Can't bring up Windows Task Manager

[Guest]

Hello there,
due to some malicious software run on my computer I may have lost some
windows settings. I cannot bring up task manager using ctrl alt del keys,
instead a list of tasks appears in DOS mode and disappears also suddenly.
Please help me to bring up Task Manger in Windows.
Thanks.

 

[Mark Dormer]

You can right click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager

Click Start, select Run and type taskmgr then click OK

Regards
Mark Dormer

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Enable or Disable Task Manager for the Current User
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_taskmgrenab.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hello there,
| due to some malicious software run on my computer I may have lost some
| windows settings. I cannot bring up task manager using ctrl alt del keys,
| instead a list of tasks appears in DOS mode and disappears also suddenly.
| Please help me to bring up Task Manger in Windows.
| Thanks.

 

[Rock]

Hello there,
due to some malicious software run on my computer I may have lost some
windows settings. I cannot bring up task manager using ctrl alt del keys,
instead a list of tasks appears in DOS mode and disappears also suddenly.
Please help me to bring up Task Manger in Windows.
Thanks.

Are you able to run regedit or msconfig from Start | Run?

 

[Guest]

Yes, I can run msconfig and regedit. I have also the taskmanager option when
I right click on the toolbar but the same happens. But don't know what to do
next. Please suggest.
Thanks

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Pramit,

Open Regedit.exe and navigate to:

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

Export the key to a REG file, and post the contents here.

 

[Rock]

Yes, I can run msconfig and regedit. I have also the taskmanager option when
I right click on the toolbar but the same happens. But don't know what to do
next. Please suggest.
Thanks

:

You could try running the edit on Kelly's site, line 51, "Enable the
Task Manager": http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ramesh,

It is very surprising, I cannot find taskmanager.exe in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
Execution Options\

I this any symptom of something else ?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Pramit,

First, it's taskmgr.exe. That key will not be present by default. It's good
that you don't have that registry key. See if these cleaners can help you.

1. Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

2. SpyBot S&D
http://www.safer-networking.org

3. CWShredder
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

Update 1 & 2 before running a scan.

Clean-up Windows Startup:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/startup.htm

Then, run a full system virus scan with fully updated definitions. Try Trend
Micro's Sysclean package (free), it's capable of eliminating keyloggers,
trojans etc.

Generic Trojan / Adware Infestation Removal Procedure:
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ramesh,
I have run SpyBot and Ad-Aware already before but found nothing. I found in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
3 folders namely NonEnum, Ratings, System instead of 'explorer'. In the
'system' I found several value names including one as 'Disable TaskMgr'.
Should I delete those?

 

[Guest]

Thanks Rock,
I have tried those but was not successful.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Pramit,

The presence of "DisableTaskMgr" value under the key you stated, has no
effect. This is a per-user Policy, whole correct location is here.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

But this causes the error message "Task Manager has been disabled by your
administrator" when you open Task Manager. So, I don't think this applies in
your case.

Have you tried Trend Micro's Sysclean package already? Also, download
HijackThis from http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/ Generate a log using
HijackThis and visit any of these forums below to post your HijackThis log.
The experts there will guide you how to remove the malware from your system:

http://castlecops.com
http://forums.aumha.org
http://forums.spywareinfo.com

 

[Guest]

Thanks again,
I have HijackThis and will try that.

Pramit,

The presence of "DisableTaskMgr" value under the key you stated, has no
effect. This is a per-user Policy, whole correct location is here.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

But this causes the error message "Task Manager has been disabled by your
administrator" when you open Task Manager. So, I don't think this applies in
your case.

Have you tried Trend Micro's Sysclean package already? Also, download
HijackThis from http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/ Generate a log using
HijackThis and visit any of these forums below to post your HijackThis log.
The experts there will guide you how to remove the malware from your system:

http://castlecops.com
http://forums.aumha.org
http://forums.spywareinfo.com

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org

Thanks Ramesh,
I have run SpyBot and Ad-Aware already before but found nothing. I found
in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
3 folders namely NonEnum, Ratings, System instead of 'explorer'. In the
'system' I found several value names including one as 'Disable TaskMgr'.
Should I delete those?

 

[Plato]

Hello there,
due to some malicious software run on my computer I may have lost some
windows settings. I cannot bring up task manager using ctrl alt del keys,
instead a list of tasks appears in DOS mode and disappears also suddenly.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootlist/154.htm#1