The following How To Guide was submitted to WGS’ Tutorials section by forum user bobbyc. Check out the Tutorial over at WGS Forums. This tutorial will show you how to use the Windows Task Scheduler to automatically start a program when your home server boots.
Here is how I start uTorrent when my server boots, but you can easily modify this tutorial to start any .exe program when your server boots. Normally, you will administer your Windows Home Server 2011 system with the Dashboard application. But to perform this task you will need to log onto your server’s desktop. If you run your server without a keyboard, video, and mouse you will need to log on with a Remote Desktop Connection.
- Start the Remote Desktop Connection application from any network connected PC. Just click on the Start button and type Remote Desktop and enter.
- Enter either your server’s IP address or name, enter Administrator in the Username field and your password. Click the Connect button.
- Once you connect to your Remote Desktop, you need to select the server’s Start button, type Task Scheduler and Enter. This will open the server’s Task Scheduler.
- Select Task Scheduler Library in the left most pane. Now you can select Create Task in the Action Pane. This will open the Create Task dialog box.
- Name this task, provide a description, and check the Run whether user is logged on or not Radio Button.
- Next select the Trigger Tab and the click the New Button. This will launch the new trigger dialog box. Choose At startup and uncheck all the boxes except Enable, and then click OK.
- Next Select the Action Tab. Now click on the new action button, this will open the New Action dialog box. Choose the Start a program Action and Browse to the program you want to start and add any optional arguments you require. I’ll browse to uTorrent.exe and click OK.
- Next Select the Conditions Tab. Uncheck all the boxes except the Start and Stop boxes under the Power section.
- Next Select the Settings tab. Check the Allow Task to be run on demand, uncheck all others and select the Do not start a new instance if the task is already running rule. Click OK to save the task.
- This brings you back to the Task Scheduler MMC. Find the task you just created and right click on the Name of the task. Choose Run to from the drop down to start the task for the first time.
The next time your server reboots it will start automatically. In the event you shut down the program, you do not need to reboot your server to restart it. You can simply open the Task Scheduler as you did above, right click the task and choose Run from the drop down menu.
If you have a handy tip, trick or How To guide WGS readers would enjoy, then feel free to post it over at WGS Tutorials, and who knows, we may feature it here on the website!
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