Task Scheduler Authentication Issue on Windows Server Startup

Question

We are currently facing an authentication issue with the Task Scheduler on our Windows Server. The configured task involves running a .bat file upon system startup. However, despite trying various user credentials, including admin credentials, we consistently encounter an error stating, "Windows is unable to authenticate the user" when the system starts.

Here are the solutions we have attempted:

1. Added the user as "Run as batch job" in the Group Policy Object (GPO).
2. Reset user credentials and attempted to run the task using different user accounts.
3. Currently, we are running the Task Scheduler from a System Object.

Despite these efforts, the Task Scheduler is still not running during system startup, and the authentication issue persists. Your expertise in resolving this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Answer 1

Hi @Anant Bera

If the scheduled task use a domain service account , the service account needs to be authenticated before running the schedule task. When you shoose to launch the schedule task at startup , you cannot be sure thant the network is mounted on the machine to contact domain controller. that's why you get error "windows unable to authenticate user".

In this case try to define delay for this task for 30 min for example to be sure that the server is restarted and the network is mounted:

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