Scheduled task mbam /update doesn't finish

[FrackyMacky]

If I issue the following from the command line, things work fine:

"C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes'Anti-Malware\mbam.exe" /update

The update is downloaded (I see the progress window) and a new window is popped up notifying the user of the new version number. I have to click OK to banish it.

I created a Scheduled Task for the above command, scheduled for 3am. I tested it by right-clicking the task and choosing Run. All I hear is a notification sound and the task never finishes running. All I see is the Scheduled Task Status shown as Running. I suspect that the program attempted to present the notification message to the user. The window never actually pops up. I suspect it is because I unchecked the task's option to "Run only if logged on". I'm guessing this causes the update to run as a background process without any access to the Windows GUI environment (and in particular, without any connection to a GUI panel/window).

In order to test this hypothesis, I enabled "Run only if logged on". When I chose to Run the task, however, nothing happens. No mbam shows up in the Task Manager's Processes tab and no network activity occurs in the Networking tab. The Scheduled Task Status never shows as Running.

I am using Windows xP SP3, and I'm logged in a local administrator account throughout the entire activity described above. However, I mostly do not use an admin account in regular daily work.

I'd appreciate advice on the following:

1. Is disabling of "Run only if logged on" causing the update process to not terminate, as hypothesized above?

2. Why does the task not run when I enable "Run only if logged on"?

3. How *would* I set up a Scheduled Task to automatically update?

4. Will that method work if the Scheduled Task belongs to an administrator account, but I'm using a non-administrator account most of the time?

5. I also have an administrator Scheduled Task "mbam /fullscanterminate". Would that run, log results, and successfully terminate if I am logged onto my non-administrator account? (I will test it soon, but your answers will let me know what to be on the lookout for).

Thanks.

[FrackyMacky]

I should mention that I am using the Free Avast version.

[FrackyMacky]

I should mention that I am using the Free Avast version.

Darn, my typo. Sorry. I meant I'm using Malwarebytes free version.

There doesn't seem to be a way to edit or delete postings (including my own).

[exile360]

1. Is disabling of "Run only if logged on" causing the update process to not terminate, as hypothesized above?

Yes, the GUI is supposed to show as the -silent switch was designed for this purpose, but is only available in the PRO version.

2. Why does the task not run when I enable "Run only if logged on"?

It will only run if the user that created the scheduled task is logged on as I understand it, but our PRO version doesn't use the Windows Task Scheduler so I'm really not sure.

3. How *would* I set up a Scheduled Task to automatically update?

Officially, there is none, though it could be accomplished with the PRO version, either through the built in scheduler or using the command line switches that are unlocked in the PRO version.

4. Will that method work if the Scheduled Task belongs to an administrator account, but I'm using a non-administrator account most of the time?

No, it won't as I understand it.

5. I also have an administrator Scheduled Task "mbam /fullscanterminate". Would that run, log results, and successfully terminate if I am logged onto my non-administrator account? (I will test it soon, but your answers will let me know what to be on the lookout for).

It should, but you should also take a look at the current help file because, while fullscanterminate is still a valid command, it has been replaced by the new switches and paramaters so it would now be /scan -full -terminate and you can add -log if you believe that the automatically save logs setting might be unchecked in MBAM's options at any time as the -log command overrides that setting and saves a log regardless of the setting.

[FrackyMacky]

Thanks, Samuel.

[exile360]

You're most welcome