Can not start Task Manager

  • Thread starter Thread starter jsmith72
  • Start date Start date
J

jsmith72

I noticed recently that I am unable to start Task Manager neither by
pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del nor by right clicking on Windows Notification
area and selecting Task Manager. I do not receive any messages nothing
at all happens. When I try to start C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
directly, I receive the following error:
"The specified path does not exist. Check the path and try again."
What I've done so far:
Ran Norton Antivirus (in Safe mode and in regular mode)
Ran Spybot Search & Destroy (in Safe mode and in regular mode)
Ran Windows Malicious Software removal tool
Reinstalled taskmgr.exe by extracting it from the Windows XP CD
Tried to use registry scripts listed on
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm to enable Task Manager.

Nothing works, so far, the Task Manager still does not execute.

Any ideas what I need to do?
 
If you have Windows XP Professional then do one thing:

1. Click Start - Run - type GPEDIT.MSC and press enter
2. Expand To:
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
System
Ctrl+Alt+Del Option
3. Look in the right side pane. Set all 4 options in the right side pane to
"Disable" if they are already configured to "Not Configured" or "Enable"

If that doesn't help then or you have Windows XP Home Edition

1. Click Start - Run - type REGEDIT and press enter
2. Expand To:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.

In the right-side pane, check if the value exists like:

DisbaleChangePassword
DisbaleLockWorkstation
DisableTaskMgr

Delete all those entries.

Check if you can open Task Manager now or Restart your computer once.

Meanwhile check the following link and see if this helps you:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555480

Let us know, if any of works.
 
I have Windows XP Professional; so I followed your instructions and
changed Ctrl+Alt+Del Options from "Not Configured" to "Disable" -- did
not help.
Also I removed DisbaleChangePassword, DisbaleLockWorkstation,
DisableTaskMgr
from registry, this did not help as well.

Also, I still receive error message when I am trying to execute
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe. The error says:
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe. The specified path does not exist.
Check the path and try again."
 
I noticed recently that I am unable to start Task Manager neither by
pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del nor by right clicking on Windows Notification
area and selecting Task Manager. I do not receive any messages; nothing
at all happens. When I try to start C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
directly, I receive the following error:
"The specified path does not exist. Check the path and try again."
What I've done so far:
Ran Norton Antivirus (in Safe mode and in regular mode)
Ran Spybot Search & Destroy (in Safe mode and in regular mode)
Ran Windows Malicious Software removal tool
Reinstalled taskmgr.exe by extracting it from the Windows XP CD
Tried to use registry scripts listed on
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm to enable Task Manager.

Nothing works, so far, the Task Manager still does not execute.

Any ideas what I need to do?
Click to expand...

Though you reinstalled Task Manager, maybe there are still missing
files. Click Start, Run, type SFC /SCANNOW, click OK. If any are
damaged or missing files, they'll be replaced. You may need to reboot
afterwards so damaged files will be replaced.

Also consider using a Restore Point dated before the problem first occurred.
 
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