(CRON) error (can't switch user context)

[Philip Charlebois <philcharlebois at hotmail dot com>]

  Hello,
 
I have setup Cygwin and cron on two machines.
 
On the first machine, a Windows XP, everything went OK.  Cron is running and my echo statement is being written to a file.
 
On the second machine, a Windows Vista, cron appears to be running correctly but my echo statement is not being written to my file?
I ran cronbug and found in the output several '(CRON) error (can't switch user context)' messages.  I have tried googling for an answer to this issue but have not had much luck.
 
Any help would be appreciated.
 
Thanks!
 
Phil
 
Current version
-r-xr-x---+ 1 Admin6 Users 4959 Jun 12 2007 /usr/share/doc/Cygwin/cron-4.1-6.README
Running crons:
5464 4232 5464 4184 ? 18 14:37:37 /usr/sbin/cron
Sendmail:
lrwxrwxrwx 1 Admin6 None 16 Jul 19 12:34 /usr/sbin/sendmail -> /usr/bin/cronlog
Crontabs:
-rw-r----- 1 Admin6 SYSTEM 328 Jul 19 14:06 /var/cron/tabs/Admin6
-rw-r--r-- 1 Admin6 None 291 Jul 19 14:38 /var/cron/tabs/cronbug.txt
cron.log:
-rw-r--r-- 1 SYSTEM SYSTEM 0 Jul 19 14:37 /var/log/cron.log
cron.pid:
-rw-r--r-- 1 SYSTEM SYSTEM 5 Jul 19 14:37 /var/run/cron.pid
Crontab:
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - edit the master and reinstall.
# (/tmp/crontab.5YkWvHz2GC installed on Sat Jul 19 14:06:09 2008)
# (Cron version V5.0 -- $Id: crontab.c,v 1.12 2004/01/23 18:56:42 vixie Exp $)
SHELL=/bin/sh
* * * * * /home/Admin6/external_backup.sh
* * * * * echo "Wow cron is working!">> /home/Admin6/crontes.txt
Windows Application Events log:
2008/07/19 13:34:43 [Admin6] crontab: PID 4216: (Admin6) BEGIN EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:36:44 [Admin6] crontab: PID 4216: (Admin6) REPLACE (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:36:44 [Admin6] crontab: PID 4216: (Admin6) END EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:36:46 [Admin6] crontab: PID 3412: (Admin6) BEGIN EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:36:56 [Admin6] crontab: PID 3412: (Admin6) REPLACE (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:36:56 [Admin6] crontab: PID 3412: (Admin6) END EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:38:03 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 3912: (CRON) STARTUP (V5.0)
2008/07/19 13:38:04 [SYSTEM] cron: PID 6016: `cron' service started
2008/07/19 13:39:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 2772: (Admin6) CMD ($HOME/home/Admin6/external_backup.sh)
2008/07/19 13:39:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 2772: (CRON) error (can't switch user context)
2008/07/19 13:40:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 4900: (Admin6) CMD ($HOME/home/Admin6/external_backup.sh)
2008/07/19 13:40:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 4900: (CRON) error (can't switch user context)
2008/07/19 13:40:33 [Admin6] crontab: PID 5892: (Admin6) BEGIN EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:40:47 [Admin6] crontab: PID 5892: (Admin6) REPLACE (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:40:47 [Admin6] crontab: PID 5892: (Admin6) END EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:40:59 [Admin6] crontab: PID 3612: (Admin6) BEGIN EDIT (Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:41:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 3912: (Admin6) RELOAD (tabs/Admin6)
2008/07/19 13:41:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 4160: (Admin6) CMD ($HOME/home/Admin6/external_backup.sh)
2008/07/19 13:41:02 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 4160: (CRON) error (can't switch user context)
2008/07/19 13:42:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 3760: (Admin6) CMD (/home/Admin6/external_backup.sh)
2008/07/19 13:42:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 3760: (CRON) error (can't switch user context)
(Admin6)
2008/07/19 14:33:47 [Admin6] crontab: PID 4364: (Admin6) LIST (Admin6)
2008/07/19 14:37:37 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 5464: (CRON) STARTUP (V5.0)
2008/07/19 14:37:37 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 5464: (cronbug.txt) ORPHAN (no passwd entry)
2008/07/19 14:37:38 [SYSTEM] cron: PID 4232: `cron' service started
2008/07/19 14:38:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 4332: (Admin6) CMD (echo "Wow cron is working!">> /home/Admin6/crontes.txt)
2008/07/19 14:38:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 4332: (CRON) error (can't switch user context)
2008/07/19 14:38:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 1316: (Admin6) CMD (/home/Admin6/external_backup.sh)
2008/07/19 14:38:01 [SYSTEM] /usr/sbin/cron: PID 1316: (CRON) error (can't switch user context)
2008/07/19 14:38:23 [Admin6] crontab: PID 5348: (Admin6) LIST (Admin6)
Cygcheck:
Cygwin Configuration Diagnostics
Current System Time: Sat Jul 19 14:38:24 2008
Windows Longhorn/Vista (not yet supported!) Ver 6.0 Build 6000 
Path: C:\cygwin\usr\local\bin
C:\cygwin\bin
C:\cygwin\bin
C:\cygwin\usr\X11R6\bin
c:\Windows\system32
c:\Windows
c:\Windows\System32\Wbem
c:\hp\bin\Python
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\DLLShared\
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\DLLShared\
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\DLLShared\
SysDir: C:\Windows\system32
WinDir: C:\Windows
USER = 'Admin6'
PWD = '/var/cron/tabs'
CYGWIN = 'ntsec'
HOME = '/home/Admin6'
MAKE_MODE = 'unix'
HOMEPATH = '\Users\Admin6'
APPDATA = 'C:\Users\Admin6\AppData\Roaming'
MANPATH = '/usr/local/man:/usr/share/man:/usr/man::/usr/ssl/man'
HOSTNAME = 'Admin6-PC'
ONLINESERVICES = 'Online Services'
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER = 'x86 Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 1, AuthenticAMD'
ROXIOCENTRAL = 'c:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\Roxio Central33\'
TERM = 'cygwin'
WINDIR = 'C:\Windows'
PUBLIC = 'C:\Users\Public'
PROGRAMDATA = 'C:\ProgramData'
USERDOMAIN = 'Admin6-PC'
ALLUSERSPROFILE = 'C:\ProgramData'
OS = 'Windows_NT'
!:: = '::\'
COMMONPROGRAMFILES = 'C:\Program Files\Common Files'
TEMP = '/cygdrive/c/Users/Admin6/AppData/Local/Temp'
PCBRAND = 'Presario'
USERNAME = 'Admin6'
PROCESSOR_LEVEL = '15'
FP_NO_HOST_CHECK = 'NO'
SYSTEMDRIVE = 'C:'
USERPROFILE = 'C:\Users\Admin6'
LOGONSERVER = '\\ADMIN6-PC'
PLATFORM = 'HPD'
!C: = 'C:\cygwin\bin'
LOCALAPPDATA = 'C:\Users\Admin6\AppData\Local'
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE = 'x86'
SHLVL = '2'
PATHEXT = '.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.MSC'
HOMEDRIVE = 'C:'
COMSPEC = 'C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe'
PROMPT = '$P$G'
SYSTEMROOT = 'C:\Windows'
TMP = '/cygdrive/c/Users/Admin6/AppData/Local/Temp'
PROCESSOR_REVISION = '6b01'
CVS_RSH = '/bin/ssh'
