How can I automatically start or run a scheduled task on a remote computer?

Question

I want to write a script that will stop a scheduled task on a remote computer, do some things, and then run a schedule task.

How can i do this?

Answer 1

Here is what I found.

stop:

schtasks /end /s <machine name> /tn <task name> 

start:

 schtasks /run /s <machine name> /tn <task name> C:\>schtasks /? SCHTASKS /parameter [arguments] Description: Enables an administrator to create, delete, query, change, run and end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system. Replaces AT.exe. Parameter List: /Create Creates a new scheduled task. /Delete Deletes the scheduled task(s). /Query Displays all scheduled tasks. /Change Changes the properties of scheduled task. /Run Runs the scheduled task immediately. /End Stops the currently running scheduled task. /? Displays this help message. Examples: SCHTASKS SCHTASKS /? SCHTASKS /Run /? SCHTASKS /End /? SCHTASKS /Create /? SCHTASKS /Delete /? SCHTASKS /Query /? SCHTASKS /Change /? 

Answer 2

Note: "schtasks" (see another accepted answer) replaced "in" . However, "at" can be useful if the situation requires compatibility with older versions of Windows that do not have schtasks.

Command line help for "at":

 C: \> at /?
 The AT command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at
 a specified time and date.  The Schedule service must be running to use
 the AT command.

 AT [\\ computername] [[id] [/ DELETE] |  / DELETE [/ YES]]
 AT [\\ computername] time [/ INTERACTIVE]
     [/ EVERY: date [, ...] |  / NEXT: date [, ...]] "command"

 \\ computername Specifies a remote computer.  Commands are scheduled on the
                    local computer if this parameter is omitted.
 id Is an identification number assigned to a scheduled
                    command.
 / delete Cancels a scheduled command.  If id is omitted, all the
                    scheduled commands on the computer are canceled.
 / yes Used with cancel all jobs command when no further
                    confirmation is desired.
 time Specifies the time when command is to run.
 / interactive Allows the job to interact with the desktop of the user
                    who is logged on at the time the job runs.
 / every: date [, ...] Runs the command on each specified day (s) of the week or
                    month.  If date is omitted, the current day of the month
                    is assumed.
 / next: date [, ...] Runs the specified command on the next occurrence of the
                    day (for example, next Thursday).  If date is omitted, the
                    current day of the month is assumed.
 "command" Is the Windows NT command, or batch program to be run.

Answer 3

What about /disable and /enable for the /change command?

 schtasks.exe /change /s <machine name> /tn <task name> /disable schtasks.exe /change /s <machine name> /tn <task name> /enable 

Answer 4

schtasks / change / disable / tn "Task name" / s REMOTEMACHINENAME / u mydomain \ administrator / p adminpassword