Error 0x80041323 when running high number of Scheduled tasks

This article provides a solution to fix the error 0x80041323 that occurs when you run high number of Scheduled tasks.

Applies to:   Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2012 R2
Original KB number:   2696472

Symptoms

Consider the scenario:

• You have a Windows computer that runs high number of Scheduled tasks under one user account.

• The tasks are failing intermittently and under the LastRun option, you may see following error message

  The task scheduler service is too busy 0x80041323

• Under the Task Scheduler operational log you may see the following event logged:

  Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler
  Event ID: 706
  Task Category: Compatibility module task status update failed
  Description: Task Compatibility module failed to update task "<task.job>" to the required status 0. Additional Data: Error Value: 2147942405.
  The error further implies to:

  for decimal -2147216605 / hex 0x80041323 SCHED_E_SERVICE_TOO_BUSY

  The Task Scheduler service is too busy to handle your

• Additionally, you may also notice following events getting logged in Task Scheduler operational log if Task Queue quota or Engine quota exceeded:

• If Task Queue quota exceeded:

  Event ID 131
  Description: Task Scheduler failed to start task "<Task_Name>"; because the number of tasks in the task queue exceeding the quota currently configured to <Task_Queue_Limit>.
  User Action: Reduce the number of running tasks or increase the configured queue quota.
  Event ID 132
  Description: Task Scheduler task launching queue quota is approaching its preset limit of tasks currently configured to <Task_Limit>.
  User Action: Reduce the number of running tasks or increase the configured queue quota.

• If Engine quota exceeded:

  Event ID 133
  Description: Task Scheduler failed to start task <Task_Name> in TaskEngine <Engine_Name> for user <User_Name>.
  User Action: Reduce the number tasks running in the specified user context.
  Event ID 134
  Description: Task Engine <Engine_Name> for user <User_Name> is approaching its preset limit of tasks.
  User Action: Reduce the number of running tasks or increase the configured queue quota.

  Note

  Event ID 132 and Event ID 134 are just an indicator of the approaching issue and not the issue itself. The issue may or may not happen after these events.

Cause

Based on code SCHED_E_SERVICE_TOO_BUSY, this is logged when the queue is full. The above issue occurs if:

1. Task Queue quota is exceeded.
2. Engine quota is exceeded.

Resolution

To resolve this particular issue, increase the value for the quota keys to maximum.

1. Click Start, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate and then click the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\Configuration
3. Right-click TasksInMemoryQueue, click Edit, and then click Modify.
4. In the Value data box, type 1000 (Decimal).
5. Right-click TasksPerHighestPrivEngine, click Edit, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 1000 (Decimal).
7. Right-click TasksPerLeastPrivEngine, click Edit, and then click Modify.
8. In the Value data box, type 1000 (Decimal).
9. Exit Registry Editor and reboot the machine.

More information

The Job queue quota is controlled through 'TasksInMemoryQueue' value while the Engine quota is controlled through "TasksPerHighestPrivEngine" and "TasksPerLeastPrivEngine" registry values located under following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\Configuration

• TasksInMemoryQueue [Default = 75, Max = 1000]
  • Determines the maximum tasks allowed to be queued in the session manager. Once this limit is exceeded, any new task instance scheduled to be executed will be discarded and you'll get the Event ID 131.
  • This queue is shared by all tasks.
• TasksPerHighestPrivEngine [Default = 100, Max = 1000]
  • Determines the maximum number of task instances allowed to be in RUNNING state for an "elevated" task engine (taskeng.exe) at any given point of time.
  • One task engine exists per user session (like SYSTEM, LOCAL SERVICE, Administrator, USER1, USER2 etc.)
  • Here "elevated" corresponds to those tasks that have the option "Run with highest privileges" selected.
• TasksPerLeastPrivEngine [Default = 50, Max = 1000]
  • Similar to "TasksPerHighestPrivEngine" except that it corresponds to non-elevated tasks.

Reference

Event ID 131 - Task Scheduler Service Quotas
Event ID 132 - Task Scheduler Service Quotas