sync: auto-sync from HOWARD-HOME at 2026-07-07 13:55:03

Author: Howard Enos
Machine: HOWARD-HOME
Timestamp: 2026-07-07 13:55:03

.claude/memory/feedback_scheduled_task_no_console_flash.md

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+---
+name: feedback_scheduled_task_no_console_flash
+description: Windows scheduled tasks must launch console apps windowless (wscript VBS for bash, pythonw + -Hidden for python) or they flash a console window on the desktop every run
+metadata:
+  type: feedback
+---
+
+A Windows scheduled task whose action runs a **console-subsystem** program — `bash.exe`,
+`py.exe`, `python.exe`, `cmd.exe` — with `LogonType=Interactive` and `Settings.Hidden=False`
+draws a visible console window on the desktop **every time it fires**. On short repetition
+intervals (the EDR watcher fires every 10 min) this reads to the user as a command prompt
+"opening and closing" constantly. It is the single most reported harness annoyance and it
+keeps recurring because the *installer scripts* recreate the flashing task.
+
+**Why:** wscript.exe is a GUI-subsystem host and pythonw.exe is the windowless Python host;
+neither allocates a console. bash.exe / py.exe / python.exe do.
+
+**How to apply:** whenever you register (or find) a ClaudeTools scheduled task:
+- **bash target** -> point the action at `C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe` with a one-line VBS
+  wrapper that does `CreateObject("WScript.Shell").Run "...bash.exe -lc ...", 0, False`
+  (window style `0` = hidden). Pattern files: `gps-rmm-progress-hidden.vbs`,
+  `edr-isolation-watch-hidden.vbs`.
+- **python target** -> use `pythonw.exe` (next to the active interpreter), never `py.exe`/`python.exe`.
+- **Always** add `-Hidden` to `New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet` as belt-and-suspenders.
+- Verify: `Start-ScheduledTask`, then confirm no visible bash/wscript/conhost MainWindow.
+
+Fixed installers: `register-edr-watcher.ps1`, `register-orphan-detector.ps1`. The scheduled
+tasks themselves are per-machine (not in the repo) — re-run the fixed installer, or repoint
+the existing task's action, on every box that runs it. Related: [[feedback_session_recovery]].