Scheduled task does not wake laptop reliably

[dc696969]

I have a scheduled task which backs up my local drive to a NAS drive. It is set to run each evening at 22:30, wake the computer if necessary, and is run with the highest priorities.  The task runs a standard Windows batch file which uses Robocopy to perform the backup.

The problem is that it does not always wake the laptop to run the job. Some times it starts at the scheduled time, other times it starts randomly overnight. At other times it starts when I wake the laptop the following morning.  Wake timers in Power Options have been permitted.

The laptop is less than a month old, runs Windows 11 Pro and is always current with updates.

[Deep_World]

Hi @dc696969,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Sorry for the inconvenience caused don’t worry let me help you.

1. Is your laptop plugged in at 22:30, or could it be running on battery when the backup is scheduled? Wake timers can behave differently depending on the power source.
2. Is the scheduled task configured as “Run whether user is logged on or not” with stored credentials?
3. Have you noticed whether the laptop is in standard sleep mode or using Modern Standby when the task fails to wake it? Some HP laptops use Modern Standby, which can interfere with wake timers.
4. Are there any other scheduled tasks, Windows Updates, or maintenance tasks around the same time that could affect waking?

In the meantime, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

• Verify Wake Timers: Double-check in Power Options that wake timers are enabled for both “Plugged in” and “On battery” states.
• Test a Simple Wake Task: Create a small test task (like opening Notepad or writing a text file) at the same time with “Wake the computer to run this task” enabled. This can help determine whether Task Scheduler is reliably waking the laptop.
• Enable Task Scheduler History: Turn on “All Tasks History” and review the logs for any errors or warnings related to the task.
• Check Sleep State: Run powercfg /a in Command Prompt to confirm whether the laptop is in Modern Standby or traditional sleep mode. This can affect whether wake timers work reliably.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 

Best regards,

Deep_World

[dc696969]

Thanks for your reply. I am still having the issue.

In response to your questions.

1. Laptop is always plugged in.
2. I have used both with and without "Run whether user is logged on or not”
3. I believe the laptop goes into Modern Standby (using your troubleshooting tip)
4. I don't know of any schedule clashes

I have been through all troubleshooting tips.

As noted previously, sometimes it does work as expected, other times not.

Very frustrating.

[Deep_World]

Hi @dc696969,

Thanks for your response. It looks like you’re still having issue with the unit.

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name. Alternatively, you can click on this link. 

You can use this link as well: 

Private Messages - HP Support Community

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

Best regards,

Deep_World

[dc696969]

Thank you @Deep_World.

Unfortunately, the chat route does not inspire me with confidence. I have already tried this route and the agent was not particularly helpful - in fact he quickly got to the point that 'This is a Windows issue so you should contact Microsoft', even though I had asked if it could be related to BIOS setup.

Very much not up to the standard I have come to expect from HP Support.

[Deep_World]

Hi @dc696969 

Thanks for your response. It looks like you’re still having issue with the unit.

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name. Alternatively, you can click on this link. 

You can use this link as well: 

Private Messages - HP Support Community

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

Best regards,

Deep_World