Scheduled task already exists

onedeafeye

New Member
I like to use scheduled tasks to make my computer into an alarm clock. I just got this computer about 6 weeks ago, and when I tried this for the first time it wouldn't work well because something else kept waking it up early at odd hours. I gradually got that sorted to the point where I could try it again. My first trial task was named 'alarm', and when it didn't work I right-clicked on the task and deleted it. Now I can't use that name as it is apparently already in use. So I named it something else, and it works, but some task keeps waking the computer at 6am, M-F, the same as I had set for 'alarm'. I've looked through all the tasks, and a few have run at that time, but none of those are set to wake the computer. I've searched for 'alarm' and come up empty, but if it doesn't exist, why can't I use that name for a task now? Is it possible that the 'deleted' task is still running but not visible, and if so, how can I find it again? If that's not possible, how can I find what's waking my computer at 6am? I've been through every task in the scheduler, and nothing is set to do that as far as I can tell.
 

My Computer

the possibilities are endless. it seems like every piece of commercial software will routinely connect to the internet on a set schedule, ranging from a daily check to a monthly check. if it happens daily, my first guess would be windows update, or maybe an antivirus program.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Aleinware Area-51
    CPU
    core 2 extreme x9000 2.8 Ghz
    Memory
    4 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    (2) Nvidia 8800m GTX in Sli
    Sound Card
    Onboard RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    42" JVC LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p 32 bit
    Hard Drives
    (2) seagate 7200rpm in RAID 0
    (1) maxtor external 1 terabyte firewire
    Case
    laptop
    Keyboard
    a really spiffy backlit one that i can change color ;>)
    Mouse
    logitech Anywhere Mouse and built-in touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Cable
Hello onedeafeye,

Boot into BIOS and check to see if the settings there have anything like that.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Thanks for your replies. I've been into the BIOS, and other than changing the Sleep mode to a deeper mode, there were no other choices that I could see. Any programs I've added to this computer I've had on my previous computer, and they didn't wake that computer from sleep. Also, if there were an automatic update involved you'd think it would also work on the weekend, but everything works just fine on Saturday and Sunday. I've also tried turning the router off at night, just in case, but that made no difference. I'm seriously thinking that the entry for the trial task was deleted, but the task itself is still running. It's just too much of a coincidence, time-wise. But I can't find it anywhere.
 

My Computer

Ok, let's go at this from a different direction. Is there a way to wake the computer at any specified time without using Task Scheduler? I don't need it to do anything, I just need it to wake up when I want it to.
 

My Computer

I dont think there is. Besides setting something in a program. You could check any programs that might be able to wake it up and make sure they arent.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
I went through the scheduled tasks today, one by one, and found one that was able to start the computer, so I changed that. It was for a multi-screen setup, and I don't have that, so no worries about changing that! See what happens in the morning. I removed my alarm task last night, and even without a specific task for an alarm, the computer started at 6 am, like - well, like clockwork.
 

My Computer

No I mean a separate program like a backup software or virus protection.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
I know it's not my AV, because early on I set it to manual update just to see, and it hadn't updated by the time I got up in the morning. Any MS updates are manual, WinDefender scans are scheduled for late evening. I've never used backup software, so I don't even know where to look for that.
 

My Computer

The built in backup maybe. I don't know if it is included in HP.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
I took a look in the programs list, and nothing obvious popped out. I don't know if I have a backup program or not. What would I look for?
I did a search for backup, and got the program. On the way through the steps, it said that since it was my first use, I could set a schedule to do backups, so that implies that there is no schedule for that now.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

Yeah. I am at a loss here. I think it could be a BIOS setting, but it doesnt seem to be.

Is this a laptop or desktop?

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Interesting.... Go into device manager and check the keyboard and mouse: see if they can wake the computer.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
I did that and unchecked the mouse. If that doesn't do it, I'll try the keyboard tomorrow. If I do too many things at once, I won't know which one worked.
 

My Computer

Exactly.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
The computer came to life this morning at 6 am again, ahead of the set task. I'm convinced that the original test task is still running, but not visible. This is too scheduled to be random - 6am, Monday to Friday. Not on weekends, not any other time during the day. I used the same task name for the alarm that I set last night as I'd used previously, but I can't use the name I gave the test task because "it's being used". Does anyone have any ideas how to find this invisible test task so I can delete it properly?
 

My Computer

Try enabling hidden files and folders.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Arg. Then I am out of ideas for now...

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Back
Top