XP Task Manager doesnt work

[antgross@pacbell.net]

This is a problem I haven't seen before: Ctl-AL-del does not bring up the task manager anymore in my win XP comp and I can't access it by right clicking on the toolbar either. I've run various anti-spyware progs and antivirus and nothing has been found. Also, Msconfig doesn't work either. The task manager appears for about a second and then flips off.

Any ideas?

[rightcoast]

This is almost always a spyware or virus problem. I know that W32.Spybot.Worm among others can do this. To get back regedit/msconfig/task manager , login to safe mode. Goto Tools-> Options in the Explorer window and check 'show hidden files' and uncheck 'Hide operating sys files ...... ' .

Goto System32 folder, there if you find 'msconf2' or 'msconf' . Delete that file. And run 'msconfig' and remove all the unnecessary start-up items.

Now get into the normal mode, install your malware software you don't have from the list below
Ad-Aware
Spybot
Microsoft Anti-Spyware

I would be fully sure your antivirus is updated (check the definitions date) (and Windows Updates) and scan your system with it, and the spyware scanners in safe mode.

I also like this online scan
http://www.spywareinfo.com/xscan.php
for spyware

and this one for other malware
http://housecall.trendmicro.com

After doing all of this, feel free to post a Hijackthis log in the security forum. Just be sure you do all this stuff first.
HTH

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Thanks. I nailed the bugger internet.exe with Spybot S and D. It was hiding in windows system32 directory. Somehow it snuck through yahoo mail system scan on the server side and into my email and then into my computer. I was only able to find it by running antispyware from safe mode. I then went to my registry and deleted any mention of internet.exe to be safe.

I rebooted and everything works fine now.

[rightcoast]

Cool...
Glad your up and running smooth