Task Manager Closes Immediately

[Mike]

When I press Ctrl+Alt+Del the Task Manager screen appears
for less than 1 second and then shuts down. There is an
icon for the Task Manager on the taskbar but when I move
the mouse pointer to it it disappears. This problem
occured last year and it was fixed using a Symantec virus
removal tool. My anti-virus software is up to date,
definitions are current. Hard disk scan shows no viruses
detected.
I am running XP home edition on a Dell Dimension LX800CXE.

Thanks,

 

[null]

When I press Ctrl+Alt+Del the Task Manager screen appears
for less than 1 second and then shuts down. There is an
icon for the Task Manager on the taskbar but when I move
the mouse pointer to it it disappears. This problem
occured last year and it was fixed using a Symantec virus
removal tool. My anti-virus software is up to date,
definitions are current. Hard disk scan shows no viruses
detected.
I am running XP home edition on a Dell Dimension LX800CXE.

Thanks,

Try this as a workaround:

Start > Run > type TASKMGR.EXE and hit enter

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

When I press Ctrl+Alt+Del the Task Manager screen appears
for less than 1 second and then shuts down. There is an
icon for the Task Manager on the taskbar but when I move
the mouse pointer to it it disappears. This problem
occured last year and it was fixed using a Symantec virus
removal tool. My anti-virus software is up to date,
definitions are current. Hard disk scan shows no viruses
detected.
I am running XP home edition on a Dell Dimension LX800CXE.

Thanks,

Hi

This might be the work of a worm or something similar
(it could be from some spyware or parasite as well).

To try to find what has caused this:

Run a cleanup tool, e.g. Stinger.exe from McAfee, it removes 30+
virus/worms in one sweep.

McAfee AVERT Stinger
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/


and this one:

On Line Virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com


For the Spyware and Parasites part, you will need to run other tools:

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

 

[Mike]

No go. Same effect as before. Also, msconfig does not
work.

 

[Bruce]

When I press Ctrl+Alt+Del the Task Manager screen appears
for less than 1 second and then shuts down. There is an
icon for the Task Manager on the taskbar but when I move
the mouse pointer to it it disappears. This problem
occured last year and it was fixed using a Symantec virus
removal tool. My anti-virus software is up to date,
definitions are current. Hard disk scan shows no viruses
detected.
I am running XP home edition on a Dell Dimension LX800CXE.

Thanks,

You might try line 113 at Kelly's Korner, one of my favorite sites:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

(You could also do a find on 'task manager' on this page.)

Good luck,
Bruce

 

[Mike]

Thank you, Torgeir. That was the fix. Stinger found the
following virus in two directories and deleted the
infected files: W32/Sdbot.worm.gen.i.virus.
Thanks again for your help

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Thank you, Torgeir. That was the fix. Stinger found the
following virus in two directories and deleted the
infected files: W32/Sdbot.worm.gen.i.virus.
Thanks again for your help

Hi

Then I would say that your anti-virus software is not so up to
date that you thought...

 

[Bruce Chambers]

When I press Ctrl+Alt+Del the Task Manager screen appears
for less than 1 second and then shuts down. There is an
icon for the Task Manager on the taskbar but when I move
the mouse pointer to it it disappears. This problem
occured last year and it was fixed using a Symantec virus
removal tool. My anti-virus software is up to date,
definitions are current. Hard disk scan shows no viruses
detected.
I am running XP home edition on a Dell Dimension LX800CXE.

Thanks,

The type of behavior you describe is typical behavior of more than
one virus/worm, the three below being the most common:

W32.Klez
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

W32.Yaha
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

W32.Spybot.Worm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.spybot.worm.html

Because many of the newer viruses and worms, such as the
Spybot mentioned above, can disable antivirus applications whose
definitions aren't kept up-to-date, try using one or more of the free
on-line scanners to double-check your system.

Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

McAfee Security - FreeScan
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

Panda ActiveScan - Free online scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

--

Bruce Chambers

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