How to Schedule a Program Using Task Scheduler

The Windows operating system gives the user a large amount of useful maintenance tools. Many people have problems remembering to use certain programs on a regular basis to help maintain their computer. If you want your computer to automatically run a certain program at a certain time, it is recommended to use the Windows Task Scheduler.

The Windows Task Scheduler is a service that is always running in the background. The Windows operating system uses this utility for taking daily System Restore points and running other maintenance programs in the background. This tutorial will show you how to schedule a program using the Windows Task Scheduler.

1. Click the Start button located at the bottom-left corner of your screen. In the Start menu, click Programs, and then Accessories.

2. Click System Tools on the drop-down menu that appears and then click the Scheduled Tasks option. This will open the Task Scheduler, where you will notice that some tasks have already been set up.

3. Double-click the Add Scheduled Task to open the Scheduled Task Wizard. Click Next to go to the next screen.

4. Scroll down the default list of programs and select a program that you want scheduled by the Task Scheduler. You may, for example, select Disk Cleanup.

5. Click Next to continue after making your selection. Select the frequency and time of day that you want the program to run.

6. Enter your username and password and then click Finish.

The program you select will then be added to the list of scheduled tasks. The program will run according to the settings you have selected when setting up the scheduled task.

TIPS

• Instead of using the Task Scheduler, you may prefer using the Startup to run programs automatically. The problem with this method is the fact that your computer may boot up very slowly or may encounter problems while trying to start these programs. It is not recommended to run many programs on startup because of the length of time that is required to run these programs.
• *Another way to open the Task scheduler is to click: Start >>Settings >>Control Panel and then click the Scheduled Tasks button.