task manager only displays for a millisecond

[Brianni]

I can't access task manager. When I right click on the
task bar and click on task manager nothing happens.
Alternatively when I press ctrl alt delete the task
manager flashes on the screen and then disappears, at the
same time a green box (like CPU usage screen) appears in
the system tray of the task bar but when i put my
mouse near it it disappears. Norton anti virus wont launch
either. Either nothing happens or the gui flashes on the
screen and that's it.
Both Task Manager and Norton launch and work fine in
Windows Safe Mode but refuse point blank in Normal Mode.
I've scanned with the latest versions of SpyBot,CWShredder
and Norton in Safe Mode and they all come up clear.
Can anyone help please - thanks
Brianni

 

[Rich Barry]

Brianni, check at Kelly's. http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
Choose T and scroll down to

This behavior can be caused by a virus. One of three:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.spybot.worm.html
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

 

[Brianni]

Thanks Rich my virus software was out of date. Once
updated I found several infections including
w32.spybot.worm - thanks again.