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Windows: Task Scheduler

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This guide assumes you’ve already completed the prerequisites: a configured store with a non-interactive passphrase, and the plakar command you want to schedule.

Task Scheduler

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Schedule the backup command with Task Scheduler. The quickest way is from an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell:

schtasks /Create ^
  /TN "Plakar Daily Backup" ^
  /SC DAILY ^
  /ST 02:00 ^
  /TR "\"C:\Program Files\Plakar\plakar.exe\" at @mybackups backup -check \"C:\Data\"" ^
  /RU "DOMAIN\user" ^
  /RP * ^
  /RL HIGHEST
  • /SC DAILY /ST 02:00 runs it every day at 02:00.
  • /TR is the command to run. Quote the full path to plakar.exe, and quote any backup path that contains spaces.
  • /RU / /RP set the account the task runs as. Use an account that can run when no one is logged on, and that has access to the Plakar configuration (stored under %USERPROFILE%\.config\plakar for that account, or use a key file with -keyfile).

To capture output, wrap the command in a small batch file and run that instead:

@echo off
"C:\Program Files\Plakar\plakar.exe" at @mybackups backup -check C:\Data >> "C:\Logs\plakar-backup.log" 2>&1

You can also create the task through the Task Scheduler GUI (Create Task → set a daily trigger → add a Start a program action pointing at plakar.exe with the arguments above → enable Run whether user is logged on or not). Review past runs under the task’s History tab.

Power saving and battery (laptops)

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On a laptop you usually don’t want a backup to fire while you’re on battery. Windows Task Scheduler has native power conditions. Open the task, and on the Conditions tab:

  • Enable Start the task only if the computer is on AC power.
  • Enable Stop if the computer switches to battery power.

On the Settings tab, enable Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed so a run skipped while the machine was off (or on battery) is caught up.

These conditions can’t be set through schtasks flags. To script it, export the task to XML, set the fields below, and re-import with schtasks /Create /XML:

<Settings>
  <DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>true</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>
  <StopIfGoingOnBatteries>true</StopIfGoingOnBatteries>
  <StartWhenAvailable>true</StartWhenAvailable>
</Settings>

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