I've often wondered what all the various default tasks that were automagically there on a pristine install of Windows Vista.
This KB article explains it all!
Honestly, I don't think that there should be this many on a default install. While it is true that many only trigger on certain events, it seems a bit excessive. The Media Center team at MS really latched onto the scheduled task feature, based on how many Media Center events use this feature.
In the current form, as of today, the KB is unsorted and a little confusing.
I ended up taking some of the content from the KB article and sorting it by task name.
Sidenote to tweak guide websites: The performance gained by disabling any of these would be small and most likely not worth the effort.
Autowake - This scheduled task automatically wakes the computer and then puts the computer to sleep when the automatic waking feature is turned on for a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
Consolidator - Customer Experience Improvement Program This scheduled task runs the Wsqmcons.exe program when you install Windows Vista. This scheduled task also runs the Wsqmcons.exe program daily if the user consented to participate in the Windows
Customer Experience Improvement Program - This program collects and sends usage data to Microsoft. The Wsqmcons.exe program is located in the System32 folder.
CrawlStartPages - This scheduled task indexes all the crawl-type start pages when the computer is idle.
ehDRMInit - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /DRMInit command. This command makes sure that Windows Media Digital Rights Management (WMDRM) is initialized correctly every time that the Media Center Receiver Service (EhRecvr.exe) is started.
GadgetManager - This scheduled task manages and synchronizes metadata for the gadgets that are installed on a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
GatherWiredInfo - This scheduled task runs the Gatherwiredinfo.vbs file to collect wired networking data. This scheduled task collects configuration and state information about the system. This information appears in a report. This information also appears in the system logs. This information also appears in Performance Monitor.
GatherWirelessInfo - This scheduled task runs the Gatherwirelessinfo.vbs file to collect wireless networking data. This scheduled task collects configuration and state information about the computer. This information is displayed in a report. This information is included in the system logs. This information also appears in Performance Monitor.
HotStart - This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task starts programs that are configured for
Windows HotStart.
IpAddressConflict1 - This scheduled task runs the rundll32 ndfapi.dll,NdfRunDllDuplicateIPOffendingSystem command when an Event 4198 message is detected. This scheduled task informs the user of an IP address conflict.
IpAddressConfilct2 - This scheduled task runs the runddl32 ndfapi.dll,NdfRunDllDuplicateIPDefendingSystem command when an Event 4199 message is detected. This scheduled task informs the user of an IP address conflict.
LPRemove - This scheduled task runs the Lpremove.exe program when you start the computer. This scheduled task also runs one time when you install Windows Vista if a language pack is included that cannot be used. For example, this task removes language packs that are not needed when you install Windows Vista Home Basic. The Lpremove.exe program is in the System32 folder.
ManualDefrag - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\defrag.exe -c command to defragment hard disk drives.
Mcupdate - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\mcupdate command to check for Windows Media Center updates.
Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector - This scheduled task is started by the Diagnostic Policy Service in the appropriate user session. The Windows Diagnostic Infrastructure Resolution host enables interactive resolutions for system problems that are detected by the Diagnostic Policy Service. This scheduled task starts the Windows Disk Diagnostic User Resolver wizard (Dfdwiz.exe) when a problem with a hard disk is detected.
MP Scheduled Scan - This scheduled task runs the Windows Defender Mpcmdrun.exe scan -restrict command.
MsCtfMonitor - This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task monitors the TextServicesFramework system service.
NAPStatus - This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. The NAPStatus UI scheduled task starts the Network Access Protection Home Page. This scheduled task may also run when an Event 18 message is detected.
OptinNotification - Customer Experience Improvement Program This scheduled task runs the \System32\wsqmcons.exe -n 0x1C577FA2B69CAD0 command when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task prompts the Microsoft Windows Software Quality Metrics opt-in notification.
OCURActivate - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /OCURActivate command. This command enables the OpenCable Unidirectional Cable Receivers (OCUR) product key.
OCURDiscovery - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /OCURDiscovery command. This command line starts the EhPrivjob.exe program. The EhPrivjob.exe program looks for digital cable tuners that might be attached to the computer. If it finds a new digital cable tuner, it registers the tuner and makes sure that the Digital Cable Receiver Device exception is configured in the Windows Firewall.
QueueReporting - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\wermgr.exe –queuereporting command when you log on to a user account. This scheduled task also runs every 30 hours to process Windows Error Reporting data.
RACAgent - This scheduled task runs when you start the computer. This scheduled task also runs every hour after you start the computer. This task is a Microsoft Reliability Analysis task that processes system reliability data.
RemoteAssistance Task - This scheduled task runs when an Event ID 1502 is written to the System log. This scheduled task reviews Group Policy for changes that are related to Remote Assistance. This scheduled task runs the Raserver.exe /offerraupdate command.
ScheduledDefrag - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\defrag.exe -c -i command weekly to defragment hard disk drives.
SessionAgent - This scheduled task manages the session behavior when multiple user accounts exist on a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
SR - This scheduled task runs when you start the computer. This scheduled task also runs as a daily task. This scheduled task runs the %windir%\system32\rundll32.exe srrstr.dll,ExecuteScheduledSPPCreation command to create regular system restore points.
SystemDataProviders - This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account. It provides system data for the clock, the power source, the wireless network strength, and the volume on a Windows SideShow-compatible device.
SystemSoundsService - This scheduled task runs at log on. It provides operating system-initiated sounds such as navigation sounds.
SystemTask - This scheduled task runs when you start the computer and after you modify the scheduled task. This scheduled task helps manage digital identities such as certificates, keys, and credentials for users and for the computer. This scheduled task also enables enrollment, roaming, and other services.
TMM - This scheduled task starts the Microsoft Transient Multi-Monitor Manager when a user logs on to a Windows user account.
UninstallDeviceTaskT - his scheduled task runs the Bthudtask.exe program at an elevated permissions level. The Bthudtask.exe program removes a pairing with a remote Bluetooth device that has the specified service ID. The scheduled task exits after the device is uninstalled.
UpdateRecordPath - This scheduled task runs the %windir%\ehome\ehPrivJob.exe /DoUpdateRecordPath command to set Windows Media Center Recorder permissions.
UPnPHostConfig - This scheduled task runs the sc.exe config upnphost start= auto command to configure the UPnPHost service to start automatically.
UserTask - This scheduled task runs when you log on to a user account and after you modify the scheduled task. This scheduled task helps manage digital identities such as certificates, keys, and credentials for users and for the computer. This scheduled task also enables enrollment, roaming, and other services.
UserTask-Roam - This scheduled task runs when a user connects or disconnects. This scheduled task also runs when a user locks or unlocks the computer to manage digital identities. This scheduled task manages certificates, keys, and credentials for users and for the computer. This scheduled task enables enrollment, roaming, and other services.
