Description of the scheduled tasks in Windows Vista

INTRODUCTION

This article describes the scheduled tasks in a default installation of Windows Vista.

Note We do not recommend that you modify or disable a scheduled task in Windows Vista. Modifying or disabling a scheduled task may cause unexpected problems.

More Information

To view the scheduled tasks in a default installation of Windows Vista, click Start the Start button . In the Start Search box, type task scheduler. Then, in the Programs list, click Task Scheduler.

Scheduled tasks

The following table describes the scheduled tasks in a default installation of Windows Vista.

Task name	Folder	Function
UninstallDeviceTask	Bluetooth	This scheduled task runs the Bthudtask.exe program at an elevated permissions level. The Bthudtask.exe program removes a pairing with a remote Bluetooth device that has the specified service ID. The scheduled task exits after the device is uninstalled.
Autowake	SideShow	This scheduled task automatically wakes the computer and then puts the computer to sleep when the automatic waking feature is enabled for a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
GadgetManager	SideShow	This scheduled task manages and synchronizes metadata for the gadgets that are installed on a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
SessionAgent	SideShow	This scheduled task manages the session behavior when multiple user accounts exist on a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
SystemDataProviders	SideShow	This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. It provides system data for the clock, for the power source, for the wireless network strength, and for the volume on a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
SR	System Restore	This scheduled task runs when you start the computer. This scheduled task also runs as a daily task. This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\rundll32.exe srrstr.dll,ExecuteScheduledSPPCreation command to create regular system restore points.
SystemSoundsService	Multimedia	This scheduled task runs when users log on. It provides operating system-initiated sounds such as navigation sounds.
CrawlStartPages	Multimedia	This scheduled task indexes all the crawl-type start pages when the computer is idle.
GatherWirelessInfo	Wireless	This scheduled task runs the Gatherwirelessinfo.vbs file to collect wireless networking data. This scheduled task collects configuration information and state information about the computer. This information is displayed in a report. This information is included in the system logs. This information also appears in Performance Monitor.
GatherWiredInfo	Wired	This scheduled task runs the Gatherwiredinfo.vbs file to collect wired networking data. This scheduled task collects configuration information and state information about the system. This information appears in a report. This information also appears in the system logs. This information also appears in Performance Monitor.
UPnPHostConfig	UPnP	This scheduled task runs the sc.exe config upnphost start= auto command to configure the UPnPHost service to start automatically.
LPRemove	MUI	This scheduled task runs the Lpremove.exe program when you start the computer. This scheduled task also runs one time when you install Windows Vista if a language pack that cannot be used is included. For example, this task removes language packs that are not needed when you install Windows Vista Home Basic. The Lpremove.exe program is in the System32 folder.
SystemTask	CertificateServicesClient	This scheduled task runs when you start the computer and after you modify the scheduled task. This scheduled task helps manage digital identities such as certificates, keys, and credentials for users and for the computer. This scheduled task also enables enrollment, roaming, and other services.
UserTask	CertificateServicesClient	This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account and after you modify the scheduled task. This scheduled task helps manage digital identities such as certificates, keys, and credentials for users and for the computer. This scheduled task also enables enrollment, roaming, and other services.
UserTask-Roam	CertificateServicesClient	This scheduled task runs when a user connects or disconnects. This scheduled task also runs when a user locks or unlocks the computer to manage digital identities. This scheduled task manages certificates, keys, and credentials for users and for the computer. This scheduled task enables enrollment, roaming, and other services.
Consolidator	Customer Experience Improvement Program	This scheduled task runs the Wsqmcons.exe program when you install Windows Vista. This scheduled task also runs the Wsqmcons.exe program daily if the user consented to participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. This program collects and sends usage data to Microsoft. The Wsqmcons.exe program is located in the System32 folder.
OptinNotification	Customer Experience Improvement Program	This scheduled task runs the \System32\wsqmcons.exe -n 0x1C577FA2B69CAD0 command when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task prompts the Microsoft Windows Software Quality Metrics opt-in notification.
ManualDefrag	Defrag	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\defrag.exe -c command to defragment hard disk drives.
ScheduledDefrag	Defrag	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\defrag.exe -c -i command weekly to defragment hard disk drives.
ehDRMInit	Media Center	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /DRMInit command. This command makes sure that Windows Media Digital Rights Management (WMDRM) is initialized correctly every time that the Media Center Receiver Service (EhRecvr.exe) is started.
Mcupdate	Media Center	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\mcupdate command to check for Windows Media Center updates.
OCURActivate	Media Center	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /OCURActivate command. This command enables the OpenCable Unidirectional Cable Receivers (OCUR) product key.
OCURDiscovery	Media Center	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /OCURDiscovery command. This command line starts the EhPrivjob.exe program. The EhPrivjob.exe program looks for digital cable tuners that might be attached to the computer. If the program finds a new digital cable tuner, it registers the tuner and makes sure that the Digital Cable Receiver Device exception is configured in the Windows Firewall.
UpdateRecordPath	Media Center	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /DoUpdateRecordPath command to set Windows Media Center Recorder permissions.
HotStart	MobilePC	This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task starts programs that are configured for Windows HotStart.
TMM	MobilePC	This scheduled task starts the Microsoft Transient Multi-Monitor Manager when a user logs on to a Windows user account.
NAPStatus UI	NetworkAccessProtection	This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. The NAPStatus UI scheduled task starts the Network Access Protection Home Page. This scheduled task may also run when an event 18 message is detected.
IpAddressConflict1	Tcpip	This scheduled task runs the rundll32 ndfapi.dll,NdfRunDllDuplicateIPOffendingSystem command when an event 4198 message is detected. This scheduled task informs the user of an IP address conflict.
IpAddressConfilct2	Tcpip	This scheduled task runs the runddl32 ndfapi.dll,NdfRunDllDuplicateIPDefendingSystem command when an event 4199 message is detected. This scheduled task informs the user of an IP address conflict.
QueueReporting	Windows Error Reporting	This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\wermgr.exe –queuereporting command when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task also runs every 30 hours to process Windows Error Reporting data.

