Automating ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter with Task Scheduler

Last reviewed: January 14, 1998
Article 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

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

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
```
In the Command Line box, type the following line
```
      <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

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
```
In the Command Line box, type the following line
```
      <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
```

Additional query words: 4.00
Keywords : kbtool msient msiew95
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01
Platform : MS-DOS WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: January 14, 1998
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