Windows XP problem

[raydeon]

When I press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys I get the msg: " Task Manager has been disabled by you administrator". This function always worked in the past, until a few days ago.

I have run Norton A/V and Ad-Aware programs and they do not detect any viruses or Spywares.

I am the only user of this computer (home).
How do I re-enable the Task Manager function?

 

[dabosss]

A friend had a similar problem recently, try the instructions on this page, hope this helps. If not come back and we'll see if we can't get you hooked up!

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Taskmanager_error.htm

 

[baci2004]

Check and see if you are logged in as 'guest'. If so, login as the admin.

 

[raydeon]

Windows xp

A friend had a similar problem recently, try the instructions on this page, hope this helps. If not come back and we'll see if we can't get you hooked up!

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Taskmanager_error.htm

Thanks daboss, but no success so far.

I used method #3 and changed Disable Task Manager data from 1 to 0.
Tried and got same results as before. Rebooted, same results. Cheched regedit again, and data had been reset to a 1 during rebooting.

Also, when I reboot, after I get the desktop display, a small black window appears for a few seconds, ( the Command Prompt C:\) . Nothing in the window. The file name is:C:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe

That never occured before. Is there a connection to the problem. Should that file exists, or is it an adware or spyware? Is it that file that resetsTask Manager to a 1 at my insu?
Should I delete that file manually ?


baci2004, I log in as administrator. Since I am the sole user of that computer the guest user is disabled.

 

[shawnbg]

If you're using XP Professional, use Method #4 in the link daboss attached. Changing the setting in the registry won't work on XP Pro, because there's a Group Policy that will just reset that setting every time your computer restarts.

Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor - for Windows XP Professional
Click Start, Run, type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Navigate to this path
User Configuration
=> Administrative Templates
==> System
===> Ctrl+Alt+Delete Options
====> Remove Task Manager

Double-click the Remove Task Manager option.
Set the policy to Not Configured.
Reboot.

Note: If for some reason this doesn't work, go into Control Panel| Administrative Tools|Computrer Management| and then click Local Users & Groups and then add your user account to the Administrators group.

 

[raydeon]

Window xp...continuing saga

I think this is same fix mentioned but 1 extra step, I think:

Go to Start…. Run… type in this (without quotes)
“REG add CU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f”

After this the ctrl-alt-delete menu should work again but if you reboot something will probably change the reg key back. Check what is running at boot with:

C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\msconfig.exe

You can look for what is running at startup and disable anything that looks suspicious. ie. look at "startup" tab in msconfig. Uncheck anything you want to..

Let me know how it went!

Cheers mmm goi

I tried by pasting your patch in Run....didn't change anything.
I then manually inserted the /f after the 0. Tried Ctrl+Alt+del. It worked ok, but after I rebooted, the problem came back as you suspected it would.

I looked at the Start Up table. I didn't see anything that looked suspicious, but I could be wrong. I wanted to copy that table to send it to you, but didn't find a way to do it.

Something is disabling the Task Manager at boot Up. If no one comes with a solution, I guess I have to reformat the drive and reload Windows xp.....Not looking forward to that.
Thanks mmm_go.

shawnbg, I am using xp home edition.

 

[raydeon]

more....

I tried to run a diagnostic Start Up, loading only the basics devices.
I get the message:" Access denied......You need to log as an administrator....

I am the administrator. I don't understand.

 

[raydeon]

did you try creating a new user

Tried that. Also gave the new user Administrator privileges. Same results.

 

[shawnbg]

The only other thing that would be keeping the registry fix from working is that you have running spyware that loads it again at reboot, as per the article below. Download and run some spyware removers to remove the spyware and then run the registry fix below.

http://www.averyjparker.com/2005/12/29/task-manager-has-been-disabled-by-your-administrator/

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/EnableTM.reg

 

[diver]

You might try using a restore point if everything was working before. Just go back a couple of months to when things were working and let xp do the reconfiguring for you. Go to acessories in the start menu and click on system tools. You'll find system restore there. Doing it this way you can't do any harm and you may not have to experiment with registry changes.

 

[ruck]

it's a corrupted file.
Do a google search on the error message you are getting.
It works everytime for me.

 

[ham2004]

At the logon screen

Press Control-Alt-Delete twice (within 5 seconds of each other)

In the login screen type

Administrator

Password is blank

Go to users and Administrators to your users profile.