Can't access the Registry, Task Manager or Administrative tools

[Nick]

I'm running XP sp 1. Lately I've been unable to run any
of the adminstrator functions. The following keeps
happending: Task Manager flashes on the screen then
disappears, same for the registry (when using RegEdit),
none of the admin tools (event veiwer, computer manager
etc) will come up. I suspect a virus. I've done scans
with AVG and have run adware and spybot. I tried to
restore back to a time when I knew the system worked but
the restore keeps failing. I even re-instaled XP. Has
anyone had or heard of this problem? Help!!

 

[Tracy]

A worm typically causes this. You can try:

Run Process Explorer here:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

Find the msconfig35.exe and kill the process.

Now you can run regedit and get rid of the call to msconfig35.exe.

Make sure when you open regedit that you go to the edit tab and search for
MSCONFIG35 or MSCONFIG45 depending on your problem. Don't add the .exe
extension.

There is a file in C:\documents and settings\all users\start
menu\programs\start up\webdav.exe. This is the file that reloads
msconfig35.exe into your system every time you restart.

Delete the file under windows/system32/msconfig35.exe.

Reboot

 

[Nick]

I ran process explorer as you suggested (great tool!).
msconfig35 wasn't there but two instances of AOL.EXE
was. Since I don't use AOL I thought this strange. I
killed the process and viola I could access the registry
and Task Manager. I then deleted AOL.exe from the
startup directly using System Mechanic. I found one
instance of AOL.exe in the registry and got rid of that
also. Rebooted and all seems well now.

Thanks for the tip about Process manager. People should
look out for the AOL.exe thing. Its a bit nasty.