Batch file to delete a Scheduled Task

[jason76]

I am trying to delete a scheduled task on Windows 7 computers if it exists. I found this online but can't get it to work for me. I need the script to delete the task if it exists and if it does not exist to exit the batch file without trying to delete it. Right now it is trying to delete it whether or exists or not so when it is does not exist it gives a "ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified" which is messing up another process I have going on.

Code: Select all

schtasks /query > app
findstr /B /I "AppleSoftwareUpdate" app > nul
if %errorlevel%==0 goto delete 
goto exit

:delete
schtasks /DELETE /TN "AppleSoftwareUpdate" /F > nul

:exit
exit

[Squashman]

If you know the task name why not use that in your query?

Code: Select all

H:\>schtasks /query /tn xdbstart >nul 2>&1

H:\>echo %errorlevel%
0

H:\>schtasks /query /tn xdbstar >nul 2>&1

H:\>echo %errorlevel%
1

[Samir]

I am trying to delete a scheduled task on Windows 7 computers if it exists. I found this online but can't get it to work for me. I need the script to delete the task if it exists and if it does not exist to exit the batch file without trying to delete it. Right now it is trying to delete it whether or exists or not so when it is does not exist it gives a "ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified" which is messing up another process I have going on.

Code: Select all

schtasks /query > app
findstr /B /I "AppleSoftwareUpdate" app > nul
if %errorlevel%==0 goto delete 
goto exit

:delete
schtasks /DELETE /TN "AppleSoftwareUpdate" /F > nul

:exit
exit

It sounds like your if test is not working correctly. Check the errorlevels for findstr. It may work the opposite of other commands.

[foxidrive]

Assuming your commands are right, this will work as you need.

The && only executes when the AppleSoftwareUpdate term is found.

Code: Select all

schtasks /query | findstr /B /I "AppleSoftwareUpdate" >nul && schtasks /DELETE /TN "AppleSoftwareUpdate" /F > nul

[jason76]

Thanks foxidrive that worked perfectly. No more errors if it doesn't exist and the rest of the process finishes without throwing errors.