Install cron.

Open a shell with administrator privileges

Remove existing cron services.

$ cygrunsrv --query cron
Service             : cron
Display name        : Cron daemon
Current State       : Running
Controls Accepted   : Stop
Command             : /usr/sbin/cron -n

$ cygrunsrv --remove cron

Run cron-config and answer:

  • Do you want to install the cron daemon as a service? yes
  • Enter the value of CYGWIN for the daemon:
  • Do you want the cron daemon to run as yourself? yes
  • *Please enter the password for user *:
  • Do you want to start the cron daemon as a service now?: yes

If you get the error:

cygrunsrv: Error starting a service: StartService:  Win32 error 1069:
The service did not start due to a logon failure.

Then open Windows Services, open the properties window of the service that was just created, re-enter the password twice in tab Log On, click OK, and start service

$ cygrunsrv --start cron