Hidden scheduled tasks

To view the hidden scheduled tasks in a default installation of Windows Vista, follow these steps:

Click Start . In the Start Search box, type task scheduler. Then, in the Programs list, click Task Scheduler.
On the View menu, click Show Hidden Tasks.

The following table describes the hidden scheduled tasks in a default installation of Windows Vista.

Task name	Folder	Function
MP Scheduled Scan	Daily	This scheduled task runs the Windows Defender Mpcmdrun.exe scan -restrict command.
Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector	This scheduled task is started by the Diagnostic Policy Service in the appropriate user session.	The Windows Diagnostic Infrastructure Resolution host enables interactive resolutions for system problems that are detected by the Diagnostic Policy Service. This scheduled task starts the Windows Disk Diagnostic User Resolver Wizard (Dfdwiz.exe) when a problem with a hard disk is detected.
RACAgent	This scheduled task runs when you start the computer. This scheduled task also runs every hour after you start the computer.	This task is a Microsoft Reliability Analysis task that processes system reliability data.
RemoteAssistance Task	This scheduled task runs when an event ID 1502 is written to the System log.	This scheduled task reviews Group Policy for changes that are related to Remote Assistance. This scheduled task runs the Raserver.exe /offerraupdate command.
MsCtfMonitor	This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account.	This scheduled task monitors the TextServicesFramework system service.

Additional information

The Mcupdate scheduled task

The Mcupdate scheduled task downloads the following data packages. These data packages are used by Windows Media Center in Windows Vista.

Directory Service: The Directory Service package lists the packages that are available in a region. The Directory Service package also provides information about how to obtain packages, about how frequently to download packages, and about when to download packages.
Client Update: The Client Update package contains updated regional information.
Sports (United States & Canada Only): The Sports package contains information about sporting events. This information is integrated with other Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information. .
Net TV (United States only): The Net TV package contains information about videos that are available on demand.
MCESpotlight: This package contains information about Online Spotlight applications that are available.

The scheduled tasks in the SideShow folder

When a user logs on to a user account, the scheduled tasks in the SideShow folder determine whether a Windows SideShow-enabled device is connected to the computer. If a Windows SideShow-enabled device is not connected to the computer, the scheduled task immediately exits. If a Windows SideShow-enabled device is connected to the computer, these tasks perform the specified functions to make sure that the Windows SideShow-enabled device works correctly.

The CrawlStartPages scheduled task

The CrawlStartPages task is part of Windows Search. The CrawlStartPages task determines whether any locations that are not notification based must be indexed. For example, the CrawlStartPages task runs if you add a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive to the index by using the Indexing Options item in Control Panel. The task runs when you add the USB flash drive if the USB flash drive uses the FAT file system, a FAT partition, or a CD-ROM location. If you have not added a location in the Indexing Options item, this task will start and then be completed immediately.

Note On hard disk drives that use the NTFS file system, Windows Search uses Update Sequence Number (USN) journaling and notification to determine when files are added, deleted, or edited. However, on hard disk drives that use the FAT file system or on other locations that are not notification based, the file timestamps must be verified against the index to determine whether the file must be indexed again.

The UPnPHostConfig scheduled task

The UPnPHostConfig task changes the startup type for the UPnP Host service. This task changes the startup type for the UPnP Host service from "manual" to "automatic" when the service is needed.

References

For more information about the RACAgent scheduled task, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/cd27c62d-4d63-41da-9695-c7c5287da49c1033.mspxFor more information about the TextServicesFramework system service, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa966199.aspxFor more information about the Diagnostic Policy Service, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa905076.aspxFor more information about the Bluetooth protocol task, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa362761.aspxFor more information about Windows SideShow, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms744147.aspxFor more information about how to use the System Restore tool, click the article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

936212 How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista

For more information about the UPnP architectural framework, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms899563.aspxFor more information about the Certificate Services architecture, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa376540.aspxFor more information about Windows HotStart, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463098For more information about the Windows Vista Display Driver Model, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480220.aspxFor more information about the Network Access Protection (NAP) policy enforcement platform, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/bb545879.aspxFor more information about Windows Error Reporting for Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb513640.aspxFor more information about the Internet networking features in Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/networking.aspx