inoperative "task manager"

[merv kopp]

my os is xp professional and i cannot get task manager to
work. I right click on the lower browser bar and click on
task manager and nothing happens. I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and
nothing is displayed onscreen.

I canot find CPU usage anywhere when I use "search".

Thank you.

Merv Kopp

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

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

Line 51 -- right hand side

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Actually, Michael, if that were the fix, the user would be getting an error message saying that Task Manager was disabled by the Administrator.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Merv,

This is indicative of some type of malware, either a virus/trojan or spyware. Update your antivirus software and rescan your system, preferably from Safe Mode. Then download and use AdAware www.lavasoftusa.com and/or Spybot Search and Destroy www.safer-networking.org. For either of the last two programs, ensure you check for updated definitions, even though you just downloaded the program.

Possible viurs causes (or variants thereof)

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

For additional help see www.dougknox.com, Win XP Utilities, Create Emergency Copies of Critical XP System Utilities. This small VB Program will create backup, usable copies of Task Manger, Regedit and MSConfig (named Copy_of_Taskmgr.exe, Copy_of_Regedit.com and Copy_of_MSConfig.exe) in a new folder C:\EmergencyUtil. Many virus programs will intercept these programs, based on their original file name. The modified file names, allow them to be run. Open Windows Explorer to C:\EmergencyUtil and double click the application you need. The next revision will allow you to browse for the folder you want to place the backups in.