What is the scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\Scheduled Start" on my Windows 8 computer?

"\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\Scheduled Start" is a scheduled task on Windows 8 system added as part of Windows installation.

You will see "\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\Scheduled Start" listed on Task Scheduler with the following information:

Name: Scheduled Start
Location: \Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
Description: This task is used to start the Windows Update service 
   when needed to perform scheduled operations such as scans.
Actions: C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe start wuauserv
Triggers: 
History: 
   Information 8:01:00 Task completed
   Information 8:00:48 Action completed
   Information 8:00:48 Action started
   Information 8:00:48 Task started
   Information 8:00:48 Created task process
   Information 8:00:48 Task triggered on scheduler
   ...

Programe file information about "sc.exe":

File name: sc.exe
File path: C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
File size: 66560 bytes
Last modified time: 7/25/2012 11:08:39 PM
File description: Service Control Manager Configuration Tool
File version: 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)
Company name: Microsoft Corporation

"sc.exe" is scheduled to run to start "wuauserv" service.

It is recommented to keep "\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\Scheduled Start" enabled as a scheduled task.

 

⇒System Scheduled Tasks on Windows 8

⇒⇒Windows 8 Scheduled Tasks