Task Scheduler Catastrophic Failure (Error 0x8000FFFF)

Hi,

Added Scheduled Tasks are in
 
"C:\Windows\Tasks" where C: is the drive where Windows resides.

You should only have to deal with Tasks that were added to the Windows Default ones.

Tasks have to be added and removed in Task Scheduler though backing up the Registry
using Create Restore Points should work. This is because each is assigned an SID.

How to Create a System Restore Point in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76332-system-restore-point-create.html

How to Do a System Restore in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

In the Registry (Added) Scheduled Tasks are located in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule

and several Sub-Keys of that Key.

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I would do this to rule out corruption being at least a partial cause of the issue.

1st do these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.

Run DiskCleanup - Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup

Start - type in Search box -  COMMAND   find at top of list -  RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

sfc /scannow

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program generates in Windows Vista cbs.log
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Then run checkdisk - schedule it to run at next start and then Apply OK your way out then restart.

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

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You can also use WinPatrol - Free to remove added scheduled tasks

WinPatrol - Free
http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

More info :

Description of the scheduled tasks in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939039

Task Scheduler 2.0
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb756979.aspx

How to Create a Task in Vista Task Scheduler
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/132903-task-scheduler-create-task.html

Create custom event triggers in Vista Task Scheduler
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/create-custom-event-triggers-in-vista-task-scheduler/