Anyone think of why Ctrl + Alt + Del would stop working please? I can
still get to XP Pro Task Manager by using Start > Help and Support > Task
Manager, but obviously that's a poor second best.

Presumably it will return after a reboot, but as that's a 5-10 minute task
for everything to settle down I'd like to try any other fixes that anyone
can suggest please.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

On 01/06/2011 11:35 AM, Terry Pinnell wrote:
> Anyone think of why Ctrl + Alt + Del would stop working please? I can
> still get to XP Pro Task Manager by using Start> Help and Support> Task
> Manager, but obviously that's a poor second best.
>
> Presumably it will return after a reboot, but as that's a 5-10 minute task
> for everything to settle down I'd like to try any other fixes that anyone
> can suggest please.
>

If it takes that long to boot XP, it's time to reinstall. My two XP
machines boot and "everything settles down" in less than a minute.

--
Alias

You can also more easily summon Task Manager by right-clicking on any empty
part of the Taskbar and choose "Task Manager".

But, about the non-functioning [Ctrl-Alt-Del] ...

It could be, as "Elmo" suggests (by pointing you to the specific Kelly's
Corner page), that policy restrictions have been imposed, disabling Task
Manager.

But, if after trying out that route functionality still does not return to
[Ctrl-Alt-Del] then consider this ;

What program Windows XP starts in response to pressing [Ctrl-Alt-Del] is
actually configurable by setting the following registry value :


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
Execution Options\taskmgr.exe]

"Debugger"="c:\\windows\\system32\\taskmgr.exe"


....instead of [as above] using the default : [taskmgr.exe] you can replace
with the path / filename of any valid executable (such as Process
Explorer - a good alternative).

However, if this value exists but is left blank it may explain the loss of
functionality to the [Ctrl-Alt-Del] action.

Solution : Start [regedit.exe] and locate the key quoted above. Then check
that the value for "Debugger" is not left blank and is a valid one.


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Terry Pinnell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Anyone think of why Ctrl + Alt + Del would stop working please? I can
> still get to XP Pro Task Manager by using Start > Help and Support > Task
> Manager, but obviously that's a poor second best.
>
> Presumably it will return after a reboot, but as that's a 5-10 minute
> task
> for everything to settle down I'd like to try any other fixes that anyone
> can suggest please.
>
> --
> Terry, East Grinstead, UK

"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>You can also more easily summon Task Manager by right-clicking on any empty
>part of the Taskbar and choose "Task Manager".
>
>But, about the non-functioning [Ctrl-Alt-Del] ...
>
>It could be, as "Elmo" suggests (by pointing you to the specific Kelly's
>Corner page), that policy restrictions have been imposed, disabling Task
>Manager.
>
>But, if after trying out that route functionality still does not return to
>[Ctrl-Alt-Del] then consider this ;
>
>What program Windows XP starts in response to pressing [Ctrl-Alt-Del] is
>actually configurable by setting the following registry value :
>
>
>[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
>Execution Options\taskmgr.exe]
>
>"Debugger"="c:\\windows\\system32\\taskmgr.exe"
>
>
>...instead of [as above] using the default : [taskmgr.exe] you can replace
>with the path / filename of any valid executable (such as Process
>Explorer - a good alternative).
>
>However, if this value exists but is left blank it may explain the loss of
>functionality to the [Ctrl-Alt-Del] action.
>
>Solution : Start [regedit.exe] and locate the key quoted above. Then check
>that the value for "Debugger" is not left blank and is a valid one.
>
>
>==
>
>Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
>
>
>
>
>"Terry Pinnell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Anyone think of why Ctrl + Alt + Del would stop working please? I can
>> still get to XP Pro Task Manager by using Start > Help and Support > Task
>> Manager, but obviously that's a poor second best.
>>
>> Presumably it will return after a reboot, but as that's a 5-10 minute
>> task
>> for everything to settle down I'd like to try any other fixes that anyone
>> can suggest please.
>>
>> --
>> Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Tim, Joe: Thanks both. The taskbar r-click method worked fine. But not
Ctl+Shift+Esc. Then I looked at Kelly's Repair TM
--- Start paste ---
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\TaskManager]
--- End paste ---
but didn't run it. (Is that the way a reg file resets, i.e. by placing a
minus sign as a prefix?)

