Running batch files sequentially in win 7 task scheduler

Question

I have 2 batch files as "actions" in a single task. The first one does a scan for viruses using microsoft security essentials. The second one puts the computer to sleep. The problem is that when the task is run, it seems like both batch files run simultaneously, that is, I can see the start of the virus scan, but then the computer goes to sleep almost immediately, so the scan really never has a chance to start. I understood that batch files would run in sequential order in the task scheduler. Am I wrong? How do I make the sleep batch file wait until the scan batch file has completed? Here are the 2 simple batch files...

Batch file one

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\MpCmdRun.exe" -scan -scantype 1

Batch file two

powercfg -h off

rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

powercfg -h on

Answer 1

It's possible using Windows Scheduled Tasks for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista.

From Microsoft documentation:

A task action is the work that is performed when the task is run. A task can have a single action or a maximum of 32 actions. Each action contains settings that determine how the action is performed. A task's actions are displayed on the Actions tab of the Task Properties or Create Task dialog box. When multiple actions are specified, they are executed in sequential order starting with the action at the top of the list in the Actions tab...

Answer 2

I believe the easiest way to fix this is to have the first batch file call the second batch file. Since the commands in batch files are processed sequentially that would fix your problem.