Scheduling Problems

For scheduling backup and copy jobs, 'Double Image' provides a preliminary interface to the Windows Task Scheduler.

The  Windows Task Scheduler already exists on your computer.  The 'Double Image' interface quickly creates the RUN command for you when you click the Scheduler icon related to a backup profile, saving you time. All the user needs to do is enter the time to run and user, password.

If you were to view the Windows Task Scheduler, you will see the same entries that were entered in the Double Image Scheduler window. Therefore when we talk about scheduler problems we can relate them to the Windows Task Scheduler as well.

This entire topic outlines possible conditions that may cause scheduled entries to not run and the solutions to resolve the problems.

Check List:

Has the Double Image profile been renamed or moved to another location and is different than what the scheduler entry has?

Solution:  If so, update the scheduled entry to coincide with the file name change. See the Run command in the Task pane of the scheduler.


If the Administrator is not assigned a User Name and Password, scheduled entries will not work. This is a Windows limitation and for security reasons. Windows permits users to not log on when starting or restarting Windows. Windows Administrators are not required to have passwords on XP Home, XP PRO.  This is well and good, but it carries a problem over to the Windows Task Scheduler entries and the Double Image scheduled entries as well; and for obvious security reasons.

Solution:  Ensure that the Administrator User or Backup User or Server Operator has been assigned a Password for Windows log on.

After the user has a password, modify the scheduled tasks to include the User, Password;

Or alternatively, if you see 'Run only if logged on' in the Scheduler Task pane you can select that option to scheduler the Double Image profile to run without a password;  however their current user logged on would still be required to be an Administrator.  Otherwise, assign a password for an Administrator user account, for which you are scheduling the Double Image task.


The User Name and Password applied at the time a scheduled entry is created needs to be that of a user assigned to the Administrators Group or the Backup Users or Server Operator Group.

Solution:  Ensure that the User and Password being applied in the scheduled entry are assigned to an authority group that includes Administrator or Backup User.


On some Windows platforms, there is not an edit to ensure that the User, Password are entered or spelled correctly, when creating a scheduled entry. If not entered correctly the scheduled tasks will not run.

Solution: Ensure that the User, Passwords entered are correct.


Double Image Scheduler entries are created and include a User ID and Password.

Another way of saying this is - If backups are done on a local machine and the source is on a networked machine, then the User must also have Administrator or Backup User permissions for the remote machine.

Solution:  Ensure that the User and Password being applied in the scheduled entry are assigned to an authority group that includes Administrator or Backup User.


Incorrect Scheduler Run command
Each scheduled entry contains the <path to the executable of Double Image or Double Image-O>, depending on which program was used when the scheduled entry was created.

When upgrading to Double Image-O (or vice versa), the RUN path in the scheduled entries will no longer be valid, because the path to the executable is not referencing the correct program.

Since Double Image and Double Image-O are treated as two different products and both can reside on the users machine, the established scheduled entries are not modified at install time.

Solution:  Delete the current scheduled entries. Then from the main Double Image/Double Image-O UI window:


When Double Image is run via the scheduler and the Copy, Run backup option 'Auto-Exit at End' of Job is not checked, then Double Image never leaves the process list in Windows. This means the scheduled job is not finished.  This causes the scheduled default of 72 hours to pass before windows finally forces the task to end. A scheduled task will not run a duplicate job until the previous one is ended.

Solution:  Check the 'Auto-Exit at End' in the Copy, Run option in the user interface.


If a security model is deployed crossed a network environment with changes for User / Password that are different from the already existing scheduled entries, then scheduled entries will no longer work due to the Windows security changes.  This condition usually applies to those that change their Windows User, Password but do not change their User, Password for the scheduled tasks.

If you have created a new User and Password for the user that created the scheduled task and have not updated the new User and Password to the Scheduled task entries the Scheduled Tasks may not run.

Solution: View each scheduled task entry and update the User and Password that was changed for Windows.  You may need to log off the computer and log on for your new password to takes effect in the Task Scheduler.


The Windows Task Scheduler is controlled by a service. If the service is Disabled then scheduled entries will not work. Ensure that it is run Automatic.

Solution: START > Programs > Administrative Tools > Services. In the details pane > Task Scheduler.  In the General tab > Startup type list box, select Automatic. Click OK.


 

The scheduled backup jobs no longer run.

Possible condition: The Double Image backup profile was saved to a different folder or file name AFTER the scheduled task entry was created.  This caused the RUN line in the scheduled task to point to a backup profile that could be incorrect or not present at all.

Solution: See the RUN line of the Scheduled entry and compare the profile path to that where the Double Image profile is located.  If different correct the RUN line.  It may be more simple to delete the scheduled task job and re-create it from the Double Image UI - click Scheduler icon.
 


Day Light Savings Time Changes might effect scheduled entries when the local machine's system drive is using a FAT32 file system due to the way time changes affect the file stamps.

Solution: This problem doesn't occur with NTFS file systems on your hard drives. We recommend using the NTFS file system on your hard drives.  The only recourse is to re-set a time for each scheduled entry, until the drive file system is converted to NTFS. see the Windows CONVERT command in Windows Help.


When scheduled jobs run, it could be caused by a drive mapping issue. Try using a UNC path to reference network drives.  \\computername\shared_name\


Assure that Users who create Double Image profiles and scheduled entries have a user permission assigned to Administrators Group and/or Backup Users Group


Ensure that the spelling of the User Name and Password are accurate when entering them for a scheduled entry.


Double Image requires running under a user account that has Administrator rights. Verify that this is correct.


Did an Administrator or Backup User change their User Name and/or their Password? If, so have all the scheduled entries been updated with the correct User Name and Password?

Has a Networked machine's Backup User's User Name and/or Password changed and not be reflected in the scheduled entries?

NOTE: Many large enterprises deploy a security model that is based on a mandatory password change for every User ID, for some other specific time period. If the User changes the system password but does not change any or all Double Image Scheduler related entry User passwords, then when the Double Image Profile launch attempt occurs the system will view the User ID as a sign on security violation and will lock that User ID out from any sign on authentication; i.e., the backup will not run for security reasons.


 

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