Then, in a spirit of experiment, I tried the top item 'Repair Task
Manager', which was a VBS script. Unfortunately that has zapped my entire
taskbar so now I'm even looking for a way to reboot. Hmm, I think it will
have to be the Reset or Power On/Off button! I'll report back later.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>You can also more easily summon Task Manager by right-clicking on any empty
>part of the Taskbar and choose "Task Manager".
>
>But, about the non-functioning [Ctrl-Alt-Del] ...
>
>It could be, as "Elmo" suggests (by pointing you to the specific Kelly's
>Corner page), that policy restrictions have been imposed, disabling Task
>Manager.
>
>But, if after trying out that route functionality still does not return to
>[Ctrl-Alt-Del] then consider this ;
>
>What program Windows XP starts in response to pressing [Ctrl-Alt-Del] is
>actually configurable by setting the following registry value :
>
>
>[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
>Execution Options\taskmgr.exe]
>
>"Debugger"="c:\\windows\\system32\\taskmgr.exe"
>
>
>...instead of [as above] using the default : [taskmgr.exe] you can replace
>with the path / filename of any valid executable (such as Process
>Explorer - a good alternative).
>
>However, if this value exists but is left blank it may explain the loss of
>functionality to the [Ctrl-Alt-Del] action.
>
>Solution : Start [regedit.exe] and locate the key quoted above. Then check
>that the value for "Debugger" is not left blank and is a valid one.

I managed to get my taskbar back without re-booting (although lost Quick
Launch and another custom toolbar) but still no change in status beyond my
earlier post.

So, before the much-postpone reboot, I'm now following up your suggestion
above. However, I have no such key here (in XP Pro SP2):

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/TaskMgr-1.jpg

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

On 01/06/2011 03:47 PM, Terry Pinnell wrote:
> "Tim Meddick"<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> You can also more easily summon Task Manager by right-clicking on any empty
>> part of the Taskbar and choose "Task Manager".
>>
>> But, about the non-functioning [Ctrl-Alt-Del] ...
>>
>> It could be, as "Elmo" suggests (by pointing you to the specific Kelly's
>> Corner page), that policy restrictions have been imposed, disabling Task
>> Manager.
>>
>> But, if after trying out that route functionality still does not return to
>> [Ctrl-Alt-Del] then consider this ;
>>
>> What program Windows XP starts in response to pressing [Ctrl-Alt-Del] is
>> actually configurable by setting the following registry value :
>>
>>
>> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
>> Execution Options\taskmgr.exe]
>>
>> "Debugger"="c:\\windows\\system32\\taskmgr.exe"
>>
>>
>> ...instead of [as above] using the default : [taskmgr.exe] you can replace
>> with the path / filename of any valid executable (such as Process
>> Explorer - a good alternative).
>>
>> However, if this value exists but is left blank it may explain the loss of
>> functionality to the [Ctrl-Alt-Del] action.
>>
>> Solution : Start [regedit.exe] and locate the key quoted above. Then check
>> that the value for "Debugger" is not left blank and is a valid one.
>
> I managed to get my taskbar back without re-booting (although lost Quick
> Launch and another custom toolbar) but still no change in status beyond my
> earlier post.
>
> So, before the much-postpone reboot, I'm now following up your suggestion
> above. However, I have no such key here (in XP Pro SP2):
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/TaskMgr-1.jpg
>

You could have reinstalled XP already instead of trying crap that won't
work. This time install SP3.

--
Alias

RE: Your question about a minus sign at the beginning of a key-name within
a registry [*.reg] file,

The minus sign, inserted just within the first square bracket of a key-name
has the result of deleting that entire key specified.

The other, similar method of deleting using [*.reg] files, only for
individual values instead of entire keys is ;

[HKEY_WHATEVER\Regpath\Subkey]
"RegValue"=-

....the minus sign in this instance, is placed after the "equals" sign
without quotes and has the effect of deleting the specified value leaving
any other values intact under the same key.

As for the key not existing in your registry, that is not surprising after
you have run the Kelly's "fixit" reg-file where you saw that minus sign in
the first case!

If the key did exist, it would not do after you imported that reg-file....

Your WinXP SP2 OS will support the function of the key we are discussing,
in order to configure a "custom" Task Manager, but is not required if you
just want the default Task Manager - taskmgr.exe

But it was a possibility, had the key and value existed, that if
incorrectly configured or the value specified a non-existent executable,
that it would render [Ctrl-Alt-Del] useless (did you look into whether the
other policy keys existed that disable [Ctrl-Alt-Del] provided by "Elmos"
link to Kelly's Corner (lines 51 & 275)??)

