I have Windows 8 X64.  I am experiencing a problem I need help with.

When I open Task Scheduler I receive a message Task SvcRestartTask: The task XML contains an unexpected node.

When I look in the Event Viewer I see hundreds of messages like the one below.

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP

Event ID:      16385

Failed to schedule Software Protection service for re-start at 2113-03-03T12:35:05Z. Error Code: 0x80041316.

I have tried all the suggestions I have found on Microsoft but I am unable to resolve this problem.  The last time this happened I ended up re-installing Windows 8 a painful and time consuming experience. 

I have made no changes to Task Scheduler.  I cannot determine what triggers this event but would like a way to fix the problem without having to rebuild my PC. 

Any ideas?

Hi,

Please delete software protection schedule to check whether the error message disappears. If so, import this schedule form a working computer.

I assume you mean the files in C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\SoftwareProtectionPlatform.

I have replaced them with a copy from a WIN 8 machine that does not exhibit this issue.  I did not import the files with Task Scheduler I merely did a copy.

The same error occurred.

The files I copied 

SvcRestartTask
SvcRestartTaskLogon
SvcRestartTaskNetwork

copied cleanly. 

However, after I opened task scheduler, received the error and closed task scheduler the size of one of the files changed (SvcRestartTask).  I have no idea if that is significant but it seemed odd. 

Hi,

Can you directly delete it in Task Schedule?

The short answer is no.

The longer answer is that the task does not show up in Task Scheduler.  Only the  SvcRestartTaskLogon and the SvcRestartTaskNetwork show up.  If I open up Explorer and go to the folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\SoftwareProtectionPlatform then I see three files.  The two named above and the SvcRestartTask file. 

delete the files from the C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\SoftwareProtectionPlatform folder. Open the Install.wim on your DVD with 7zip [1] and extract the 2 files and add the extension .xml.

Start Taskscheduler,m select "import task" and import those 2 XML files.

[1] http://blog.nirsoft.net/2009/09/17/how-to-extract-missing-system-files-from-the-dvd-of-windows-7vista/

I deleted all the files.  I did not have an installation DVD (I downloaded the OS) so I extracted the two files SvcRestartTaskNetwork and SvcRestartTaskLogon.  I added an XML extension to each file.  I opened up task scheduler and imported both files. 

Task Scheduler does not show these two tasks (it used to).

However, the error I was having when I ran Task Scheduler is gone.  However, the Event Log continues to fill up with

Failed to schedule Software Protection service for re-start at 2113-03-09T22:21:45Z. Error Code: 0x80070002 messages. 

make sure task scheduler displays hidden Tasks (activate it under View)

yes it is on.

here is a user with the same issue and my import trick fixed it:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/159772-sercurity-spp-event-16385-error-code-0x80041316/

I purchased WIN 8 from MS and downloaded it from their site.  It is a 2+ GB file.  There is a file in it called "Boot.wim".  I have not yet opened it - I need to install the alpha of 7-zip.  Could I achieve the same thing by taking the tasks from a machine that has WIN 8 installed (and working with no issues) and add the XML extension?  That is what I tried above to no avail. 

Could I achieve the same thing by taking the tasks from a machine that has WIN 8 installed (and working with no issues) and add the XML extension?

Yes, you can try this.

Andre, thank you for your help.  Based on the above information the issue has been resolved.

You could always manually run that task on March 3, 2113.

I'm making light of the fact that this task is scheduled 100 years in the future. I don't understand it, but I think it's correct; mine is the same way.

Fast and easy. Deleted the SvcRestartTask out of the SoftwareProtectionPlatform folder and imported task after exporting from working server. Works now without error. Thanks