So I have a bunch of powershell scripts that I run through Task Scheduler.
Depending on their tasks and the time it takes for them to run, some run every minute, others every hour and others every day and others weekly.
I run all of these scripts through Task Scheduler using the following configurations:
General:
✔ Run wether user is logged on or not
✔ Run with the highest privileges
✔ Hidden
Actions:
"C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe" -nologo -windowstyle Hidden -file "path to script"
Now because some of these tasks run for about 1 hour to several hours I like to have them hidden, but sometimes I'd like to be able to check how the process is doing. Is there any way to make the pwsh.exe visible? or read the output of the script?
Store output to some file is the easiest way.
Script ... | Out-File C:\filename.txt
Related
I have created a backup script using xcopy and it generates log files for me on the current date.
Nevertheless, I wanted to couple it with the task scheduler so that my script runs every night at 7pm but after many tests my script with the task scheduler does not "work".
while by launching it manually everything goes well.
I need your help :)
Here is what I put in my task:
Program/script: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
Add arguments: PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -WindowStyle Hidden -File "C:\Users\Caeko\Documents\Power\log.ps1"
Thank you very much!
I am running a Powershell script (TaskScript.ps1) using Powershell v4.0 (from Get-Host cmdlet) w/ File Version: 6.3.9600.17415 (Windows Explorer File Properties.) I am trying to run this script from a regularly scheduled task on Windows Server 2012 R2; the TaskScript.ps1 does this:
& .\OtherScript1.ps1
#... log messages to LogFile ...
& .\OtherScript2.ps1
#... log more messages to LogFile ..
When invoked manually in Powershell, the entire TaskScript.ps1 -- including calls to OtherScript1.ps1 and OtherScript2.ps1 -- execute as expected and logging to LogFile is executed as desired; that is, after OtherScript.ps1 and OtherScript2.ps1 complete.
However when TaskScript.ps1 is run from a Windows Scheduled Task, the script is run and LogFile is updated immediately without invoking OtherScript1 or OtherScript2 executing.
I've checked that:
LogFile is clear before manually running the script and manually executing the Task
running the script manually executes all of the included scripts as
expected (each subscript has its own logging which has been checked)
LogFile is written to (at the appropriate times) when executed manually (I've watched the output as it happens)
The Scheduled Task is running and invoking TaskScript.ps1 (LogFile is updated whenever the task is run)
TaskScript.ps1 is not executing other scripts when run through Task (regardless of if Task is run manually or is scheduled) -- OtherScript1.ps1 and OtherScript2.ps1 have logging that is not triggered when the Task is run, but is triggered when TaskScript.ps1 is manually run from directly within Powershell. ie. powershell.exe .\TaskScript.ps1
LogFile is written to immediately when executed through the Task. No delay for the other two scripts; as happens when executing within Powershell.
I've tried a few methods for invoking the scripts within TaskCript.ps1 including the call operator syntax above, the Start-Process cmdlet and dot sourcing (which could work in this case, but is not preferred).
I've also tried temporarily adjusting the Execution Policy on the Scheduled Task using -ExecutionPolicy Bypass argument in my Task, thinking maybe the calls couldn't be invoked from within a script because of execution policy.
Some user here had an issue with Windows Task Scheduler not liking script file off of local drive. In case it's relevant, my TaskScript.ps1, OtherScript1.ps1 and OtherScript.ps2 scripts (and others) are located on a local VHD (virtual disk) at P:\PathTo\Scripts\TaskScript.ps1.
This is what my task looks like:
Program/script: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
Add arguments (optional): -NoProfile -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "& Path\To\TaskScript.ps1"
Why won't OtherScript1.ps1 and Otherscript2.ps1 execute if TaskScript.ps1 is run from a Windows Scheduled Task but will run just fine if invoked manually in Powershell?
I am using windows 8.
I have the following script file (that spits our all services to a CSV file). When I run this as follows from powershell editor, it works fine.
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe C:\Powershell\SchedulingaScript.ps1
When I schedule this script from windows task scheduler it won't kick off.
I have "Unrestricted" execution policy set on that session. Following is the code in the script file and 2 images are the setting on the task scheduler.
#Trying out scheduling powershell scripts
Get-Service | Export-CSV "C:\ExportingServicestoaCSVFile.CSV"
You have to use the -file Parameter. Simply enter powershell -? and you will see all possible options to launch powershell.
