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Schedule Tasks in XP

I bought BackUp MyPC to do unattended backups, but when the scheduled task is supposed to run, Windows XP's task scheduler tells me it has the wrong user and password. I am the only user, and I don't use a password. What gives?

Gene Madsen, Fort Collins, Colorado

Like many programs, BackUp MyPC uses the scheduler built into Windows XP by default, and its own only if the Windows Task Scheduler is disabled or not functioning. This makes sense--why have more than one scheduler running at a time? But the XP task scheduler won't work unless you have a system password, and each task you run must know the password. There's a good reason for this, too: A rogue program can't use the scheduler to do something unpleasant at 2 a.m.

I'll tell you how to set up a system password, then how to free yourself from having to type that password every time you boot. I'll also explain how to tell your existing scheduled tasks about your password so that they run properly.

To set up a password, select Start, Control Panel. Double-click the User Accounts icon (or select it from the Control Panel menu). In the User Accounts applet, double-click your account, and then click Create a password (if you already have a password, this option isn't available). Enter a password, enter it again to confirm it, and then type in a password hint to help jog your memory in case you forget it. (See " Windows Tips: Keep Prying Eyes at Bay With Windows' Passwords" for more info on Windows passwords.) Finally, click Create Password.

Now when your PC boots, Windows will ask for your password. This may be secure, but it's not convenient, and for many users, it's simply not necessary. If you don't worry about the wrong people logging in as you, use Microsoft's free Tweak UI for Windows XP to keep from being asked for a password. If you don't have it, go here to download a copy of PowerToys for Windows XP, which includes Tweak UI.

After you have installed Tweak UI, select Start, All Programs, Powertoys for Windows XP, TweakUI for Windows XP. In the left pane, double-click Logon and click Autologon. In the right pane, choose Log on automatically at system startup. End by clicking OK.

Now tell your scheduled tasks about your password: Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks. Double-click a task. On the resulting dialog box's Task tab, click the Set password button. Type the password twice, and then click OK twice. Repeat for each task, and then close the Scheduled Tasks window.