Windows 8.1: The Missing Manual

Task Scheduler

The Task Scheduler, another power-user trick for techies, lets you set up programs and tasks (like disk defragmentation) so they run automatically according to a schedule you specify. Both mere mortals and power geeks may find it useful. For example:

• Create an email message that gets sent to your boss each morning, with yesterday’s sales figures attached automatically.

• Have the Recycle Bin emptied automatically once a month.

• Create a phony dialog box that appears every time the office know-it-all’s PC starts up. Make it say: “The radiation shield on your PC has failed. Please keep back seven feet.” You get the idea.

Adding a Task

Here’s how you add a new task:

1. Open the Task Scheduler.

   To do that, open the Start screen. Type schedule and select Settings under the search box. In the search results, click “Schedule a task.” The Task Scheduler window appears (Figure 21-7).

   

   Figure 21-7. It’s easy to automate tasks using the Task Scheduler, but when you open it, don’t be surprised to see many tasks there already. Windows does a lot of housekeeping work in the background, and it uses the Task Scheduler to run a lot of tasks without your having to know the details.

2. Click Create Basic Task.

   This link appears on the right-hand pane of the Task Scheduler. A wizard appears.

3. Type a name for the task and a description, and then click Next.

   Now you’re supposed to choose what Windows calls a “trigger”—in ...