Disable XP's Task Scheduler service or no?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ant
  • Start date Start date
A

Ant

Hello!

I have a question about Windows XP Professional SP1's Task Scheduler
service.

According to http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm and
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm ... I should disable this
service if I don't use this feature (don't have anything that need to be
scheduled/automated).

According to
http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/services-7.shtml ... it
says, I shouldn't: "Task Scheduler. Enables a user to configure &
schedule automated tasks on this computer. I’d recommend setting this to
Automatic, regardless of whether or not you actually have any scheduled
tasks. The Task scheduler is used in the Prefetching process -
Prefetching is the process of bringing data & code pages into memory
from disk before it's demanded, which should help improve overall system
& application startup time. You can read further details about this in
this Microsoft Windows XP Kernel Article (Scroll down to the Prefetch
section). Certainly do not set this to Disabled anyway." The mentioned
URL is broken.

Does this service really use prefetching? I use PerfectDisk v6.0 to
defragment my HDDs once in a while. So, I am confused to leave this
service on or off.

Thank you in advance.
--
"PLEASE tell your aardvark that I'm NOT an anthill!" --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip Pi (Ant); The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | Email: (e-mail address removed) / (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by email from a newsgroup.
( )
 
I don't schedule any tasks and have always kept the service disabled. I
start defragmenting just befoe I go to bed and it's done when I get up.
 
Several programs, including System Restore, Windows Update,
antivirus program updating, etc. require Task Scheduler to be
set on automatic. Do not disable it!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hello!
|
| I have a question about Windows XP Professional SP1's Task Scheduler
| service.
|
| According to http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm and
| http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm ... I should disable this
| service if I don't use this feature (don't have anything that need to be
| scheduled/automated).
|
| According to
| http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/services-7.shtml ... it
| says, I shouldn't: "Task Scheduler. Enables a user to configure &
| schedule automated tasks on this computer. I'd recommend setting this to
| Automatic, regardless of whether or not you actually have any scheduled
| tasks. The Task scheduler is used in the Prefetching process -
| Prefetching is the process of bringing data & code pages into memory
| from disk before it's demanded, which should help improve overall system
| & application startup time. You can read further details about this in
| this Microsoft Windows XP Kernel Article (Scroll down to the Prefetch
| section). Certainly do not set this to Disabled anyway." The mentioned
| URL is broken.
|
| Does this service really use prefetching? I use PerfectDisk v6.0 to
| defragment my HDDs once in a while. So, I am confused to leave this
| service on or off.
|
| Thank you in advance.
| --
| "PLEASE tell your aardvark that I'm NOT an anthill!" --unknown
| /\___/\
| / /\ /\ \ Phillip Pi (Ant); The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| | |o o| | Email: (e-mail address removed) / (e-mail address removed)
| \ _ / Remove ANT if replying by email from a newsgroup.
| ( )
 
Several programs, including System Restore, Windows Update,
antivirus program updating, etc. require Task Scheduler to be
set on automatic. Do not disable it!
Click to expand...

Ah, I do use System Restore even though I never used it before but it
can be handy if I have Windows problems. I run Windows Updates manually.
I don't use any virus scanner in background.

I guess I will leave this service enabled. Thanks. :)
--
"To the gods I am an ant, but to the ants, I am a god." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip Pi (Ant); The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | Email: (e-mail address removed) / (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by email from a newsgroup.
( )
 
System Restore can still be used with the Task Scheduler turned off. It
just means that you'll have to set restore points manually.
 
The Microsoft utility BootVis fails to complete it's optimilisation if the
Task Scheduler service is not set to automatic....

Martin.
 
The service should be left on. In lieu of for prefetch:

Go to Start/Run and paste this line in:
rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks
 
If this question is related to custom icons being deleted by scheduled tasks, I've found a
workaround that seems to fix this. Posted here:


Keith
 
Nope. It was for tweaking systems. :) I will look at the thread though.
Thanks.

If this question is related to custom icons being deleted by scheduled tasks, I've found a
workaround that seems to fix this. Posted here:


Keith
Click to expand...
--
"I used to command a battalion of German ants." --Tom
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip Pi (Ant); The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | E-mail: (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
\ _ / Remove ANT if replying by e-mail from a newsgroup.
( )
 
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