diff --git a/patch-dc-controllers.yaml b/patch-dc-controllers.yaml
index 7f0a07f..0b6bb41 100644
--- a/patch-dc-controllers.yaml
+++ b/patch-dc-controllers.yaml
@@ -1,31 +1,45 @@
 ---
-- name: Patch DCs via SYSTEM scheduled task
+- name: Run DC patch task via SYSTEM scheduled task
   hosts: domain_controllers
   gather_facts: no
 
+  vars:
+    task_path: "\"          # e.g. "\" or "\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\"
+    task_name: "Patching-windows-task"
+
   tasks:
     - name: Start the SYSTEM patch task
+      ansible.windows.win_command: >
+        schtasks /Run /TN "{{ task_path }}{{ task_name }}"
+      register: start_task
+      changed_when: start_task.rc == 0
+      failed_when: start_task.rc not in [0] and
+                   ("SUCCESS" not in (start_task.stdout | default('')))
+
+    - name: Poll task until it is Ready or Disabled
       ansible.windows.win_powershell:
         script: |
-          Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName 'Patching-windows-task'
-
-    - name: Poll task until finished (Ready/Disabled)
-      community.windows.win_scheduled_task_stat:
-        name: "Patching-windows-task"
-      register: patch_task
-      failed_when: false                # don't fail mid-poll if stat errors
-      retries: 3
+          $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+          Import-Module ScheduledTasks
+          $tp = '{{ task_path }}'
+          $tn = '{{ task_name }}'
+          # Confirm it exists (throws if not)
+          $null = Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $tp -TaskName $tn
+          $state = (Get-ScheduledTaskInfo -TaskPath $tp -TaskName $tn).State
+          # Return plain text state for Ansible to parse
+          $state
+      register: task_state
+      failed_when: false
+      retries: 3          # up to 3 hours
       delay: 60
-      until: >
-        (patch_task is not failed)
-        and (patch_task.task is defined)
-        and (patch_task.task.state | default('') in ['Ready','Disabled'])
+      until: task_state.stdout | trim in ['Ready','Disabled']
 
-    - name: Debug last observed task object (optional)
+    - name: Show last observed task state (debug)
       ansible.builtin.debug:
-        var: patch_task.task
+        msg:
+          - "Task '{{ task_path }}{{ task_name }}' final state: {{ task_state.stdout | trim }}"
 
     - name: Reboot if needed
       ansible.windows.win_reboot:
         reboot_timeout: 3600
-      when: patch_task.task is defined and patch_task.task.state == 'Ready'
\ No newline at end of file
+      when: task_state.stdout | trim == 'Ready'
\ No newline at end of file