Stop taskeng.exe window from popping up

Question

I have several processes scheduled in my Windows 7 environment, mainly for backups, that are supposed to run in the background.

However instead of just doing it's work quietly in the background, the task scheduler pops up a black (console like) "taskeng.exe" window. The window goes in front of all other windows. Luckily it doesn't steal my keyboard focus, but it blocks the view on everything.

Is there a way to avoid this window - or at least have it appear in the background without stealing my VISUAL focus?

Example edited in after bounty applied:

Here is my last attempt at using the WScript stuff (in a file named RunSignatured.bat):

Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Shell.Run C:\Users\danh\Bin\signatured.bat, 0, False

The signatured.bat file contains:

cd C:\Users\danh\bin
"C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\java.exe" Signature

Answer 1

More specifically to Daniel R Hicks' bounty/example, but I think it can still be applied to the original problem:

If it's a batch file being launched from Task Scheduler, then instead of just launching the Batch file minimized/invisible, you probably also need to modify the batch file itself to run it's commands invisibly.

So change:

cd C:\Users\danh\bin
"C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\java.exe" Signature

To something like:

cd C:\Users\danh\bin
start /b "C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\java.exe" Signature

Or perhaps eliminate the batch file completely and just do everything from the (VBS) script you're launching directly from the Task Scheduler.

Something like:

Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Shell.CurrentDirectory = "C:\Users\danh\bin" 
Shell.Run "C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\java.exe Signature", 0, False

Solution as implemented by DanH, in response to techie007's suggestions, satisfying the bounty:

One file, named RunSignatured.vbs, containing:

Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Shell.CurrentDirectory = "C:\Users\danh\bin" 
Shell.Run "java.exe Signature", 0, False

Note that the above relies on java.exe being in path, since the technique does not work with the blank in Program Files when specifying a full path. There are no doubt other ways to work around this problem, but that's for others to discover.

Then add RunSignature.vbs as the "program/script" name in the "Action" in Task Scheduler.

Answer 2

You could run the scheduled tasks as a different user, that way they will no interact with your normal account's interactive desktop at all. This certainly seems to work on the Windows2003 servers I administer. Just be careful to make sure that file permissions and other authentication details are set such that the tasks can access what they need to when un as this different user.

Edit: Or instead of running a console tool directly you could have a small script that runs it using WScript.Shell.Run with the "minimise, no focus change" option:

' sample script: c:\scripts\test.vbs
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "c:\location\of\tool\utility.exe", 7

then run this with the task scheduler (the command line being something like wscript c:\scripts\test.vbs) instead of calling the tool directly. You should be able to call batch files and other scripts that way too. There is also a "completely hide" option (replace the 7 above with a 0), though in either case the hide/minimise only controls the initial window: if the tool opens more itself then they may still steal focus as before.

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d5fk67ky%28VS.85%29.aspx for a full list of options for the run method.

Answer 3

Try running your scheduled task like this:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c start /b c:\fullpath\mybackup.bat

The start /b should start the application without creating a new window.

If this does not work, then you can create an standalone AutoIt script that will hide the taskeng.exe window. AutoIt scripts can be compiled to a .exe.

The .exe would be the first line in your mybackup.bat file. The AutoIt code would look like this:

WinSetState("taskeng", @SW_HIDE)

Answer 4

The simplest way to hide an application launched from the Task Scheduler is to set it to "Run whether user is logged on or not". This setting can be found in the General Tab of the Scheduled Task Properties.

Answer 5

Try 4trayMinimizer. You can define apps that are hidden by default.

Answer 6

Here's the SyncToy script I use. Notice the multiple quotes around the file location:

' SyncToy Scheduler
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run """C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.1\SyncToyCmd.exe"" -R" ,7

Answer 7

Apparently you have installed SQLyog MySQL GUI, which has scheduled the execution of the SQLyog Job Agent. It looks like it is a console application that does not try to hide itself.

You should look in the Task Scheduler for a task referring to SQLyog and correct its entry. If it is a cmd call, try to add /b to the parameter list. If it is just a call to an executable, you could correct it in view of this answer of mine.

If you have troubles locating this entry, use autoruns to find how SQLyog is started. You could also use regedit to search for all mentions of SQLyog or whatever is the name of its installation directory.

You could of course also uninstall SQLyog MySQL GUI, if you don't need it.

If you have not installed SQLyog MySQL GUI, then your computer might be infected. You could use Process Monitor to verify when the popup appears, to see whether it is the taskeng.exe from system32 or one of the Look alikes of Taskeng.exe.

Answer 8

i was having the exact problem using SQLyog after doing some research i fixed it creating a file called invisible.vbs and inserting this code:

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.CurrentDirectory = "C:\Program Files (x86)\SQLyog\"
WshShell.Run "SJA.exe C:\Users\REPLACE_UR_USER\Desktop\test.xml -lC:\Users\REPLACE_UR_USER\AppData\Roaming\SQLyog\sja.log -sC:\Users\REPLACE_UR_USER\AppData\Roaming\SQLyog\sjasession.xml ", 0

Than create a Task Scheduler to run the invisible.vbs file and that's it!