diff --git a/GUI/StartupManager.cs b/GUI/StartupManager.cs
index 1c58cd9..03b8107 100644
--- a/GUI/StartupManager.cs
+++ b/GUI/StartupManager.cs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using System.Security.Principal;
 using System.Windows.Forms;
 using Microsoft.Win32;
@@ -73,6 +74,9 @@ namespace OpenHardwareMonitor.GUI {
 
         if (scheduler != null) {
           try {
+            // check if the taskscheduler is running
+            IRunningTaskCollection collection = scheduler.GetRunningTasks(0);            
+
             ITaskFolder folder = scheduler.GetFolder("\\Open Hardware Monitor");
             IRegisteredTask task = folder.GetTask("Startup");
             startup = (task != null) && 
@@ -90,6 +94,8 @@ namespace OpenHardwareMonitor.GUI {
             startup = false;
           } catch (UnauthorizedAccessException) {
             scheduler = null;
+          } catch (COMException) {
+            scheduler = null;
           }
         } 
       } else {
diff --git a/OpenHardwareMonitor.csproj b/OpenHardwareMonitor.csproj
index cc5a157..996940e 100644
--- a/OpenHardwareMonitor.csproj
+++ b/OpenHardwareMonitor.csproj
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003" ToolsVersion="3.5">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>