Access denied while deleting the task from Windows Task Scheduler in C#

Question

Access denied while deleting the task from Windows Task Scheduler in C#

Abhinav Mutreja 1

I am trying to delete the task from the windows task scheduler in c# using below code -

using TaskService ts = new TaskService();
ts.RootFolder.DeleteTask(TaskName);

It is throwing below error. Kindly help.

Access is denied. (0x80070005 (E_ACCESSDENIED)) -- at Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.V2Interop.ITaskFolder.DeleteTask(String Name, Int32 flags)

Timon Yang-MSFT 9,606 Reputation points

2021-06-22T02:14:51.143+00:00

@Abhinav Mutreja
I created a new task and successfully deleted it with your code. It seems that there is nothing wrong with the code.
And according to the exception information, the reason for the error seems to be lack of permissions.
Have you ever tried to run your program with administrator permissions?
Abhinav Mutreja 1 Reputation point

2021-06-25T05:45:34.623+00:00

Thanks @Timon Yang-MSFT . Yes its an admin issue. I tested it with using admin rights and it worked fine.
I am packaging this executable(exe) inside a windows installer. What settings are needed in installer so that the package is installed without admin rights ? Also the when the executable runs it should also should not need admin rights to create task in windows task scheduler ?

Appreciate your help!
Timon Yang-MSFT 9,606 Reputation points

2021-06-25T09:35:53.153+00:00

@Abhinav Mutreja

What settings are needed in installer so that the package is installed without admin rights ?

I am not sure, I am not familiar with it.

Also the when the executable runs it should also should not need admin rights to create task in windows task scheduler

My guess is that whether you need administrator rights depends on whether your current user is in the administrator group.
My user is not an administrator user, no matter I create or delete Task (task scheduler or C#), I will not encounter permission problems.
But you may be an administrator user, so the task you create requires administrator privileges, but your program runs with non-administrator privileges by default, which causes the current problem.
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2021-06-25T09:54:12.29+00:00

Does the installer write to any locations (e.g., C:\Program Files, HKLM registry) that require elevated privileges for access?

Does the scheduled task get created during the installation? If not, is it created by a standard user or by an Administrator?

How Is the executable that attempts to delete the scheduled task invoked? Directly by user interaction? During the install/uninstall process?

1 answer

Your answer

Timon Yang-MSFT 9,606 Reputation points

2021-06-22T02:14:51.143+00:00

@Abhinav Mutreja
I created a new task and successfully deleted it with your code. It seems that there is nothing wrong with the code.
And according to the exception information, the reason for the error seems to be lack of permissions.
Have you ever tried to run your program with administrator permissions?
Abhinav Mutreja 1 Reputation point

2021-06-25T05:45:34.623+00:00

Thanks @Timon Yang-MSFT . Yes its an admin issue. I tested it with using admin rights and it worked fine.
I am packaging this executable(exe) inside a windows installer. What settings are needed in installer so that the package is installed without admin rights ? Also the when the executable runs it should also should not need admin rights to create task in windows task scheduler ?

Appreciate your help!
Timon Yang-MSFT 9,606 Reputation points

2021-06-25T09:35:53.153+00:00

@Abhinav Mutreja

What settings are needed in installer so that the package is installed without admin rights ?

I am not sure, I am not familiar with it.

Also the when the executable runs it should also should not need admin rights to create task in windows task scheduler

My guess is that whether you need administrator rights depends on whether your current user is in the administrator group.
My user is not an administrator user, no matter I create or delete Task (task scheduler or C#), I will not encounter permission problems.
But you may be an administrator user, so the task you create requires administrator privileges, but your program runs with non-administrator privileges by default, which causes the current problem.
RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2021-06-25T09:54:12.29+00:00

Does the installer write to any locations (e.g., C:\Program Files, HKLM registry) that require elevated privileges for access?

Does the scheduled task get created during the installation? If not, is it created by a standard user or by an Administrator?

How Is the executable that attempts to delete the scheduled task invoked? Directly by user interaction? During the install/uninstall process?

Answer 1

Castorix31 90,521

This works for me with
TaskScheduler 1.1 Type Library
=>

ITaskService ts = new TaskScheduler.TaskScheduler();
try
{
    ts.Connect(null, null, null, null);
    ITaskFolder rootFolder = ts.GetFolder(string.Empty);
    rootFolder.DeleteTask("MyTask", 0);                   
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Error : " + ex.Message.ToString(), "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
    return;
}

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Access denied while deleting the task from Windows Task Scheduler in C#

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