date: 16/08/2012 10:23:47 Event ID: 203 Task Category: Action failed to start Level: Error Keywords: User: MALTING\colm Computer: COLM2012.malting.local Description: Task Scheduler failed to launch action "\\mciserver\c$\Program Files\GE Fanuc\Proficy CIMPLICITY\exe\CimView.exe" in instance "{222fa363-ca29-4f50-b75e-72ee99ad3748}" of task "\CimplicityRun". Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942667. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler" Guid="{DE7B24EA-73C8-4A09-985D-5BDADCFA9017}" /> <EventID>203</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>2</Level> <Task>203</Task> <Opcode>101</Opcode> <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2012-08-16T09:23:47.414457500Z" /> <EventRecordID>23190</EventRecordID> <Correlation ActivityID="{222FA363-CA29-4F50-B75E-72EE99AD3748}" /> <Execution ProcessID="2440" ThreadID="4576" /> <Channel>Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational</Channel> <Computer>COLM2012.malting.local</Computer> <Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3177377921-1197930135-3368668912-1110" /> </System> <EventData Name="ActionLaunchFailure"> <Data Name="TaskName">\CimplicityRun</Data> <Data Name="TaskInstanceId">{222FA363-CA29-4F50-B75E-72EE99AD3748}</Data> <Data Name="ActionName">\\mciserver\c$\Program Files\GE Fanuc\Proficy CIMPLICITY\exe\CimView.exe</Data> <Data Name="ResultCode">2147942667</Data> </EventData> </Event> 2 Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational Source: Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler Date: 16/08/2012 10:23:47 Event ID: 103 Task Category: Action start failed Level: Error Keywords: (1) User: MALTING\colm Computer: COLM2012.malting.local Description: Task Scheduler failed to start instance "{222fa363-ca29-4f50-b75e-72ee99ad3748}" of "\CimplicityRun" task for user "MALTING\colm" . Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942667. Event Xml: <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"> <System> <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler" Guid="{DE7B24EA-73C8-4A09-985D-5BDADCFA9017}" /> <EventID>103</EventID> <Version>0</Version> <Level>2</Level> <Task>103</Task> <Opcode>102</Opcode> <Keywords>0x8000000000000001</Keywords> <TimeCreated SystemTime="2012-08-16T09:23:47.414457500Z" /> <EventRecordID>23191</EventRecordID> <Correlation ActivityID="{222FA363-CA29-4F50-B75E-72EE99AD3748}" /> <Execution ProcessID="2440" ThreadID="4576" /> <Channel>Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational</Channel> <Computer>COLM2012.malting.local</Computer> <Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3177377921-1197930135-3368668912-1110" /> </System> <EventData Name="TaskFailureEvent"> <Data Name="TaskName">\CimplicityRun</Data> <Data Name="InstanceId">{222FA363-CA29-4F50-B75E-72EE99AD3748}</Data> <Data Name="UserContext">MALTING\colm</Data> <Data Name="ResultCode">2147942667</Data> </EventData> </Event>

Hello, Here is a troubleshooting methods for Event ID:203:-http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd363729(v=WS.10).aspxEvent ID:103:-http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd315643(v=WS.10).aspx These are for windows 2008.So refer it once and write here again if you need any other info?Regards, Ravikumar P

Hi, Mostly error code 2147942667 indicates that the directory name is invalid. Do you have any quotes in the start in path, if so remove the quotes and try again. A scheduled task does not run as expected if a command-line argument is enclosed in quotation marks on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951246 Regards, Rafic If you found this post helpful, please give it a "Helpful" vote. If it answered your question, remember to mark it as an "Answer". This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights! Always test ANY suggestion in a test environment before implementing!

Thanks for your suggestion. I had found this KB article earlier and and checked that this was not the case here, my start in path has no Quotes. NOTE - My task will run from the shortcut , but for this to happen I need to open Task scheduler once after a reboot ( and then close it) , or open Computermanagment 1 time after a reboot , and then the shortcut will run every time until the next reboot. Its weird becuase there is no problem with the task itself it always runs fine providing you first run Task Scheduler or Computer Management ... Regards Albert.

Thanks for your feedback. In response to your suggestion about troubleshooting methods , In the first case I assume the error code I need to look up in the action failure event is the Error Value: 2147942667 which is not listed on that link anywhere. Event ID:203:-http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd363729(v=WS.10).aspx In the second link provided it says To find a description of the error code provided in the event, convert the error code into decimal form and then find the error code in the list of system error codes on http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102313. Is this error code "Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942667" and is this value not already in Decimal... and if so the link to the list of system error codes only provides codes going from 1 -16000 so its not listed there either. Again NOTE - My task will run from the shortcut , but for this to happen I need to open Task scheduler once after a reboot ( and then close it) , or open Computermanagment 1 time after a reboot , and then the shortcut will run every time until the next reboot.

Try changing the user account which is being used to run task. Try "SYSTEM" account or "NETWORK SERVICE" and see if that makes any difference.I do not represent the organisation I work for, all the opinions expressed here are my own. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights. - .... .- -. -.- ... --..-- ... .- -. - --- ... ....

Try changing the user account which is being used to run task. Try "SYSTEM" account or "NETWORK SERVICE" and see if that makes any difference.I do not represent the organisation I work for, all the opinions expressed here are my own. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights. - .... .- -. -.- ... --..-- ... .- -. - --- ... ....

Hi Albert, Try the below: Make sure that the task is set to "run whether logged on or not"Tick the box "Run with highest privileges". Have a look on the below discussion. It has many suggestions. Hope any one helps. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winservermanager/thread/d47d116e-10b9-44f0-9a30-7406c86c2fbeRegards, Rafic If you found this post helpful, please give it a "Helpful" vote. If it answered your question, remember to mark it as an "Answer". This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights! Always test ANY suggestion in a test environment before implementing!

Hi Albert, Try the below: Make sure that the task is set to "run whether logged on or not"Tick the box "Run with highest privileges". Have a look on the below discussion. It has many suggestions. Hope any one helps. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winservermanager/thread/d47d116e-10b9-44f0-9a30-7406c86c2fbeRegards, Rafic If you found this post helpful, please give it a "Helpful" vote. If it answered your question, remember to mark it as an "Answer". This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights! Always test ANY suggestion in a test environment before implementing!