How to manage scheduled task using DSC 3.0

[dummys]

Is it possible to manage it using Microsoft/WMI ? If yes, can you show an example on how to use it please ?

[Gijsreyn]

@dummys I'm trying to understand why you would use WMI for it? I have done something in the real past, which leverage VBSCript. When using PowerShell, I mainly use the default commands available, or get to pre-existing DSC resources. For example, the ComputerManagementDSC repository has a script-based DSC resource:

$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
resources:
- name: Create scheduled task
  type: ComputerManagementDSC/ScheduledTask
  properties:
    TaskName: 'Test'
    TaskPath: 'Test'
    ActionExecutable: 'C:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
    ScheduleType: 'AtStartup'

If you need to require elevation check, you can always include:

metadata:
  Microsoft.DSC:
    securityContext: elevated

[wekempf]

@dummys I'm trying to understand why you would use WMI for it? I have done something in the real past, which leverage VBSCript. When using PowerShell, I mainly use the default commands available, or get to pre-existing DSC resources. For example, the ComputerManagementDSC repository has a script-based DSC resource:

$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
resources:
- name: Create scheduled task
  type: ComputerManagementDSC/ScheduledTask
  properties:
    TaskName: 'Test'
    TaskPath: 'Test'
    ActionExecutable: 'C:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
    ScheduleType: 'AtStartup'

If you need to require elevation check, you can always include:

metadata:
  Microsoft.DSC:
    securityContext: elevated

I'm new to DSC in general, much less DSC3, and I'm struggling. I can't figure out how to use any of the PSDSC resources. With the above config, I get Resource not found: ComputerManagementDSC/ScheduledTask. I thought this would actually need to be under the adapter?

$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
resources:
- name: PSDSC resources
  type: Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell
  properties:
    resources:
    - name: Create scheduled task
      type: ComputerManagementDSC/ScheduledTask
      properties:
        TaskName: 'Test'
        TaskPath: 'Test'
        ActionExecutable: 'C:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe'
        ScheduleType: 'AtStartup'

However, this also fails with PID xxx: DSC resource ComputerManagementDSC/ScheduledTask module not found and Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error. From Windows PowerShell (not PowerShell) I get this:

PS> Get-Module ComputerManagementDSC -ListAvailable

*redacted directory info where module is installed*

PS> Get-DscResource ScheduledTask

ImplementedAs   Name                      ModuleName                     Version    Properties
-------------   ----                      ----------                     -------    ----------
PowerShell      ScheduledTask             ComputerManagementDsc          10.0.0     {TaskName, ActionArguments, Acti...

PS> dsc resource list --adapter Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell ComputerManagementDSC/ScheduledTask

Type                                 Kind      Version  Capabilities  RequireAdapter                       Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask  Resource  10.0.0   gs--t---      Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell  DSC resource…

I'm unable to figure out how to use an PSDSC resources?

[wekempf]

Ugh. Just realized I get very different behavior depending on where I run this.

PowerShell 7.5

PS> dsc config test -f .\example.dsc.config.yaml

2025-04-24T14:28:38.260533Z ERROR PID 3944: DSC resource ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask module not found.                                                                                                             
2025-04-24T14:28:38.286431Z ERROR Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

Windows PowerShell 5.1

PS> dsc config test -f .\example.dsc.config.yaml

2025-04-24T14:29:35.575444Z ERROR Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

cmd

$ dsc config test -f .\example.dsc.config.yaml

2025-04-24T14:30:19.496778Z ERROR PID 26944: Exception: You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
2025-04-24T14:30:19.520184Z ERROR Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

[wekempf]

Could someone also explain what the difference between these are?

Microsoft.DSC/PowerShell                    Adapter   0.1.0    gs--t-e-                      Resource adapter to classic DSC Powershell resources.
Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell         Adapter   0.1.0    gs--t---                      Resource adapter to classic DSC Powershell resources in Windows PowerShell.

Both are "classic DSC Powershell resources". I've successfully used Microsoft.WinGet.DSC/WinGetPackage resources in Microsoft.DSC/PowerShell, but I've not been successful with ANY resources from Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell.

[ThomasNieto]

PowerShell 7 and the other is Windows PowerShell

[Gijsreyn]

To add to @ThomasNieto, here you have some additional information: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/psdesiredstateconfiguration/?view=dsc-3.0

Ugh. Just realized I get very different behavior depending on where I run this.

