Task Scheduler - Schedule Not Working

rigsby · Aug 4, 2024

I have created a task schedule to trigger my machine to wake from sleep everyday at 08:00. It will have been put to sleep at the end of a scheduled backup the night before.

I have set the schedule to simply open Microsoft Edge at 08:00 every day. If I manually run the schedule it works, but it will not trigger when the machine is in sleep mode.

Any ideas anyone?

FreeBooter · Aug 4, 2024

Sleep uses very little power, your PC starts up faster, and you're instantly back to where you left off. It saves all work to RAM so nothing running that means so is schedule tasks far as i can remember there is no option to wake computer up by scheduling.

rigsby · Aug 4, 2024

FreeBooter said:
Sleep uses very little power, your PC starts up faster, and you're instantly back to where you left off. It saves all work to RAM so nothing running that means so is schedule tasks far as i can remember there is no option to wake computer up by scheduling.

I tried to use the bios auto start feature and that also fails. On researching that problem, I found a post on the Windows forum suggesting task scheduler as an alternative. It suggests setting a schedule to simply start any app at a given time to wake the machine. I've followed those instructions to the letter and that will not work either

LesFerch · Aug 4, 2024

You may need to use WOL (Wake-On-LAN). You'll need some device that's on all the time to send the WOL "magic" packet to your PC, such as a server, a router (may require custom firmware), or a phone using a tool such as Wolow.

rigsby · Aug 4, 2024

LesFerch said:
You may need to use WOL (Wake-On-LAN). You'll need some device that's on all the time to send the WOL "magic" packet to your PC, such as a server, a router (may require custom firmware), or a phone using a tool such as Wolow.

Thanks. Wolow sounded interesting but it and Wake On LAN needs a physical Ethernet connection to work. It will not work over WiFi, so not an option for my laptop.

imanlien2020 · Aug 4, 2024

In the last 10 years of using windows ive been able to get my Task Scheduler to actually work a few times, BUT, when Windows Updated, and it happened numerous times, when it updates it erases ALL my tasks I had scheduled or disabled them. I dont even use it anymore as its straight beyond annoying to have to go back in after almost every update to either make sure they are still there and active or that I have to do them all over again because they got wiped out. This is my experience so for those out there most fortunate and that never happened to you Im glad yours works. Sorry you having issues. Hope someone here can help resolve this issue.

antspants · Aug 4, 2024

Firstly, I’ll note that I know nothing about this software:

WakeupOnStandby

Some notes from the site:

Application Launch: Launch specific applications or scripts upon wake-up, streamlining your workflow.
Compatibility: Compatible with various versions of Windows, ensuring broad system compatibility.
Customizable Wake-Up Options: Configure various wake-up triggers such as timer, keyboard input, mouse movement, or network activity.
Easy Configuration: Simple and straightforward configuration settings for setting up wake-up schedules.
Energy Saving: Save energy by automatically putting your computer into standby or hibernation mode when idle.
Event Logging: Keep track of wake-up events and view event logs for troubleshooting and analysis.
Idle Time Monitoring: Monitor and track computer idle time, providing insights into usage patterns.
Lightweight and Resource-Friendly: Consumes minimal system resources, ensuring smooth performance.
Network Activity Detection: Automatically wake up your computer when network activity is detected.
Notification Options: Receive notifications or alerts upon wake-up or standby events.
Remote Wake-Up: Wake up your computer remotely using Wake-on-LAN (WoL) functionality.
Scheduled Wake-Up: Set up your computer to wake up from standby or hibernation mode at specific times automatically.
System Task Automation: Schedule system tasks like backups, updates, or downloads to run after waking up from standby.
Task Manager Integration: Integrate WakeupOnStandBy with the Windows Task Scheduler for advanced task automation.

Compatibility and License

WakeupOnStandBy is provided under a freeware license on Windows from scheduling software with no restrictions on usage. Download and installation of this PC software is free and 1.7.20.6 is the latest version last time we checked.

What version of Windows can WakeupOnStandBy run on?

WakeupOnStandBy can be used on a computer running Windows 11 or Windows 10. Previous versions of the OS shouldn't be a problem with Windows 8 and Windows 7 having been tested. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit downloads.

WakeupOnStandBy

WakeupOnStandBy, free download for Windows. Automatically resumes PC from sleep mode at desired time without manual intervention.

wakeuponstandby.en.lo4d.com

Other softwares from this vendor

Free Scheduling Software - Download for Windows

Scheduling software for Windows 11/10/8 with freeware, open source and commercial tools. Safe, secure and tested free software downloads.

en.lo4d.com

pseymour · Aug 4, 2024

@rigsby Do you have wake timers enabled? Open a Run box, and type powercfg.cpl. For the active (selected) power plan, click "Change plan settings," then "change advanced power settings." Under the Sleep category, you should have an option to allow wake timers. This needs to be enabled for scheduled tasks to wake the device.

rigsby · Aug 4, 2024

pseymour said:
@rigsby Do you have wake timers enabled? Open a Run box, and type powercfg.cpl. For the active (selected) power plan, click "Change plan settings," then "change advanced power settings." Under the Sleep category, you should have an option to allow wake timers. This needs to be enabled for scheduled tasks to wake the device.

