Automating ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter with Task Scheduler

ID: Q179306

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 98
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows NT 4.0

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter to run without user intervention using the Task Scheduler tool.

MORE INFORMATION

To configure ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter to run without user intervention, you can add command-line switches to the properties of a scheduled task. To do so, use the appropriate method:

Configure ScanDisk

1. To configure ScanDisk, double-click My Computer, double-click Scheduled

   Tasks, and then double-click ScanDisk.

   NOTE: If ScanDisk is not listed as a scheduled task, see the following
   article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about how to
   add a scheduled task:

      ARTICLE-ID: Q178706
      TITLE     : How to Schedule a Program Using Task Scheduler

      <path> <drive>: /noninteractive /silent

   where <path> is the path to the Scandskw.exe file, and <drive> is the
   letter of the drive you want to scan. ScanDisk runs without user
   prompts if you use the /noninteractive parameter (switch). The /silent
   switch removes the summary screen.

   For example, you could type the following line:

      c:\windows\scandskw.exe c: /noninteractive /silent

Configure Disk Defragmenter

1. To configure Disk Defragmenter, double-click My Computer, double-click

   Scheduled Tasks, double-click Disk Defragmenter.

   NOTE: If Disk Defragmenter is not listed as a scheduled task, see the
   following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about
   how to add a scheduled task:

      ARTICLE-ID: Q178706
      TITLE     : How to Schedule a Program Using Task Scheduler

      <path> <drive>: /noprompt /q

   where <path> is the location of the Defrag.exe file, and <drive> is
   the letter of the drive you want to defragment. Disk Defragmenter runs
   without user prompts if you use the /noprompt switch. The /q switch
   defragments only the files.

   For example, you could type the following line:

      c:\windows\defrag.exe c: /noprompt /q

Keywords          : kbtool msiew95 msient msiew98 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01
Platform          : MS-DOS WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999