Fix for Error 0×80070005 When Creating a Task Using Task Scheduler in Windows XP

When you create a new task using Task Scheduler in Windows XP, error 0×80070005: Access is denied may occur when you click the Finish button. The detailed error message is given below.

This happens if the user account under which the task is scheduled to run, has a blank password. To resolve the problem, create a password for the user account which is used to run the task. Follow these steps:

1. Click Start, Control Panel, and double-click User Accounts.

2. Click the user account you want to add a password to, and then click Create a Password.

3. Type the new password and password hint (optional), and click Create Password.

4. Log off and then log on again.

5. Open Task Scheduler to reconfigure the task, and provide the user name and password when prompted.

Editor’s note: When there is only one user account in the system and if it has a blank password assigned, Windows will logon to the user account automatically at startup. As you’ve created a new password now, Windows will stop at the Welcome Screen at and requires you to type the password to login. To automatically logon to your user account at startup, see article Configure Windows XP to Automatically Login for more instructions. It works by storing the credentials in a protected area in the registry.

If the problem persists, see Microsoft KB 904423 to acquire a hotfix to resolve the error. To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed on the computer.

Copyright © 2008 Ramesh Srinivasan. All rights reserved.