diff --git a/hermes_cli/doctor.py b/hermes_cli/doctor.py
index 496f7e90742e..834345e9b931 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/doctor.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/doctor.py
@@ -301,6 +301,53 @@ def _check_s6_supervision(issues: list[str]) -> None:
     )
 
 
+def _check_windows_gateway_launcher(issues: list[str]) -> None:
+    """Migrate a pre-#45610 Windows gateway autostart launcher to wscript/.vbs.
+
+    #45610 moved the autostart from a ``cmd.exe`` launcher to a console-less
+    ``.vbs`` run via ``wscript.exe``, but only for fresh installs. Machines
+    installed earlier and later updated keep the old ``cmd.exe`` Scheduled-Task
+    action and a legacy Startup ``.cmd``, which respawn visible console windows
+    at logon and let the half-started gateway be killed by the logon
+    console-close event. Detect and reconcile via the idempotent,
+    elevation-safe ``reconcile_autostart_launchers``.
+    """
+    if os.name != "nt":
+        return
+
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli import gateway_windows
+    except Exception as e:
+        check_warn("Windows gateway launcher", f"(could not import gateway_windows: {e})")
+        return
+
+    if not gateway_windows.is_installed():
+        return
+
+    _section("Windows Gateway Launcher")
+
+    try:
+        if not gateway_windows.has_stale_autostart_launcher():
+            check_ok("Gateway autostart uses the console-less wscript.exe/.vbs launcher")
+            return
+        changed, detail = gateway_windows.reconcile_autostart_launchers()
+    except Exception as e:
+        check_warn("Windows gateway launcher check skipped", str(e))
+        return
+
+    if changed:
+        check_ok("Migrated stale cmd.exe gateway autostart launcher to wscript.exe/.vbs", detail)
+    else:
+        issues.append(
+            "Stale Windows gateway autostart launcher — reinstall from an "
+            "elevated prompt with 'hermes gateway install'"
+        )
+        check_warn(
+            "Stale cmd.exe gateway autostart launcher could not be migrated automatically",
+            detail,
+        )
+
+
 def check_certificates() -> None:
     """Verify the certifi CA bundle is loadable.
 
@@ -1320,6 +1367,7 @@ def run_doctor(args):
 
     _check_gateway_service_linger(issues)
     _check_s6_supervision(issues)
+    _check_windows_gateway_launcher(issues)
 
     if sys.platform != "win32":
         _section("Command Installation")
diff --git a/hermes_cli/gateway_windows.py b/hermes_cli/gateway_windows.py
index 55ed976433da..61823e842529 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/gateway_windows.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/gateway_windows.py
@@ -1274,6 +1274,88 @@ def query_task_status() -> dict[str, str]:
     return info
 
 
+def _scheduled_task_action_is_stale() -> bool:
+    """True when the registered task's action is the legacy ``cmd.exe`` form.
+
+    #45610 migrated the Scheduled-Task action to the console-less
+    ``wscript.exe`` + ``.vbs`` launcher (see ``_build_scheduled_task_xml``).
+    Machines installed before that keep a ``cmd.exe`` / ``.cmd`` action, which
+    respawns a visible console at logon and lets the half-started gateway be
+    killed by the logon console-close event.
+
+    Detection reads the task XML directly (``/Query /XML``) and keys off the
+    action command: stale when the definition does not run ``wscript.exe`` but
+    does reference ``cmd.exe`` or a ``.cmd`` launcher. Returns ``False`` on any
+    query failure so a transient schtasks error never triggers a false repair.
+    """
+    code, out, _err = _exec_schtasks(["/Query", "/TN", get_task_name(), "/XML"])
+    if code != 0 or not out:
+        return False
+    lowered = out.lower()
+    if "wscript.exe" in lowered:
+        return False
+    return "cmd.exe" in lowered or ".cmd" in lowered
+
+
+def has_stale_autostart_launcher() -> bool:
+    """True when an installed autostart launcher is the pre-#45610 form.
+
+    Detection precedence: a legacy Startup-folder ``.cmd`` entry present >
+    a Scheduled-Task action that is not the console-less ``wscript.exe`` form.
+    """
+    if not is_installed():
+        return False
+    if _legacy_startup_entry_path().exists():
+        return True
+    return is_task_registered() and _scheduled_task_action_is_stale()
+
+
+def reconcile_autostart_launchers() -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Rewrite a stale pre-#45610 autostart launcher to the console-less form.
+
+    Idempotent and elevation-safe:
+      - no-op (returns ``(False, "already current")``) when nothing is stale;
+      - regenerates the ``.cmd`` wrapper + console-less ``.vbs`` launcher;
+      - re-points the Scheduled Task at ``wscript.exe``/``.vbs`` when one is
+        registered (degrades gracefully if schtasks needs elevation — the
+        Startup ``.vbs`` fallback still reconciles);
+      - rewrites the Startup ``.vbs`` entry and removes the legacy ``.cmd``.
+
+    Returns ``(changed, detail)``. ``changed`` reflects whether the launcher is
+    now current: if the Scheduled-Task rewrite needed elevation we don't have
+    (Access Denied), the task stays stale, so we re-probe and return
+    ``(False, ...)`` to let ``hermes doctor`` warn and prompt an elevated rerun
+    rather than falsely reporting success.
+    """
+    _assert_windows()
+    if not is_installed():
+        return (False, "gateway autostart is not installed")
+    if not has_stale_autostart_launcher():
+        return (False, "already current")
+
+    script_path = _write_task_script()
+    notes: list[str] = []
+    if is_task_registered():
+        ok, detail = _install_scheduled_task(get_task_name(), script_path)
+        if ok:
+            notes.append("re-pointed Scheduled Task at wscript.exe/.vbs")
+        else:
+            # Access-denied (no elevation) leaves the Scheduled Task pointing at
+            # cmd.exe. The Startup .vbs fallback below still removes the legacy
+            # console-spawning launcher, but the task itself remains stale; the
+            # re-probe below catches this so doctor doesn't report a false green.
+            notes.append(f"Scheduled Task not updated ({detail})")
+    _install_startup_entry(script_path)
+    notes.append("rewrote Startup launcher (.vbs) and removed legacy .cmd")
+
+    if has_stale_autostart_launcher():
+        notes.append(
+            "launcher still stale after reconcile — rerun from an elevated prompt"
+        )
+        return (False, "; ".join(notes))
+    return (True, "; ".join(notes))
+
+
 def _gateway_pids() -> list[int]:
     """Reuse the cross-platform PID scanner in gateway.py."""
     from hermes_cli.gateway import find_gateway_pids
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_windows.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_windows.py
index d52ad7d59da4..85c15f0fc4ab 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_windows.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_windows.py
@@ -910,3 +910,169 @@ def fake_write(target_pid):
 