PRINTER = 'HP LaserJet 1018'
PROGRAMFILES = 'C:\Program Files'
INFOPATH = '/usr/local/info:/usr/share/info:/usr/info:'
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS = '2'
SESSIONNAME = 'Console'
COMPUTERNAME = 'ADMIN6-PC'
_ = '/usr/bin/cygcheck'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cygnus Solutions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\mounts v2
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\Program Options
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\mounts v2
(default) = '/cygdrive'
cygdrive flags = 0x00000022
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\mounts v2\/
(default) = 'C:\cygwin'
flags = 0x0000000a
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\mounts v2\/usr/bin
(default) = 'C:\cygwin/bin'
flags = 0x0000000a
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\mounts v2\/usr/lib
(default) = 'C:\cygwin/lib'
flags = 0x0000000a
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cygnus Solutions\Cygwin\Program Options
c: hd NTFS 229428Mb 32% CP CS UN PA FC COMPAQ
d: hd NTFS 9043Mb 89% CP CS UN PA FC Recovery
e: cd N/A N/A 
f: hd NTFS 152624Mb 14% CP CS UN PA FC New Volume
g: fd N/A N/A 
h: fd N/A N/A 
i: fd N/A N/A 
j: fd N/A N/A 
k: fd FAT32 7623Mb 13% CP UN KINGSTON
x: net NTFS 78154Mb 15% CP CS UN PA FC PRESARIO
C:\cygwin / system binmode
C:\cygwin/bin /usr/bin system binmode
C:\cygwin/lib /usr/lib system binmode
. /cygdrive system binmode,cygdrive
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\awk.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\bash.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\cat.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\cp.exe
Not Found: cpp (good!)
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\crontab.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\find.exe
Not Found: gcc
Not Found: gdb
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\grep.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\kill.exe
Not Found: ld
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\ls.exe
Not Found: make
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\mv.exe
Not Found: patch
Not Found: perl
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\rm.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\sed.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\ssh.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\sh.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\tar.exe
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\test.exe
Not Found: vi
Found: C:\cygwin\bin\vim.exe
61k 2008/04/01 C:\cygwin\bin\cygbz2-1.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygbz2-1.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/3/31 23:37
7k 2003/10/19 C:\cygwin\bin\cygcrypt-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygcrypt-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2003/10/19 3:57
1057k 2008/06/09 C:\cygwin\bin\cygcrypto-0.9.8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygcrypto-0.9.8.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/6/9 12:33
40k 2006/11/15 C:\cygwin\bin\cygform-8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygform-8.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/11/15 2:06
25k 2008/01/04 C:\cygwin\bin\cyghistory6.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cyghistory6.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/1/3 22:31
271k 2007/08/24 C:\cygwin\bin\cygicons-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygicons-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2007/8/24 3:24
976k 2006/10/22 C:\cygwin\bin\cygiconv-2.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygiconv-2.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/10/22 19:44
31k 2005/11/20 C:\cygwin\bin\cygintl-3.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygintl-3.dll" v0.0 ts=2005/11/19 21:04
31k 2006/10/23 C:\cygwin\bin\cygintl-8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygintl-8.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/10/22 20:12
21k 2006/11/15 C:\cygwin\bin\cygmenu-8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygmenu-8.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/11/15 2:05
20k 2006/12/21 C:\cygwin\bin\cygminires.dll - os=4.0 img=1.1 sys=4.0
"cygminires.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/12/21 0:07
67k 2006/11/15 C:\cygwin\bin\cygncurses++-8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygncurses++-8.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/11/15 2:13
237k 2006/11/15 C:\cygwin\bin\cygncurses-8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygncurses-8.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/11/15 2:02
12k 2006/11/15 C:\cygwin\bin\cygpanel-8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygpanel-8.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/11/15 2:04
150k 2008/04/25 C:\cygwin\bin\cygpcre-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygpcre-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/4/24 20:30
303k 2008/04/25 C:\cygwin\bin\cygpcrecpp-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygpcrecpp-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/4/24 20:30
7k 2008/04/25 C:\cygwin\bin\cygpcreposix-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygpcreposix-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/4/24 20:30
22k 2002/06/09 C:\cygwin\bin\cygpopt-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygpopt-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2002/6/9 1:45
155k 2008/01/04 C:\cygwin\bin\cygreadline6.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygreadline6.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/1/3 22:31
219k 2008/06/09 C:\cygwin\bin\cygssl-0.9.8.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygssl-0.9.8.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/6/9 12:33
22k 2008/02/24 C:\cygwin\bin\cygwrap-0.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygwrap-0.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/2/23 2:03
65k 2006/10/16 C:\cygwin\bin\cygz.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygz.dll" v0.0 ts=2006/10/15 21:10
1829k 2008/06/12 C:\cygwin\bin\cygwin1.dll - os=4.0 img=1.0 sys=4.0
"cygwin1.dll" v0.0 ts=2008/6/12 13:35
Cygwin DLL version info:
DLL version: 1.5.25
DLL epoch: 19
DLL bad signal mask: 19005
DLL old termios: 5
DLL malloc env: 28
API major: 0
API minor: 156
Shared data: 4
DLL identifier: cygwin1
Mount registry: 2
Cygnus registry name: Cygnus Solutions
Cygwin registry name: Cygwin
Program options name: Program Options
Cygwin mount registry name: mounts v2
Cygdrive flags: cygdrive flags
Cygdrive prefix: cygdrive prefix
Cygdrive default prefix: 
Build date: Thu Jun 12 19:34:46 CEST 2008
CVS tag: cr-0x5f1
Shared id: cygwin1S4
 
