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Scheduled Task

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by engr

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Hello ...
I have Win NT 4.0 SP6.0 Alpha server and I am trying to automate a backup task that will backup a file to the tape drive Unfortunately my server does not have the scheduled task utility. i dont know why!!! So i am using the AT comman utility.

I have done the following:

1. Created a batch file and added the following line to it " ntbackup backup h:\tapebackup /hc:off /t normal /tape:0"

2. ran the previous line on the command prompt to check if it will work or not. IT IS WORKING FINE.

3. Added a task to run that file once a month " at 2:00 /every:25 h:\pi\auto_backup.bat.

Unfortunately, i assumed this task does not run the ntbackup utility correctly because utility didnt start and tape didnt start recording.

Q. what can i do to fix the task and make ntbackup run from a scheduled batch file ?

Q. Is there an installation kit to install the Microsoft Scheduled Task utility that is normally available under Control Panel ?

your help is very muchappreciated

4 replies

by bchesmer

Here's some info right from MS (MS KBA# 176424)

MORE INFORMATION
The Task Scheduler component replaces the Schedule service with the Task Scheduler service. Uninstalling the Task Scheduler component does not restore the Schedule service.

Forinformation about the Schedule service in Windows NT, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "schedule" (without quotation marks), and then click Display.

Task Scheduler is an Internet Explorer component that you can install after Internet Explorer is installed by using the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel.

For additional information about how to add or remove Internet Explorer components, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

171229 How to Add and Remove Internet Explorer Components.

by bchesmer

Also, look at this:
AT: Enables You to Schedule Windows NT Backup
The Windows NT Backup utility, Ntbackup, does not include functionality for scheduling unattended backups. However, by using the Schedule service with the command line capabilitiesof the Ntbackup utility, you can set up unattended backups.

The following procedure shows how to use the Schedule service and the Ntbackup utility to schedule an unattended backup of the entire C drive of a computer with an installed tape device. With minor modifications, these steps could also allow for scheduling unattended backups from a computer on a network to a computer with an installed tape device or other configurations.

To schedule unattended backup
Start the Schedule service on the computer with the tape device already installed. This can be done by using the Services option in Control Panel, clicking Schedule, and clicking Start. Alternatively, you can configure the Schedule service to start every time Windows NT starts by clicking Startup and setting the Startup Type to Automatic.
Using any text editor, such as Notepad, create a command file, such as, Mybackup.cmd to perform the commands to backup the files.
This example

ntbackup backup c: /D "My Backup Files" /B /L "c:\backup.log"

does the following:

Backs up all files on the C drive.
Replaces any files currently on the tape.
Labels the backup set "My Backup Files."
Backs up the local registry.
Logs all backup information to C:\Backup.log.
Using the AT command, schedule the command file (Mybackup.cmd) to run when desired. The following AT command schedules Mybackup.cmd to execute at 11:00 P.M. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:
AT 23:00 /every:M,W,F MYBACKUP.CMD

When there is no tape in the drive and you use the AT command without the interactive switch to run Windows NT Backup, the backup encounters an error or is unable to accept the command l

by bchesmer

(Continued)
ine. As a result, Windows NT Backup stops responding. You cannot run Windows NT Backup again until you restart Windows NT.

Use the /INTERACTIVE switch with the AT command to open the interactive desktop. This way, if any errors occur, you will be able to correct them and continue, or quit Windows NT Backup.

For information about AT options, type AT /? at a command prompt or search the online Command Reference for AT. For additional information on available Ntbackup options,use the Help menu when running Ntbackup.exe.

by bchesmer

It appears that you almost have things right, I think you have to rename your batch file from *.bat to *.cmd . I think it will run after you do that.

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