On the other hand, it might be a way to repair the functionality of
[Ctrl-Alt-Del] if you were to add the key & value ("Debugger"=) to specify
a valid path to :

%SystemRoot%\system32\taskmgr.exe

....at least it could provide a further opportunity to test why
[Ctrl-Alt-Del] has stopped working....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Terry Pinnell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>You can also more easily summon Task Manager by right-clicking on any
>>empty
>>part of the Taskbar and choose "Task Manager".
>>
>>But, about the non-functioning [Ctrl-Alt-Del] ...
>>
>>It could be, as "Elmo" suggests (by pointing you to the specific Kelly's
>>Corner page), that policy restrictions have been imposed, disabling Task
>>Manager.
>>
>>But, if after trying out that route functionality still does not return
>>to
>>[Ctrl-Alt-Del] then consider this ;
>>
>>What program Windows XP starts in response to pressing [Ctrl-Alt-Del] is
>>actually configurable by setting the following registry value :
>>
>>
>>[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image
>>File
>>Execution Options\taskmgr.exe]
>>
>>"Debugger"="c:\\windows\\system32\\taskmgr.exe"
>>
>>
>>...instead of [as above] using the default : [taskmgr.exe] you can
>>replace
>>with the path / filename of any valid executable (such as Process
>>Explorer - a good alternative).
>>
>>However, if this value exists but is left blank it may explain the loss
>>of
>>functionality to the [Ctrl-Alt-Del] action.
>>
>>Solution : Start [regedit.exe] and locate the key quoted above. Then
>>check
>>that the value for "Debugger" is not left blank and is a valid one.
>
> I managed to get my taskbar back without re-booting (although lost Quick
> Launch and another custom toolbar) but still no change in status beyond
> my
> earlier post.
>
> So, before the much-postpone reboot, I'm now following up your suggestion
> above. However, I have no such key here (in XP Pro SP2):
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/TaskMgr-1.jpg
>
> --
> Terry, East Grinstead, UK

"Terry Pinnell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Anyone think of why Ctrl + Alt + Del would stop working please? I can
> still get to XP Pro Task Manager by using Start > Help and Support >
> Task
> Manager, but obviously that's a poor second best.
>
> Presumably it will return after a reboot, but as that's a 5-10 minute
> task
> for everything to settle down I'd like to try any other fixes that
> anyone
> can suggest please.

If you refuse to reboot, you are just wasting your and everyone else's
time in this thread. The suggestions you have been trying so far may
have nothing to do with the issue, and a reboot should be the first
thing you try before even posting.

If it takes 10 minutes to complete a reboot, you have other problems
that need addressing!
--
Glen Ventura
MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
CompTIA A+
http://dts-l.net/

On Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:35:34 +0000, Terry Pinnell
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Anyone think of why Ctrl + Alt + Del would stop working please? I can
>still get to XP Pro Task Manager by using Start > Help and Support > Task
>Manager, but obviously that's a poor second best.

you could install System Explorer, which is not a poor second best to
Task Manager. It's more like a good first worst, or whatever the
opposite is, "even better"?

Elmo points out that malware can mess up cntl-alt delete. In that
case be aweare of Configuration and Preferences/Repairs part of
superantispyware, which includes a function to renable
cntl-alt-delete. The fourth item down is Enable Task Managers. I think
I used it and if so it worked for me. But I'm not positive anymore, I
don't remmeber if I HAD to use that one (that had no relevance to me),
but I used others that did work. I used all of them but one, even if
I didn't need them, and none damaged my system.

>Presumably it will return after a reboot, but as that's a 5-10 minute task
>for everything to settle down I'd like to try any other fixes that anyone
>can suggest please.

"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>RE: Your question about a minus sign at the beginning of a key-name within
>a registry [*.reg] file,
>
>The minus sign, inserted just within the first square bracket of a key-name
>has the result of deleting that entire key specified.
>
>The other, similar method of deleting using [*.reg] files, only for
>individual values instead of entire keys is ;
>
>[HKEY_WHATEVER\Regpath\Subkey]
>"RegValue"=-
>
>...the minus sign in this instance, is placed after the "equals" sign
>without quotes and has the effect of deleting the specified value leaving
>any other values intact under the same key.
>
>As for the key not existing in your registry, that is not surprising after
>you have run the Kelly's "fixit" reg-file where you saw that minus sign in
>the first case!
>
>If the key did exist, it would not do after you imported that reg-file....
>
>Your WinXP SP2 OS will support the function of the key we are discussing,
>in order to configure a "custom" Task Manager, but is not required if you
>just want the default Task Manager - taskmgr.exe
>
>But it was a possibility, had the key and value existed, that if
>incorrectly configured or the value specified a non-existent executable,
>that it would render [Ctrl-Alt-Del] useless (did you look into whether the
>other policy keys existed that disable [Ctrl-Alt-Del] provided by "Elmos"
>link to Kelly's Corner (lines 51 & 275)??)
>
>On the other hand, it might be a way to repair the functionality of
>[Ctrl-Alt-Del] if you were to add the key & value ("Debugger"=) to specify
>a valid path to :
>
>%SystemRoot%\system32\taskmgr.exe
>
>...at least it could provide a further opportunity to test why
>[Ctrl-Alt-Del] has stopped working....

Thanks Tim, much appreciated. I've filed that thorough explanation for
possible future reference.

Happily the subsequent PC reboot restored the K/B shortcut.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK