Error messege: the selected task "{0}" no longer exists. to see the current task, click refresh

Anonymous
2009-07-07T16:17:02+00:00

When I go to start the task scheduler, I get this messege "the selected task "{0}" no longer exists. to see the current task, click refresh" So I go ahead and click refresh, and get the same error messege. How can I resolve this issue? Any help and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-09-21T19:15:00+00:00

I spent a few minutes and tracked down the problem and a solution. The issue is a result of task files which exist in the Tasks folders which have no entry in (presumably) in the registry. Here's how I worked through the issue - will take some time, but it has cleared up the issue completely for me:

  1. Open Task Scheduler and click OK when prompted with the error. It may seem like you are receiving the same error over and over, but this is really due to the number of tasks which are broken. Make a note of the number of times you are prompted with the the selected task "{0}" error. This is the number of task files that are out of sync with the registry.
  2. Start with the first folder under Windows tasks (Task Scheduler(Local)\Task Scheduler Library\Microsoft\Windows) and select each folder in turn until you receive the the selected task "{0}" error. This folder contains files that are not in sync with the task scheduler.
  3. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the tasks file folder (%SystemFolder%\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows) and find the folder which corresponds to the folder in which you received the error.
  4. For some tasks you will be able to determine which files need to be deleted by comparing the list in the Task Scheduler with the list of files in Explorer. Some tasks will only have a single file in explorer, or, in one case I had 2 and the first was missing. Once Task Scheduler encounters this error it will no longer display tasks so it makes the job of getting the two in sync a little more difficult. Once you have determined which files exist in the File Folder but do not exist in the Task Scheduler folder, delete those files.
  5. IMPORTANT - Close and Re-open Task Scheduler. Once the error is encountered, Task Scheduler no longer displays the tasks so you need to close it and restart in order to continue your synchronization effort.
  6. Continue to select folders in Task Scheduler under Windows tasks until you encounter the error again and repeat the process of determining which file exists on the file system, but not in Task Scheduler.

I had 6 files that were out of sync with what was displayed in Task Scheduler. Once I deleted all of the offending files, Task Scheduler fired up without issue.

Good luck.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-08-28T12:19:13+00:00

Hi,

I had the same issue and here is what I did to solve my problem and hope it helps someone else in the future.  If you disabled the Disk Defrag Schedule, then go back and enable it.  It solved my problem and i've reported this bug to the Windows 7 team.

Was this answer helpful?

90+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

131 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2010-03-27T07:35:58+00:00

    Thank you Joseph. I am very reluctant to play around with this because I am not technically minded and I think this is something MS should sort out. However the only file outside the folders in Tasks is "CreateChoiceProcessTask". I don't think this is a task but what is it, can anyone help please?

    Judesman.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-24T09:30:37+00:00

    I have had a similar issue before.  I have several user created tasks and one day I started to receive the error, here is what I have learned from my situation:

    What this message is saying is that Task Scheduler is having issues finding a task file it normally runs or having issues opening a task file.  Because of that, you get the error.

    The best way to solve the issue is to go to "C:\Windows\System32\Tasks.”  From there you should see task folders (i.e. Apple, Event Viewer Tasks, Microsoft, WPD, etc).  All files listed outside of those folders are tasks you the user have created.  Select all of those files (NOT THE FOLDERS) and move them to your desktop (use cut and paste, not copy and paste).

    Now launch your Task Scheduler, you should not see that error anymore, if you do see the error message still, then it is caused by a system or program created task, which is located in one of those folders.  If that is the case, the same steps I am explaining here still apply, but be careful messing with program or system created tasks may cause program or system instability, leading to crashes or other undesirable effects.

    Now that the error message is gone all you have to do is "Import Task ...”  In the Brower window, that comes up when clicking “Import Task”, go to your desktop and select each task from the desktop to import (make sure that you have "All files (*.*)" selected above the "Open" and "Cancel" buttons).  After each task you import is complete, close the task scheduler and then reopen it to make sure you do not receive that error again, if you do, then something is wrong with that task file and that file should be deleted and you should just recreate that task from scratch.

    After all the tasks have been imported and no more errors are received, you should be back to normal.

    I hope that this is helpful for all users with this issue.

    Joseph L. Miller III

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-23T19:50:36+00:00

    Following your advice, I located the DEFRAG folder and deleted the task that it held. My problem was instantly cured, and I was able to view all my active tasks. Of course, maybe the problem will recur if I try to schedule a defrag again, especially a monthly one (according to some correspondents). Anyway, thanks a lot and I cast my vote with those who think it's outrageous that Microsoft seems to be ignoring this exasperating problem.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments