1) Welcome to the Party!
2) As you are obviously new here, I have some suggestions to help us all help you:
When you post, please post your entire configuration including (but not limited to) your installation method (7.X.X?) and vicidial version with build (VERSION: 2.X-XXXx ... BUILD: #####-####).
This IS a requirement for posting along with reading the stickies (at the top of each forum) and the manager's manual (available on EFLO.net, both free and paid versions)
You should also post: Asterisk version, telephony hardware (model number is helpful here), cluster information if you have one, and whether any other software is installed in the box. If your installation method is "manual/from scratch" you must post your operating system with version (and the .iso version from which you installed your original operating system) plus a link to the installation instructions you used. If your installation is "Hosted" list the site name of the host.
If this is a "Cloud" or "Virtual" server, please note the technology involved along with the version of that techology (ie: VMware Server Version 2.0.2). If it is not, merely stating the Motherboard model # and CPU would be helpful.
Similar to This:
Vicibox X.X from .iso | Vicidial X.X.X-XXX Build XXXXXX-XXXX | Asterisk X.X.X | Single Server | No Digium/Sangoma Hardware | No Extra Software After Installation | Intel DG35EC | Core2Quad Q6600
3) This is not a general discussion. It's a support request. Thus I will move it from the Generl Discussion board to the Support board. Please hang you head in shame while I do so. Please also read the stickies on all phpBB forum boards before posting, there's always some useful direction.
4) I note that you did not include "--force-check" in the cron version, was that a typo? Otherwise that's the most obvious difference between the two methods aside from "cron" root user vs actual root user.
5) Check the system logs and system email to see if there's an error message related to this failure. Most recently there was a path problem with someone on a manual installation just like this. cron's "root" had a different path configuration than "root".
Happy Hunting