How to start a virtual machine via a scheduled task?

Question

I want to "start" a virtual machine (it may be powered down or hibernating) via a scheduled task in Windows 7. I cannot figure the correct way to do this.

I tried scheduling the cmd task, which works if I run it manually.

cmd "x:\test1.vmcx"

None of the applications in the Virtual PC area of system32 seem to be working with arguments.

c:\windows\system32\vpc.exe "x:\test1.vmcx"
c:\windows\system32\vmwindow.exe "test1"
c:\windows\system32\vmwindow.exe "x:\test1.vmcx"

And I tried the VMSal command described here, without an application argument (I used my machine's 2nd param, not one listed in the command).

c:\Windows\System32\VMSal.exe "test1" "||2073a9cc"

Answer 1

I managed to get a batch file to work. The batch file leans on Explorer.

x:\test1.vmcx

I just make it the "program" in the Scheduled Task action.

x:\start-test1.bat

Answer 2

Make a batch file with this in it:

"C:\path\to\VMWindow.exe" -file "C:\full\path\to\file.vmcx"

Replace values accordingly, as I do not know where your Virtual PC installation is situated. Keep the quotes just in case, as any path with spaces in it will break your batch script (ie: Virtual PC).

Save this and run the .bat file from task scheduler.

Answer 3

I managed to create a PowerShell script that would execute the *.vmcx file in the Explorer registered application.

& 'x:\test1.vmcx'

I then registered the PowerShell executable as my task "action" and the path to this script as an "argument".

<path-to-ps>\powershell.exe x:\start-test1.ps1