     # Returns True because _pid_exists immediately says "gone".
     assert gateway_windows._drain_gateway_pid(pid, drain_timeout=5.0) is True
+
+
+_STALE_TASK_XML = (
+    '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>'
+    '<Task version="1.2"><Actions Context="Author"><Exec>'
+    "<Command>cmd.exe</Command>"
+    '<Arguments>/c "C:\\Hermes\\Hermes_Gateway.cmd"</Arguments>'
+    "</Exec></Actions></Task>"
+)
+
+_CURRENT_TASK_XML = (
+    '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>'
+    '<Task version="1.4"><Actions Context="Author"><Exec>'
+    "<Command>wscript.exe</Command>"
+    '<Arguments>//B //Nologo "C:\\Hermes\\Hermes_Gateway.vbs"</Arguments>'
+    "</Exec></Actions></Task>"
+)
+
+
+class TestReconcileStaleAutostartLauncher:
+    """pre-#45610 cmd.exe autostart launchers are detected and reconciled."""
+
+    def _arrange(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path, *, task_xml, legacy_cmd_present):
+        """Wire a fake Windows install. Returns (env, calls).
+
+        ``env["state"]["task_xml"]`` is what ``/Query /XML`` returns and what a
+        ``/Create`` re-points it to, so the test can assert the action moved
+        from cmd.exe to wscript.exe.
+        """
+        script_path = tmp_path / "Hermes_Gateway.cmd"
+        vbs_path = tmp_path / "Hermes_Gateway.vbs"
+        startup_vbs = tmp_path / "startup" / "Hermes_Gateway.vbs"
+        legacy_cmd = tmp_path / "startup" / "Hermes_Gateway.cmd"
+        startup_vbs.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        if legacy_cmd_present:
+            legacy_cmd.write_text("@echo off\nstart Hermes_Gateway\n")
+
+        state = {"task_xml": task_xml, "task_registered": True}
+        calls: list[tuple] = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "_assert_windows", lambda: None)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "get_task_name", lambda: "Hermes_Gateway")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "_legacy_startup_entry_path", lambda: legacy_cmd)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "get_startup_entry_path", lambda: startup_vbs)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "get_task_script_path", lambda: script_path)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_windows, "is_task_registered", lambda: state["task_registered"]
+        )
+
+        def fake_write_task_script():
+            script_path.write_text("@echo off\n")
+            vbs_path.write_text("' vbs launcher\n")
+            return script_path
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "_write_task_script", fake_write_task_script)
+
+        def fake_exec_schtasks(args):
+            calls.append(tuple(args))
+            if args[0] == "/Query":
+                if "/XML" in args:
+                    return (0, state["task_xml"], "")
+                return (0, "", "")
+            if args[0] == "/Delete":
+                return (0, "SUCCESS", "")
+            if args[0] == "/Create":
+                # The real install re-points the action at wscript.exe/.vbs.
+                state["task_xml"] = _CURRENT_TASK_XML
+                return (0, "SUCCESS", "")
+            raise AssertionError(f"unexpected schtasks args: {args}")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "_exec_schtasks", fake_exec_schtasks)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_windows, "_resolve_task_user", lambda: None)
+
+        return {
+            "state": state,
+            "legacy_cmd": legacy_cmd,
+            "startup_vbs": startup_vbs,
+            "vbs_path": vbs_path,
+        }, calls
+
+    def test_stale_cmd_launcher_is_detected_and_reconciled(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        env, calls = self._arrange(
+            monkeypatch, tmp_path, task_xml=_STALE_TASK_XML, legacy_cmd_present=True
+        )
+
+        assert gateway_windows.has_stale_autostart_launcher() is True
+
+        changed, _detail = gateway_windows.reconcile_autostart_launchers()
+
+        assert changed is True
+        # Legacy console-spawning Startup .cmd removed.
+        assert not env["legacy_cmd"].exists()
+        # Console-less Startup .vbs written.
+        assert env["startup_vbs"].exists()
+        # Scheduled Task action re-pointed at wscript.exe (not cmd.exe).
+        assert "wscript.exe" in env["state"]["task_xml"].lower()
+        assert "cmd.exe" not in env["state"]["task_xml"].lower()
+        assert any(c[0] == "/Create" for c in calls)
+
+    def test_reconcile_is_idempotent_no_op_when_current(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        env, _calls = self._arrange(
+            monkeypatch, tmp_path, task_xml=_STALE_TASK_XML, legacy_cmd_present=True
+        )
+
+        first_changed, _ = gateway_windows.reconcile_autostart_launchers()
+        assert first_changed is True
+
+        # Second call: launcher is now current, so nothing is stale.
+        assert gateway_windows.has_stale_autostart_launcher() is False
+        second_changed, detail = gateway_windows.reconcile_autostart_launchers()
+        assert second_changed is False
+        assert detail == "already current"
+
+    def test_current_wscript_launcher_is_not_flagged(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        env, _calls = self._arrange(
+            monkeypatch, tmp_path, task_xml=_CURRENT_TASK_XML, legacy_cmd_present=False
+        )
+
+        assert gateway_windows._scheduled_task_action_is_stale() is False
+        assert gateway_windows.has_stale_autostart_launcher() is False
+        changed, detail = gateway_windows.reconcile_autostart_launchers()
+        assert changed is False
+        assert detail == "already current"
+
+    def test_query_failure_does_not_false_positive(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        self._arrange(
+            monkeypatch, tmp_path, task_xml=_CURRENT_TASK_XML, legacy_cmd_present=False
+        )
+        # schtasks query wedges/errors -> must NOT report stale.
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_windows, "_exec_schtasks", lambda args: (124, "", "timed out")
+        )
+        assert gateway_windows._scheduled_task_action_is_stale() is False
+
+    def test_residual_stale_task_after_failed_update_reports_unchanged(
+        self, monkeypatch, tmp_path
+    ):
+        """No-elevation schtasks update leaves the task stale -> changed=False.
+
+        When the Scheduled-Task rewrite fails (Access Denied / no elevation) the
+        task keeps pointing at cmd.exe. Even after the Startup .vbs fallback
+        runs, the launcher is still stale, so reconcile must report
+        ``changed=False`` (not a false green) and ``doctor`` must warn the user
+        to rerun from an elevated prompt.
+        """
+        env, _calls = self._arrange(
+            monkeypatch, tmp_path, task_xml=_STALE_TASK_XML, legacy_cmd_present=True
+        )
+        # Scheduled-Task update cannot elevate: it fails and leaves the action
+        # pointing at cmd.exe (state["task_xml"] is NOT re-pointed).
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            gateway_windows,
+            "_install_scheduled_task",
+            lambda *args, **kwargs: (False, "Access is denied."),
+        )
+
+        assert gateway_windows.has_stale_autostart_launcher() is True
+
+        changed, detail = gateway_windows.reconcile_autostart_launchers()
+
+        # The registered task still points at cmd.exe -> still stale.
+        assert changed is False
+        assert "still stale" in detail
+        assert gateway_windows.has_stale_autostart_launcher() is True
+        # The startup fallback still ran (legacy console .cmd removed).
+        assert not env["legacy_cmd"].exists()