a powershell script scheduled at boot to register the runner

tasks/windows.yml

@@ -44,6 +44,14 @@
     - windows_runner
     - register_runner
 
+- name: Place powershell script
+  win_template:
+    src: register.ps1
+    dest: C:\gitlab-runner\register.ps1
+  tags:
+    - windows_runner
+    - register_runner
+
 - name: Install runner service
   when: not service_info.exists
   win_command: gitlab-runner.exe install
@@ -58,18 +66,25 @@
   tags:
     - windows_runner
 
-- name: Register runner
-  win_shell: |
-    C:\gitlab-runner\gitlab-runner.exe register --non-interactive `
-    --url {{ gitlab_external_url }} `
-    --registration-token {{ gitlab_runner_token }} `
-    --description "windows-runner" `
-    --tag-list "windows,win32,win64" `
-    --locked="false" `
-    --executor shell
-  args:
-    chdir: C:\gitlab-runner\
-  ignore_errors: true
-  tags:
-    - register_runner
-    - windows_runner
+- name: Create task to run a PS script as SYSTEM service on boot
+  win_scheduled_task:
+    name: Register
+    description: Register Gitlab Runner
+    actions:
+      - path: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
+        arguments: -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -NonInteractive -File C:\gitlab-runner\register.ps1
+    triggers:
+      - type: boot
+    username: SYSTEM
+    run_level: highest
+    state: present
+
+#- name: Register runner
+#  win_shell: |
+#    C:\gitlab-runner\register.ps1
+#  args:
+#    chdir: C:\gitlab-runner\
+#  ignore_errors: true
+#  tags:
+#    - register_runner
+#    - windows_runner

templates/register.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+<#
+    For the list of all environment vars run `gitlab-runner register --help`.
+
+    After registration, config.toml is generated and subsequent configuration changes should
+    be set in that file. Gitlab-Runner automatically picks up config.toml changes while executing.
+#>
+
+$Env:RUNNER_NAME                = $env:COMPUTERNAME
+$Env:REGISTRATION_TOKEN         = '{{ gitlab_runner_token }}'
+$Env:CI_SERVER_URL              = '{{ gitlab_external_url }}'
+$Env:RUNNER_TAG_LIST            = 'windows,win32,win64'        #comma separated list of tags
+
+$Env:CONFIG_FILE                = "$PSScriptRoot\config.toml"
+$Env:REGISTER_RUN_UNTAGGED      = 'false'
+$Env:REGISTER_LOCKED            = $false    #lock runner to current project
+$Env:RUNNER_EXECUTOR            = 'shell'
+$Env:RUNNER_SHELL               = 'powershell'
+
+$Env:RUNNER_REQUEST_CONCURRENCY = 1
+$Env:RUNNER_BUILDS_DIR          = ''
+$Env:RUNNER_CACHE_DIR           = ''
+
+
+gitlab-runner register --non-interactive