Unable to bring up task mgr or set virtual memory size

[Dagrims]

Hoping for any tips with these two problems:

1. When I press ctrl-alt-del to bring up the Task
Manager, it comes up for a second and then completely
disappears. A little green icon appears in the right hand
corner of the task bar and disappears when I mouse over
it. How can I keep the Task Manager on the screen?

2. My paging file size (virtual memory) shows 0 MB. I
have tried to enter a custom size of 766 and then set it.
It requires a system restart, which I do. After restart,
I go back to the same screen and the paging file size
still shows as 0 MB even though the custom size of 766 MB
is checked. Any ideas how to get this changed?

Thanks for any assistance. I'm completely frustrated - my
computer's performance is incredibly slow, even with 512
MB RAM and 62 GB free hard drive space. I have a Dell
Dimension 4400.

 

[msnews.microsoft.com]

Have you scanned your computer via the internet for viruses.
I had a similar problem with my paging file after I completed a system
repair.
You might try a system restore to a time before these problems occured.

 

[Rock]

Hoping for any tips with these two problems:

1. When I press ctrl-alt-del to bring up the Task
Manager, it comes up for a second and then completely
disappears. A little green icon appears in the right hand
corner of the task bar and disappears when I mouse over
it. How can I keep the Task Manager on the screen?

2. My paging file size (virtual memory) shows 0 MB. I
have tried to enter a custom size of 766 and then set it.
It requires a system restart, which I do. After restart,
I go back to the same screen and the paging file size
still shows as 0 MB even though the custom size of 766 MB
is checked. Any ideas how to get this changed?

Thanks for any assistance. I'm completely frustrated - my
computer's performance is incredibly slow, even with 512
MB RAM and 62 GB free hard drive space. I have a Dell
Dimension 4400.

What if you try to run either regedit or msconfig from start | run? Do
they also just flash then disappear? If so it indicates you are
infected with at least one of three different worms that can cause this
type of problem.

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]