Auto restart of window 7 pc gracefully

If the Windows Task Scheduler does not work for you, have you tried an additional software as?:
http://www.passmark.com/products/rebooter.htm
http://lifehacker.com/5831504/how-can-i-start-and-shut-down-my-computer-automatically-every-morning
http://www.howtogeek.com/136087/automatically-shut-down-or-restart-your-pc-%E2%80%93-or-do-it-remotely-from-your-phone/
http://www.howtogeek.com/136087/automatically-shut-down-or-restart-your-pc-%E2%80%93-or-do-it-remotely-from-your-phone/
http://auto-restart.software.informer.com/

Or remote restart from another PC, wake-up on LAN...

I assume you are using task scheduler to do the shutdown and are using the shutdown command to do the restart. I would just change the command to the following:

shutdown /l /f /r

/l = log off any user
/f = force close any program without prompt
/r = restart

thanks flubbster.  yes this is through safe mode.  The only issue is forcing the close...i am assuming this doesn't shut down outlook gracefully, correct?  The reason i ask is when the machine comes back up, if outlook did not close down it prompts to start in safe mode.

Any open program is "forced" to shutdown.

this solution found was the best fit

Glad you go it. Funny... I found the exact same script on another webpage :)