Task Manager won't start

[Jeff Ingman]

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[JS]

Try:
Start/Run/taskmgr.exe

Does this work?

JS

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?

 

[Gerry]

Jeff

What replacement utility?

If it was Process Explorer then in Process Explorer select Options,
Restore Task Manager.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jeff Ingman]

Start/Run/Taskmanager.exe does not work.

I'm running Norton Internet Security 2008 with no other security software...
except there is a firewall in my BEC DSL modem.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

Yes... regedit opens.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

Sorry for the serial replies...

Yes I can open/view the security tab.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[JS]

It's 'taskmgr.exe' and not 'Taskmanager.exe'

This file can be found the in C:\Windows\system32 folder
and C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386

You can double click on this file in either location as another way to see
if it runs.

JS

Start/Run/Taskmanager.exe does not work.

I'm running Norton Internet Security 2008 with no other security
software...
except there is a firewall in my BEC DSL modem.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying Windows
cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[JS]

Try deleting this file: C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\TASKMGR.EXE-XXXXXXXX.pf
Now see if you can get it to run.
If it does work you should now see a new .pf (prefetch) file.

JS

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows
cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another
site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Gerry]

Jeff

What replacement utility?

If it was Process Explorer then in Process Explorer select Options,
Restore Task Manager.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system
somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on
another site and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall (if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine.
It opened and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with
Crl-Alt-Del nor can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I
get nothing when I attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

I don't find any taskmanager in Windows\prefetch

Jeff
.................................

Try deleting this file: C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\TASKMGR.EXE-XXXXXXXX.pf
Now see if you can get it to run.
If it does work you should now see a new .pf (prefetch) file.

JS

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows
cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another
site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

:

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

The "replacement utility" is called TaskPower. It is one of the programs
offered by PC Magazine in their free Utility series.

jeff
..............................

Jeff

What replacement utility?

If it was Process Explorer then in Process Explorer select Options,
Restore Task Manager.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system
somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on
another site and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

:

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall (if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine.
It opened and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with
Crl-Alt-Del nor can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I
get nothing when I attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Check with Symantec Support: There may be a NIS setting or <spit> Norton
Add-on installed that's denying access to Task Manager, Jeff. (If you'd
answered No to the other questions, I'd suspect a hijackware infection,
which still may be a possibility).

Also let me ask: Did you upgrade to NIS 2008 from an earlier version of any
Norton application (e.g., NIS2005; NAV 2006)?
--
~PA Bear

Sorry for the serial replies...

Yes I can open/view the security tab.

Start/Run/Taskmanager.exe does not work.

I'm running Norton Internet Security 2008 with no other security
software...
except there is a firewall in my BEC DSL modem.

Yes... regedit opens.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

Pa Bear...

I will check with Symantec... but doubt NIS is the culprit.

I think the PC Magazine Task Manager replacement utility I installed and ran
for a couple weeks must have blocked the Windows Task Manager.
Unfortunately... removing the PC Mag utility did not remove their block.

As I said in one of my posts here... I find taskmgr.exe on my hard drive but
it won't start. When I double click I get nothing... no error message...
nothing.

I don't know if the PC Mag taskmanager.exe block is inside taskmgr.exe or
they block it somewhere else.

jeff

Check with Symantec Support: There may be a NIS setting or <spit> Norton
Add-on installed that's denying access to Task Manager, Jeff. (If you'd
answered No to the other questions, I'd suspect a hijackware infection,
which still may be a possibility).

Also let me ask: Did you upgrade to NIS 2008 from an earlier version of any
Norton application (e.g., NIS2005; NAV 2006)?
--
~PA Bear

Sorry for the serial replies...

Yes I can open/view the security tab.

Start/Run/Taskmanager.exe does not work.

I'm running Norton Internet Security 2008 with no other security
software...
except there is a firewall in my BEC DSL modem.

Yes... regedit opens.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[JS]

Copy the file C:\window\system32\taskmgr.exe to your My Documents folder.
Then go to your My Documents folder and double click on 'taskmgr.exe' and
see if this works.
Note: Do not confuse 'taskmgr.exe' with a similar file named 'taskman.exe'.

JS

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows
cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another
site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repost:

Pa Bear...

I will check with Symantec... but doubt NIS is the culprit.

I think the PC Magazine Task Manager replacement utility I installed and
ran
for a couple weeks must have blocked the Windows Task Manager.
Unfortunately... removing the PC Mag utility did not remove their block.

As I said in one of my posts here... I find taskmgr.exe on my hard drive
but
it won't start. When I double click I get nothing... no error message...
nothing.

I don't know if the PC Mag taskmanager.exe block is inside taskmgr.exe or
they block it somewhere else.

Check with Symantec Support: There may be a NIS setting or <spit> Norton
Add-on installed that's denying access to Task Manager, Jeff. (If you'd
answered No to the other questions, I'd suspect a hijackware infection,
which still may be a possibility).

Also let me ask: Did you upgrade to NIS 2008 from an earlier version of
any
Norton application (e.g., NIS2005; NAV 2006)?
--
~PA Bear

Sorry for the serial replies...

Yes I can open/view the security tab.

Start/Run/Taskmanager.exe does not work.

I'm running Norton Internet Security 2008 with no other security
software...
except there is a firewall in my BEC DSL modem.

Yes... regedit opens.

:

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[Jeff Ingman]

To all who replied to my original post... thanks.

I just received a reply to an email I sent PC Magazine. They suggested I
reinstall the PC Utility that cause the problem and uncheck the disable Task
Manager option. This solved my problem.

Thanks

jeff
.........................

Copy the file C:\window\system32\taskmgr.exe to your My Documents folder.
Then go to your My Documents folder and double click on 'taskmgr.exe' and
see if this works.
Note: Do not confuse 'taskmgr.exe' with a similar file named 'taskman.exe'.

JS

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows
cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system somehow.

jeff

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another
site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

:

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What utility, Spyware Doctor?

To all who replied to my original post... thanks.

I just received a reply to an email I sent PC Magazine. They suggested I
reinstall the PC Utility that cause the problem and uncheck the disable
Task
Manager option. This solved my problem.

Thanks

jeff
........................

Copy the file C:\window\system32\taskmgr.exe to your My Documents folder.
Then go to your My Documents folder and double click on 'taskmgr.exe' and
see if this works.
Note: Do not confuse 'taskmgr.exe' with a similar file named
'taskman.exe'.

JS

Just did a search on my C drive for taskmgr.exe. I found it in
C:\window\system32. But when I try to start it I get a message saying
Windows
cannot find the file.

So it looks like the software is there but hidden from the system
somehow.

jeff

:

By the way... I found instructions to reinstall Task Manager on another
site
and followed instructions. But this did not help.

jeff

:

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
firewall
(if any)?

Can you open Regedit?

Start | Run | (type in) regedit | [OK]

Can you open IE Tools | Internet Options | Security tab?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Jeff Ingman wrote:
I installed a Task Manager replacement utility from PC magazine. It
opened
and ran slowly so I uninstalled it.

But Task Manager has not come back. It does not open with Crl-Alt-Del
nor
can I right click on the Task Bar to start it. I get nothing when I
attempt
to start it - no error message... nothing.

I'm running XP Pro on a 3 year old Dell XPS.

Any quick fixes?