Task Manager corrupted?

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fc42

A friend wrote me with a problem that I can't find any answer for. He said:

"I got an "Update" notice from Windows for XP and just like usual, I did the
update. Then I restarted my computer.

Then I pushed alt-ctrl-delete to shut down some of the background programs
and the task-manager box no longer has an "X" in the upper right hand corner
to shut down that box. The Task Manager won't go away, either.

The only thing I can do is make the box as small as I can and then place it
on the screen somewhere. It won't go into the background when you open
another program either."

I've searched for an answer to this with no luck. Has anyone run into this
before?

I also downloaded the update on the same day and had no problems, so I don't
think that's the cause. I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer. Thanks.
 
A friend wrote me with a problem that I can't find any answer for. He said:

"I got an "Update" notice from Windows for XP and just like usual, I did the
update. Then I restarted my computer.

Then I pushed alt-ctrl-delete to shut down some of the background programs
and the task-manager box no longer has an "X" in the upper right hand corner
to shut down that box. The Task Manager won't go away, either.

The only thing I can do is make the box as small as I can and then place it
on the screen somewhere. It won't go into the background when you open
another program either."

I've searched for an answer to this with no luck. Has anyone run into this
before?

I also downloaded the update on the same day and had no problems, so I don't
think that's the cause. I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer. Thanks.
Click to expand...

There are several things to consider here. The Task Manager issue is
simple. If you doubleclick somewhere in the beige portion of the Task
Manager window (anywhere there's no text), the Task Manager window
should return to normal functionality (the title bar, max/min/close
buttons, etc, should return). That's easy.

Here's the not so easy part. Microsoft DOES NOT email updates. The
update notice emailed to you (your friend?) contained a virus, likely
Gibe / Swen. If your friend applied the update, he is infected and is
likely sending out the infection to dozens of friends and/or
strangers.

He needs to read these articles, and fix his computer STAT.
http://www.europe.f-secure.com/v-descs/swen.shtml
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=description&virus_k=100662
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]


Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
Chuck said:
Thanks.

There are several things to consider here. The Task Manager issue is
simple. If you doubleclick somewhere in the beige portion of the Task
Manager window (anywhere there's no text), the Task Manager window
should return to normal functionality (the title bar, max/min/close
buttons, etc, should return). That's easy.

Here's the not so easy part. Microsoft DOES NOT email updates. The
update notice emailed to you (your friend?) contained a virus, likely
Gibe / Swen. If your friend applied the update, he is infected and is
likely sending out the infection to dozens of friends and/or
strangers.

He needs to read these articles, and fix his computer STAT.
http://www.europe.f-secure.com/v-descs/swen.shtml
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=description&virus_k=100662
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]


Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
Click to expand...


The double clicking thing worked and my friend thinks I'm a genius. I think
you're one, so thank you! (He and his wife are headed off on a cruise today
and he would have fretted about this all week.)

As for the update notification, it wasn't an email, it was the automatic
update windows notification screen that pops up. It wasn't easy but I have
finally trained him to be suspicious of all email - security patches,
hoaxes, etc. Thanks again.
 
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