Automatic Maintenance - Manually Start or Stop in Windows 8

How to Manually Start or Stop "Automatic Maintenance" in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
Windows depends on execution of inbox and third party maintenance activity for much of its value-add, including Windows Update, and automatic disk defragmentation, as well as antivirus updates and scans. Additionally, enterprises frequently use maintenance activity such as Network Access Protection (NAP) scanning to help enforce security standards on all enterprise workstations.

Maintenance activity in Windows is designed to run in the background with limited user interaction and minimal impact to performance and energy efficiency. However, in Windows 7 and earlier versions, performance and energy efficiency are still impacted due to the non-deterministic and widely varied schedule of the multiple maintenance activities in Windows. Responsiveness to users is reduced when maintenance activity runs while users are actively using the computer. Apps also frequently ask the user to update their software and run background maintenance, and direct users to multiple experiences, including Action Center, Control Panel, Windows Update, Task Scheduler MMC snap-in, and third-party controls.

The goal of Automatic Maintenance is to combine all background maintenance activity in Windows and help third-party developers add their maintenance activity to Windows without negatively impacting performance and energy efficiency. Additionally, Automatic Maintenance enables users as well as enterprises to be in control of maintenance activity scheduling and configuration.

For more information about "Automatic Maintenance", see: Automatic Maintenance (Windows)


By default, Windows 8 automatically runs Automatic Maintenance on a daily schedule that you set when you're not using your computer.

This tutorial will show you how to manually start or stop Automatic Maintenance when you like on demand in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Note   Note
The exe file for Automatic Maintenance is at this location below:

C:\Windows\System32\MSchedExe.exe


CONTENTS:
  • Option One: To Turn On or Off Automatic Maintenance in Action Center
  • Option Two: To Turn On or Off Automatic Maintenance in Command Prompt


EXAMPLE: Automatice Maintenance running
NOTE:
This is what the Action Center system icon looks like when Automatic Mainenance is running in Windows 8.
Running.jpg







OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Automatic Maintenance in Action Center


1. Do either step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open the Action Center.​
2. While on your desktop, click/tap on the Action Center system icon on the taskbar, click/tap on the Open Action Center link, and go to step 4 or 5 below. (see screenshot below)​
system-icon.jpg
3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Action Center icon, and go to step 4 or 5 below.​
4. To Manually Start "Automatic Maintenance"
NOTE: It's recommended to only start Automatic Maintenance when you are not using the computer since performance could be negatively impacted while running.​
A) In Action Center, expand Maintenance, click/tap on the Start maintenance link, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
Run.jpg

5. To Manually Stop "Automatic Maintenance"
NOTE: You will only be able to stop Automatic Maintenance if it is already running.​
A) In Action Center, expand Maintenance, click/tap on the Stop maintenance link, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
off.jpg

6. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​
7. When finished, you can close the Action Center if you like.​







OPTION TWO

To Turn On or Off Automatic Maintenance in Command Prompt


2. Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to do.​
3. To Start Automatic Maintenance
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.​
:ar: MSchedExe.exe Start

4. To Stop Automatic Maintenance
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.​
:ar: MSchedExe.exe Stop

5. You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

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And if it wont turn off when clicking "stop maintenance"?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 5820k @4.4ghz
    Motherboard
    Asrock Fatal1ty x99x Killer
    Memory
    16gb Gskill ddr4 2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    Evga Gtx 980 superclocked
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" led
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    samsung 840 evo 250gb
    intel 520 120gb
    seagate barracuda 2tb
    seagate barracuda 1tb
    PSU
    thermaltake 850watt
    Case
    nzxt phantom enthusiast
    Cooling
    corsair h100i
    Keyboard
    razer blackwidow ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    razer deathadder 2013
    Internet Speed
    36mbps
    Browser
    chrome
    Antivirus
    mse
Excellent. I hate when the OS is running me instead of me running the OS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
After I banged my head for 2 days trying to figure it out....now you make a tutorial....but I figured it out...Damn it all to hell....:haha:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X 4 965 BE
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4
    Memory
    G-Skill 8 GB PC 8500
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD XFX HD Radeon 6790D
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2l Samsung SyncMaster S20B300
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 320 GB w/OS
    Seagate Barracuda 1 TB data storage
    PSU
    Ultra X4 750 watt fully modular
    Case
    Thermaltake OverSeer RX 1 fulltower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper212 120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510
    Mouse
    Razor DeathAdder 3.5
:roflmao:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thank you, but it doesn't work to start or stop Automatic Maintenance for me.
It works, but this commands must be executed from the elevated command prompt or from the shortcut with "Run as Administrator" check box checked. The Action Center system icon is changed when Automatic Maintenance is running or stopped.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Ok. I was testing in Windows 10 where it's not working. It works in Windows 8.1. I'll add this as an option to the tutorial now. Thank You. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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