Windows 2008 R2 - Schedule task not Running when logged off

From what you're saying it sounds like notepad.exe does run but you don't see the notepad window popping up, is that right as this is what I would expect if you are not logged in or the screen is locked, notepad is a program that requires user interaction so it requires an active desktop to display on.

Bringing up notepad is not a normal use for task scheduling, you would normally use it to perform maintenance tasks in the background that require no user interaction so this behaviour is normal.

What parameters in the run and startup fields are you using to launch the vb app?  I presume the VB app doesn't present any screens requiring user interaction when it is running as that would make it unsuitable for scheduling.

Does the vb app run fine from a command line on the same server?

Have you ticked the 'run whether user is logged on or not' tick box on the scheduled task?

All the testing is done when I am logged on viewing the screen and running the scheduled task manually.

We have this program on a number of servers and I am only aware of the issue on 2008 server.

The VB program has a /noui agrument which means no user interface is presented.  When we are testing we remove this argument to ensure the program actually opens up requiring user interaction so we can see if the task schedule is working probably.  On this particular server it doesn't happen, so we came up with the test from other forums to try and open up notepad from a schedule task to ensure it isn't the VB program.

To recap:
1) I am logged on the server as the domain administrator
2) I ran the task MANUALLY with the 'run whether user is logged on or not' tick box CHECKED.  Notepad doesn't launch
3) I run the task again with the "run whether user is logged on or no" tick box UNCHECKED
and Notpad Launches.

So I believe point 2) should work as I am logged on therefore notepad should lauch

Can you review these to see if they help with the issue:

http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/1398-server-2008r2-x64-task-schedular-issues-workaround

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/c03d6691-b058-4f8d-961c-e8eba25bbaed

In the scheduled task
under the Actions tab
select edit
In the field "Start in (Optional) - enter the location (folder) where the script sits that you are running

I has simuliar issue pulling info from an AD group and creating a txt file with that info.
Worked when launched manually but not from the scheduled task until I did the above.

Hi.

As said before: normal behavior. You are storing a password, so imagine the following scenario: someone else is logged on and the task starts notepad interactively (=visible)... this would enable that someone to act as another user... good-bye, security!
That's why notepad does not show up - it runs non-interactive for securiry reasons.

We still haven't been able to resolve the issue.

We have this application installed on hundreds of servers and it only seems to be an issue on 2008R2

Name one OS that displays it, please.

I think we are getting away from the real issue which is the VB app is not working when the OP tries to run it as a scheduled task.  Lets forget about notepad not running and concentrate on the VB app.

Does wscript or cscript run at all when the scheduled task for the VB app runs?

Does it generate a failure error in the scheduled tasks manager, if so what is the code it is generating?