How to Automate ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter Using Task Scheduler Tool

This article describes how to configure ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter to run without user intervention using the Task Scheduler tool.

To configure ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter to run without user intervention, you can add command-line switches to the properties of a scheduled task. To do so, use the appropriate method:

Configure ScanDisk

1. To configure ScanDisk, double-click My Computer, double-click Scheduled Tasks, and then double-click ScanDisk.
   
   NOTE: If ScanDisk is not listed as a scheduled task, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about how to add a scheduled task:
   178706 How to Schedule a Program Using Task Scheduler
2. In the Command Line box, type the following line
   <path> <drive>: /noninteractive /silent
   where <path> is the path to the Scandskw.exe file, and <drive> is the letter of the drive you want to scan. ScanDisk runs without user prompts if you use the /noninteractive parameter (switch). The /silent switch removes the summary screen.
   
   For example, you could type the following line:
   c:\windows\scandskw.exe c: /noninteractive /silent

Configure Disk Defragmenter

1. To configure Disk Defragmenter, double-click My Computer, double-click Scheduled Tasks, double-click Disk Defragmenter.
   
   NOTE: If Disk Defragmenter is not listed as a scheduled task, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about how to add a scheduled task:
   178706 How to Schedule a Program Using Task Scheduler
2. In the Command Line box, type the following line
   <path> <drive>: /noprompt /q
   where <path> is the location of the Defrag.exe file, and <drive> is the letter of the drive you want to defragment. Disk Defragmenter runs without user prompts if you use the /noprompt switch. The /q switch defragments only the files.
   
   For example, you could type the following line:
   c:\windows\defrag.exe c: /noprompt /q