Hope this helps -tom
In the Edit Action dialog Program box simply put PowerShell. In Arguments put -file "C:\sciptlocation\scriptname.ps1"
I am using PowerShell for downloading data from email.
I want to run this process by PowerShell. When I run script like this:
D:\script.ps1
in powershell.exe it works fine.
When I schedule it in Task Scheduler nothing happens.
I tried it to Set it like Program/script:
powershell
Powershell.exe
powershell.exe
Add arguments:
-executionpolicy bypass -file D:\script.ps1
-file D:\script.ps1
-file "D:\script.ps1"
And nothing works. I'm using Windows 2008 R2.
Troubleshooting scheduled tasks is a pain in the rear, because you can't really see what's going on. These are some things you may want to check:
Check that your commandline works in principle, e.g. by running it from CMD (in your case try running powershell.exe -File "D:\script.ps1"). If that gives you any errors you need to fix those first.
If you intend to run the task as a particular user, start CMD as that user and run the same commandline to check if the user has all the permissions required for whatever the script is doing.
Check if your task actually terminated or if the process is still running (via Process Explorer, Get-Process, Task Manager, …).
Check the Last Run Result for the exit code of the command.
Enable the history for your scheduled tasks (Action → Enable All Tasks History). That will give you at least some information about what the task is doing, whether it starts at all, and if/which errors occurred. You need administrative rights to enable the task history.
Check the eventlog for errors/warnings correlating with the task run.
Add logging statements to the script you're running to record progress information. Personally I prefer logging to the eventlog, because that avoids filesystem permissions issues.
Write-EventLog -LogName Application -Source EventSystem -EventID 100 -EntryType Information -Message 'Your log message.'
If you have admin privileges on the system you can register an event source of your own and use that in the above log statement instead of abusing an existing source like EventSystem:
New-EventLog -Source MyEventSource -LogName Application
Further help will depend heavily on the findings you got following these steps as well as your actual script code.
I found this site that was quite useful:
http://www.microsoftpro.nl/2011/07/07/how-to-schedule-a-powershell-script-using-scheduled-tasks-in-windows-server-2008-r2/
I also changed Secure option property and it helped.
I didnt check: Do not store password and now it runs without me being logged into network.
Peace
Few major observations which I had faced:
Instead of giving only powershell.exe , try giving the full PS path C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe.
Permission is one more concern. The user through which you are running the task might not have the permission to run that.
Execution Policy: Make sure you are bypassing the execution policy using -ExecutionPolicy Bypass.
Make sure you are running the task with Highest Privileges.
Finally, through analysis of logs.
I know this has been asked a 1000 times and I think I looked through all of them.
I have scheduled tasks running PowerShell Scripts on other servers already, but not on this server. Which has me scratching my head as to why I can't get it to work on this server.
I have a powershell script on a Windows 2008 R2 server. I can run it manually and it all works perfectly, but when I try to run it from a scheduled task the History says it was run, but the PowerShell script does not execute.
PSRemoting is enabled
The server ExecutionPolicy is "RemoteSigned"
I get two entries in the History
Action completed
Task Scheduler successfully completed task "\Processing" , instance "{dbbd4924-42d6-4024-a8ed-77494c7f84cf}" , action "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\PowerShell.EXE" with return code 0.
Task complted
Task Scheduler successfully finished "{dbbd4924-42d6-4024-a8ed-77494c7f84cf}" instance of the "\Processing" task for user "domain\user".
The Scheduled Task looks like this:
I set to run under my account while I'm logged on. (since I can run the script manually as myself already)
checked Run with highest privileges.
trigger is to run every 10 minutes
Start a program Action.... Powershell.exe
Arguments: -executionpolicy remotesigned -File D:\abc\def\powershell\Processing.ps1
Conditions & Settings default settings.
Ensure that you're not being blocked by a permission issue with the task:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2012/04/18/task-scheduler-error-a-specified-logon-session-does-not-exist.aspx
The above GPO prevents credentials from being saved. Other User Rights Assignment settings can prevent things being run as batch/script/task/etc.
As a workaround, you can also set the task to run a .bat file with the powershell task. Adding an echo or pipe parameter may give you some clues to the issue.
I would recommend that you should add some diagnostic logging to this script to find out a place that causes this issue or redirect output of this script to a file. E.g. change your string with arguments this way:
-executionpolicy remotesigned -File D:\abc\def\powershell\Processing.ps1 2>&1 d:\output.log
Looks like that the script is executed, but something goes wrong. There are too many reasons for such behavior and it is difficult to find the root cause without a code.