Powershell schedule task using schtasks.exe returns error success is not recognized

Question

I am trying to schedule another powershell script using schtasks.exe using following command:

$Command = cmd /c "$Env:WinDir/system32/schtasks.exe /create /s $ComputerName  /tn $TaskName /tr $TaskRun /sc $Schedule /d $Days /st $StartTime /RU system"

Invoke-Expression $Command

It schedules the task on remote servers but throws an error:

"The term 'SUCCESS:' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

It does successfully schedule the job at correct times but throws this error.
Does anyone know how to resolve this error?

Thank you Erwin for editing it and making it easier to read. — user984201, Feb 06 '13 at 21:08

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 06 '13 at 21:02

The error is displayed because when you create your $command variable, your setting it's value to the RESULT of the expression, which is SUCCESS. The command is done running before your execute Invoke-Expression. Because of that, Invoke-Expression is actually running the result (SUCCESS) as it's scriptblock, and you get an error. Proof:

PS > $command = whoami

PS > $command
computer\user

PS > $command = 'whoami'

PS > $command
whoami

You can either just call the command directly as you do when you create your $command variable, or you can save the expression(cmd /c ...) as a string and then invoke it. Ex:

$Command = 'cmd /c "$Env:WinDir/system32/schtasks.exe /create /s $ComputerName  /tn $TaskName /tr $TaskRun /sc $Schedule /d $Days /st $StartTime /RU system"'

Invoke-Expression $Command

Thank you so much for explaining me in detail what is going on. It worked perfectly. — user984201, Feb 06 '13 at 21:07

Powershell schedule task using schtasks.exe returns error success is not recognized

1 Answers1