Can't find the cygrunsrv utility, skipping services check.
 
Cygwin Package Information
Last downloaded files to: C:\cygwin
Last downloaded files from: ftp://mirror.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/cygwin.com/
Package Version
_update-info-dir 00743-1
alternatives 1.3.30c-2
ash 20040127-3
base-files 3.7-1
base-passwd 2.2-1
bash 3.2.39-19
bzip2 1.0.5-2
coreutils 6.10-1
cron 4.1-6
crypt 1.1-1
cygrunsrv 1.34-1
cygutils 1.3.2-1
cygwin 1.5.25-15
cygwin-doc 1.4-4
editrights 1.01-2
findutils 4.4.0-1
gawk 3.1.6-1
grep 2.5.1a-4
groff 1.18.1-2
gzip 1.3.12-2
less 382-1
libbz2_1 1.0.5-2
libiconv2 1.11-1
libintl3 0.14.5-1
libintl8 0.15-1
libncurses8 5.5-3
libpcre0 7.6-2
libpopt0 1.6.4-4
libreadline6 5.2.12-10
libwrap0 7.6-4
login 1.9-7
man 1.6e-1
minires 1.01-1
openssh 5.0p1-1
openssl 0.9.8h-1
rebase 2.4.4-1
rsync 2.6.9-2
run 1.1.10-1
sed 4.1.5-2
tar 1.20-1
termcap 20050421-1
terminfo 5.5_20061104-1
texinfo 4.8a-1
tzcode 2008a-1
vim 7.1-1
which 2.19-1
zlib 1.2.3-2
Use -h to see help about each section


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