Technically Easy

Tag: Troubleshooting

  • How to Fix the Selected Task No Longer Exists Error

    How to Fix the Selected Task No Longer Exists Error

    When using the Windows Task Scheduler, you may get an error indicating the selected task no longer exists. I try to automate as many tasks on my computer as possible to avoid remembering to perform regular maintenance on my computer. Everything from cleaning out temporary files and unneeded files to defragging my non-SSD drives are run at least once a week.

    I schedule the tasks using the Windows Task Scheduler, which makes it easy for me to perform the tasks on a specific schedule. I recently ran into an issue where this following error message was displayed on the screen whenever I accessed the Task Scheduler:


    The selected task 'name' no longer exists. To see the current tasks click Refresh.

    The message appeared twice – once for each task that didn’t exist anymore. On top of that, the same messages appear multiple times – once when I opened the Task Scheduler, and a second time when I navigated to the folder that contained the missing tasks.

    While the message didn’t stop me from using the Task Scheduler, it just became annoying to having to click the OK button four times each time I accessed the Task Scheduler. So I decided to fix the error to avoid the messages.

    The the selected task no longer exists solution

    For such a simple issue – at least I thought it was a simple issue – it did take some research to find a solution to the problem. Most of the solutions I found were for a similar, but different, issue. I did, however, find the correct solution to my problem.

    To resolve the issue of the selected task no longer existing, use the following steps:

    1. Click the Start logo and type “regedit” to search for the registry editor.
    2. Right-click the regedit name and select “Run as administrator” to open the registry editor as an administrator. You will either need to enter the administrator password, or confirm the opening of the registry editor as an administrator.
    3. In the registry editor, navigate to the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree” key.
    4. Inside that key you will see additional subkeys for each of task. Find the ones that match the names of the missing tasks, and then delete the subkey with the same name.
    5. Reopen the task scheduler. If the error persists, restart Windows and then reopen the task scheduler.

    Since I had two missing tasks, I deleted the two subkeys that matched the names of the tasks in the error messages, and the next time I went into the task scheduler the error messages were no longer displayed.

    After performing the above steps, the the selected task no longer exists error no longer appeared. If the issue still persists for you, it may be related to something else. Unfortunately, the above steps fixed my issue. A good place to go ask your Windows questions is the Microsoft Tech Community

    .

    February 22, 2016
  • Why Break/Fix Is More Expensive Than Managed Services

    Why Break/Fix Is More Expensive Than Managed Services

    When something goes wrong with your vehicle, you probably take it in to be worked on by a mechanic, who can quickly diagnose the problem and take the steps necessary to correct it. Often, the problem isn’t the part itself, but the way that you maintain the car. For example, if you don’t change the oil regularly, the dirty oil will eventually damage the engine, causing more headaches (and a bigger repair bill) than had you just taken the 30 minutes to get the oil changed in the first place.

    In many ways, your IT network is similar to your car. All of the parts of your network must be working properly in order for it to work efficiently, or even at all. If one part isn’t working up to par, or stops working altogether, the effects can ripple through the entire network — even causing it to shut down altogether. And much like serious problems in your automobile can be prevented by following the maintenance schedule and working with a qualified mechanic to find and fix small problems before they become big ones, serious problems in your network can be prevented by regular monitoring and maintenance.

    (more…)

  • 3 Reasons Your Broadband Connection Isn’t Fast Enough and How to Troubleshoot

    3 Reasons Your Broadband Connection Isn’t Fast Enough and How to Troubleshoot

    A slow broadband connection is a common problem and there can be any number of reasons behind it. Some of which you can’t do anything about, such as the weather, or the distance from your home to the nearest exchange.

    However, very often the problem with your internet speed can be addressed and it’s simply a matter of discovering the problem and then fixing it.

    (more…)

  • Fix: The Settings Saved on This Computer Do Not Match the Requirements of the Network

    Fix: The Settings Saved on This Computer Do Not Match the Requirements of the Network

    In some of my posts regarding securing a wireless router, I am occasionally asked about solving the following error message:

    The settings saved on this computer do not match the requirements of the network.

    While I haven’t experienced this error, a quick search online has revealed that it can be a common error to receive when connecting to a wireless network. When solving errors that you receive after making changes, it is important to understand what changes you have made, and how they would affect your wireless connection. While everyone’s wireless network configuration may be different, let’s look at the possible changes that could cause the above error.

    Computer Settings Don’t Match the Wireless Network.

    There are many settings that you can change within your wireless router. Most routers contain the same settings, such as security type, and encryption algorithm, and it is important that when you change these settings that you also change them within your operating system.

    When changing the settings on your wireless network, you must ensure that the settings in your router match those in your operating system. As I mentioned above, all wireless networks will have different settings, but the following list are some settings that you should ensure match between your operating system and your network:

    • Ensure that the DHCP settings match. Most home networks would have this set to automatic.
    • The security type (WEP, WPA, WPA2) is set properly. For most home users the WPA/WPA2 type will probably be set to “Personal.”
    • The encryption algorithm (AES, TKIP) is set properly. Like the security type, this setting can be found within your router.
    • The passphrase associated with your wireless network was entered properly in your operating system when connecting to your network.

    The above list probably contains the most common settings that could cause an issue when attempting to connect to your wireless network. Ensuring that the settings defined within your wireless router match the network settings defined within the operating system will ensure that you don’t have any connectivity issues.