PowerShell 7.5

PS> dsc config test -f .\example.dsc.config.yaml

2025-04-24T14:28:38.260533Z ERROR PID 3944: DSC resource ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask module not found.                                                                                                             
2025-04-24T14:28:38.286431Z ERROR Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

Windows PowerShell 5.1

PS> dsc config test -f .\example.dsc.config.yaml

2025-04-24T14:29:35.575444Z ERROR Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

cmd

$ dsc config test -f .\example.dsc.config.yaml

2025-04-24T14:30:19.496778Z ERROR PID 26944: Exception: You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
2025-04-24T14:30:19.520184Z ERROR Command: Resource 'powershell' [exit code 1] manifest description: Error

You redacted the output where ComputerManagementDSC is installed. If you want to execute script-based DSC resources, you will need a Windows PowerShell adapter to be used. If the ComputerManagementDSC is installed in a PowerShell (meaning PowerShell 7) module folder, it will not work. For simplicity, can you add it to $env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules and try again? If it still fails, you can turn on tracing e.g. dsc --trace-level trace ...

[dummys]

My goal is to delete scheduled task, not to create one.
See this example with the old DSC:

        ################################
        # DISABLE SYSTEM SCHEDULED TASKS
        ################################
        ScheduledTask DisableMicrosoftCompatibilityAppraiser
        {
            TaskName            = 'Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableMareBackup
        {
            TaskName            = 'MareBackup'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableStartupAppTask
        {
            TaskName            = 'StartupAppTask'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisablePcaPatchDbTask
        {
            TaskName            = 'PcaPatchDbTask'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableProxy
        {
            TaskName            = 'Proxy'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableConsolidator
        {
            TaskName            = 'Consolidator'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableUsbCeip
        {
            TaskName            = 'UsbCeip'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableDiskDiagnosticDataCollector
        {
            TaskName            = 'Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableDmClient
        {
            TaskName            = 'DmClient'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Feedback\Siuf'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableDmClientOnScenarioDownload
        {
            TaskName            = 'DmClientOnScenarioDownload'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Feedback\Siuf'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableQueueReporting
        {
            TaskName            = 'QueueReporting'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting'
            Enable              = $false
        }
        ScheduledTask DisableMapsUpdateTask
        {
            TaskName            = 'MapsUpdateTask'
            TaskPath            = '\Microsoft\Windows\Maps'
            Enable              = $false
        }

[Gijsreyn]

I haven't tried it myself, but wouldn't Ensure: Absent property not do the trick?

[dummys]

the problem is that it didnt exist any resource for scheduled task I think

[dummys]

I found another weird issue:

when I want to use old PSDesiredstate module for scheduled task and use one array or resources it didn't work:

 - name: Use Windows powershell to configure scheduled task
    type: Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell
    properties:
      resources:
        - name: DisableMarebackup
          type: ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask
          properties:
            taskName: MareBackup
            taskPath: '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            enable: false
        - name: DisableProxy
          type: ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask
          properties:
            taskName: Proxy
            taskPath: '\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk'
            enable: false

When I do it like this it works:

# yaml-language-server: $schema=https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.vscode.json
$schema: https://aka.ms/dsc/schemas/v3/bundled/config/document.json
resources:

  - name: bla1
    type: Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell
    properties:
      resources:
        - name: DisableMarebackup
          type: ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask
          properties:
            taskName: MareBackup
            taskPath: '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            enable: false
  - name: bla2
    type: Microsoft.Windows/WindowsPowerShell
    properties:
      resources:
        - name: DisableStartupAppTask
          type: ComputerManagementDsc/ScheduledTask
          properties:
            taskName: StartupAppTask
            taskPath: '\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience'
            enable: false

I'm wondering why when using an array of resources under the Microsoft.Wiindows/WindowsPowerShell it didn't work

[Gijsreyn]

I'm only seeing you use ComputerManagementDSC? When you used PSDesiredStateConfiguration, did you enabled tracing?

[dummys]

what is tracing ?

[Gijsreyn]

When calling dsc config <capability>, you can add dsc --trace-level <level> config <capability>. So, if you wanna log everything, you can use trace as such: dsc -l trace config get -f <path> (-l is the short version).

[dummys]

oh xyeah sure I already used this yes.

[Gijsreyn]

Perhaps you can dump in the tracing and the correct configuration document? Makes it easier to understand for me what was tried already.