Task Manager disabled?

[Lucifers_Ghost]

So i wanted to go into my task manager but I cant.

If I right click on the taskbar, the option is greyed out. If I use ctrl+alt+delete, it says the task manager is disabled by the administrator. I AM logged in as the administrator and I have never disabled it.

What gives? Never seen this before.

How can I re-enable the task manager, if there is a way?

Thank you in advance
LG

[redwudz]

That is not uncommon with a virus or trojan malware infection. You might want to do a scan...........

[TBoneit]

As redwudz says. Common trick done by Malware (Malicious SoftWare). They do that so you can not close there running processes. You may also find that your anitvirus is disabled.

If you can get to free.grisoft.com download the free 14 day trial of AVG antispyware and the free AVG antivirus. Or go to www.grisoft.com and download the 30 day trial of AVG Internet security @ http://www.grisoft.com/doc/31/us/crp/0 install, update and then restart in safe mode to do the actual scan and clean.

Spybot Search and Destroy as the next thing to run. Among other things it will fix disabled security center warnings. Ad-Aware, Hosts File Reader as a easy way to check and reset the hosts file (Alternative do a search for hosts and delete it. It isn't really needed. Microsofts Windows Defender. You'll know you are getting there when the Task Manager works again. If your Antivirus is working and a current version then don't install a second AV software. OTOH if as I saw on a computer yesterday with a Norton AV 2002, way to old to keep up with todays threats.
Expired too.



Be very carefull downloading "free" spyware and Antivrus applications as many of them out there are bogus. They use good sounding names such as "WinAntiVirus" WinAntiSpyware" and so on... Of course they actually install more spyware.

Or just do full format install/Restore

[SLK001]

This sometimes happen to me when I have Photoshop open. The sonofabitch will hardly let me do anything. All that I have to do is close PS and it seems to relax all my restrictions.

[oldandinthe way]

tboneit's suggestions are right on. Lots more information if you google task manager disabled.

[12Quidkidinnit]

If you go to Control Panel, then System, and click on the Task Manager tab, is the box unchecked where it says "Turn Off System Restore On All Drives" ?



I had a non functioning task manager last year, and the bloke I bought my first computer from gave me the following tweaks as a fix.

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies \System
Name: DisableTaskMgr
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1=Enable this key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
Value: 0=Disable this key, that is Don't Disable, Enable TaskManager

If the value is set to 1=enable then highlight the value, click on the edit menu and modify.
Then change to 0

If this isn't the case then check the system policy setting

For the policy editor type gpedit.msc

In the Group Policy settings window
Select User Configuration
Select Administrative Templates
Select System
Select Ctrl+Alt+Delete options
Select Remove Task Manager
Double click the Remove Task Manager option

Since the policy is Remove Task Manager, by disabling this policy you are enabling the Task Manager

It looks a bit complicated at first glance, but I tried it and it worked.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Well, it was a spyware afterall. But, I had to get a new spyware program to find it.

Before posting here, I did run an AV check with AVG. Then I ran Spybot and AdAware with no success. I downloaded a trial of spyware doctor. No luck. Downloaded a trial of AVG Spyware and it found a reg key editor disabling the task manager. Removed it and now all is well.

Strange that nothing else found it. I run AV and the spyware proggies twice a week. When I ran them today, nothing else was found.

Ah well .. at least its resolved.

Thanks a ton

[classfour]

Strange.

Yep, Malware is Strange.

Thank God you didn't get the San Valentines Virus - All your stuff would be in Espaniol and you'd have to do a full wipe and restore.

1. One more reason I don't use McAfee!