How can I use Windows XP's schtasks.exe tool under Windows 2000?

The XP schtasks.exe command-line tool is great for managing scheduled tasks. Win2K doesn't have an equivalent command-line tool. If you attempt to run schtasks.exe on a Win2K machine, you'll receive an error message indicating that you're using the incorrect OS version. You can modify schtasks.exe to work under Win2K by performing the following steps.

1. Open schtasks.exe in a hexadecimal editor such as BreakPoint Software's Hex Workshop 3.1.
2. Find code location CB2A, and change the hex value 75 to EB. If you're using Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), the code location is 0x0000CC50 (not CB2A); if you're using XP SP2, the location is 0x0000E3F8. Updated 12-5-08: If you're using XP SP3, the location is 0x0000E391.
3. Save the file and exit the editor.

 

For cosmetic purposes, you can use Visual C++ or a resource editor such as Angus Johnson's Resource Hacker to change the error message

ERROR: The Target system must be running Windows XP or above.

to

ERROR: The Target system must be running Windows 2000 or above.

This error message is located in String Table 344.

Thanks to John Eccles for this information.