Broken Task Manager

[Dave]

I just removed a a bunch of viruses and spyware from a computer running XP
Home and now the task manager will not come up when I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del. Is
there another way to open the task manager? And does anybody know how to fix
this? Thank You, Dave

 

[Kelly]

Hi Dave,

Means you aren't yet clean enough. More info:

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

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

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

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

If neither of the above applies:

Run this Free Online Virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

Enable the Task Manager (Line 51 and 275)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Lift Restrictions - Task Manager, Regedit and CMD (Line 275)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Troubleshooting the Task Manager
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_t.htm#tm

Emergency Msconfig, Regedit, Task Manager
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emergencyutil.zip

Keep us posted, Dave and good luck. )

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Kelly]

Can't be that easy, huh? )

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Dave]

That didn't work either (R-click task bar). It comes up for a second the
first time you try but disappears. Is there a command line way of trying to
start it? And is there a way to restore this function either through the
registry or restoring files? Thanks again, Dave

 

[Kelly]

Didn't think it would. Dave, did you read my reply? The fixes are there
for you in plain text.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Dave]

Yes Kelly, I'm working through them now. I appreciate your help and will
post if any of that works. Thanks, Dave

 

[Kelly]

Great, most welcome and hope all goes well, Dave. )

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[WTC]

I should have said you could try right click on the task bar but it wouldn't
fix your immediate problem.

when you get it working, the shortcut would by
c:\windows\system32\taskmgr.exe, if you installed windows to c:\windows.

 

[Kelly]

Hi William,

I know you were answering a part of his question. But reading in between
the lines, that wasn't the issue. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon. )

BTW, there are three methods that I know of:

First Method:

Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE

Second Method:

Right click under the clock and select Task Manager...

Third Method:

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC and the Task Manager will be launched instantly.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com