Yes, that option has been enabled all along....

antspants · Aug 4, 2024

Your other thread is still open, what was the result?

Allow this device to wake the computer grayed out

I have a new HP Laptop pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro. I want to allow my Bluetooth devices (mouse & keyboard) to wake the computer from Sleep Mode. In the device manager, the option in the properties for the Realtek Bluetooth 5 Adapter to allow it to wake the computer is grayed out. Is...

www.elevenforum.com

rigsby · Aug 4, 2024

antspants said:
Your other thread is still open, what was the result?

Allow this device to wake the computer grayed out

I have a new HP Laptop pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro. I want to allow my Bluetooth devices (mouse & keyboard) to wake the computer from Sleep Mode. In the device manager, the option in the properties for the Realtek Bluetooth 5 Adapter to allow it to wake the computer is grayed out. Is...

www.elevenforum.com

No result on that. This post is about me trying to find an alternative solution to the fact that it doesn't seem possible to allow Bluetooth devices to wake the system as the option to allow it is permanently greyed out.

antspants · Aug 4, 2024

I’ve given up wondering whether one issue relates to another in regards to Windows.

That software above looks robust an promising. It’s open source. Might be a quick solution.

rigsby · Aug 4, 2024

antspants said:
I’ve given up wondering whether one issue relates to another in regards to Windows.

That software above looks robust an promising. It’s open source. Might be a quick solution.

Yes, I've downloaded it and set it to run tomorrow morning. I'll post an update afterwards.

LesFerch · Aug 4, 2024

On my laptop, I set up a test scheduled task that runs a cmd file that just creates a folder. It runs at the designated time whether the computer is in Sleep mode or not, but it doesn't turn on the display. It makes no difference if I have "Wake computer to run this task" checked. Allow wake timers are enabled. I know the task ran at the designated time by the timestamp on the folder it created.

I get the same result with the WakeupOnStandBy app mentioned by @antspants. The cmd file runs at the designated time but the screen never comes on (I checked both "Turn screen on" and "Keep screen on afterwards").

So, for me, there's no problem getting a task to run when the computer is in Sleep mode, but I have not had success in getting the screen to turn on programmatically.

garlin · Aug 4, 2024

LesFerch said:
So, for me, there's no problem getting a task to run when the computer is in Sleep mode, but I have not had success in getting the screen to turn on programmatically.

Have you tried this thread? How do I turn the monitor back on with PowerShell?

LesFerch · Aug 4, 2024

garlin said:
Have you tried this thread? How do I turn the monitor back on with PowerShell?

I just tried a test script that creates a folder, opens Notepad, and then executes that code (with the last value set to -1) to attempt to turn on the display. The script runs and creates the folder and opens Notepad right on time, but the display does not come on.

Even though I have no password set, it seems to be behaving like the machine is locked.

LesFerch · Aug 4, 2024

Might need something like this:

pseymour · Aug 4, 2024

I wonder if a mouse jiggler would work, like the ones people use to make their employers think they're working remotely.

LesFerch · Aug 4, 2024

pseymour said:
I wonder if a mouse jiggler would work, like the ones people use to make their employers think they're working remotely.

Sounds promising. I guess you'd need one that has a scheduler, or one that only works when plugged in and then plug it into an AC timer.

rigsby · Aug 5, 2024

Thanks @LesFerch , @pseymour , @garlin and @antspants , but none of the solutions are working. The WakeOnStandby utility looked promising but hasn't worked either. Here is a more detailed look at the situation. I have my recently purchased HP Laptop running, during my waking hours, with the lid closed and attached to a monitor connected by HDMI together with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. The laptop backs up under a Macrium schedule each night and is then put into sleep mode. All I really want to be able to do is click the mouse or a key on the remote keyboard to wake it from sleep. But I have to physically open the laptop and hit one of its built in keyboard keys to wake it up. I had the same setup on my old laptop, running Windows 10 and the wake up worked fine with a mouse click or hitting a key on the remote keyboard, this new machine on Windows 11 Pro at 23H2 refuses to behave in the same way. The lid closed settings are at "Do Nothing" for both powered and on battery. So I think this and my previous post are now looking more like a closed lid issue, because the laptop will not wake with it closed. Below is a screenshot of my current power options:

Task Scheduler - Schedule Not Working

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