How can I run scheduled tasks in the background when they run as the currently logged-on user?

John Savill

January 31, 2002

1 Min Read
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A. Scheduled tasks usually run under the SYSTEM context and run in the background. However, if you change a service to run as a user account and that account is currently logged on to the machine, the scheduled task will run in the foreground. To change this behavior, perform the following steps:

  1. Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).

  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon.

  3. Double-click Shell (which is explorer.exe).

  4. Modify this value to 'Explorer.exe,' (don't type the quotes but do type the comma) where is your local machine's system root.

  5. Click OK.

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