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Trial version of Trend Micro PC-cillin 2004 Internet Security

PC-cillin includes a firewall, but for a more customizable one, look for the ZoneAlarm free version link on the Software Finds and Wants board.

Infected? With the Windows virus, perhaps.

Can you boot into safe mode?

Doug–

Take a look at the Task Manager write-up here–note that viruses can mess with it, but there is a link to a regedit or VB script that will often restore/enable Task Manager in the second link below:

Kelly’s A-Z>”T”>Task Manager.

Line 51 Enable Task Manager

Also if you happen to have XP Pro:

Start/Run/gpedit.msc. User Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/Crtl+Alt+Del Options. In the right pane double click Remove Task Manager and enable it.

There is a registry hack to enable or disable the Task Manager you might try:

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
Name: DisableTaskMgr
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
Value: 0=Disablethis key, that is Don’t Disable, Enable TaskManager

As part of the enhanced management available in Windows 2000 and Windows XP, rather than risking a registry change, as an administrator you can enable or disable Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP Pro’s TaskManager using Group Policy Editor. This can be applied to the local policy. Note: if you are trying to override your organizations group policy, you can’t. As soon as you re-authenticate to the domain, the domain or OU Group Policy will rewrite the registry setting. But if the TaskManager was accidently disabled or you need to control this item for a set of standalone boxes this is for you:

Click Start
Click Run
Enter gpedit.msc in the Open box and click OK
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 the policy, you are enabling the Task Manager.

SMBP

Doug–

Take a look at the Task Manager write-up here–note that viruses can mess with it, but there is a link to a regedit or VB script that will often restore/enable Task Manager in the second link below:

Kelly’s A-Z>”T”>Task Manager.

Line 51 Enable Task Manager

Also if you happen to have XP Pro:

Start/Run/gpedit.msc. User Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/Crtl+Alt+Del Options. In the right pane double click Remove Task Manager and enable it.

There is a registry hack to enable or disable the Task Manager you might try:

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
Name: DisableTaskMgr
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
Value: 0=Disablethis key, that is Don’t Disable, Enable TaskManager

As part of the enhanced management available in Windows 2000 and Windows XP, rather than risking a registry change, as an administrator you can enable or disable Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP Pro’s TaskManager using Group Policy Editor. This can be applied to the local policy. Note: if you are trying to override your organizations group policy, you can’t. As soon as you re-authenticate to the domain, the domain or OU Group Policy will rewrite the registry setting. But if the TaskManager was accidently disabled or you need to control this item for a set of standalone boxes this is for you:

Click Start
Click Run
Enter gpedit.msc in the Open box and click OK
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 the policy, you are enabling the Task Manager.

SMBP

Doug–

I wasn’t trying to minimize that viral causes that Mark and Jefferson referenced and they may well be ahead of the pack in causing Task Manager loss because every time that comes up there is a lot of discussion here and elsewhere about viruses that are known to do this. In the Kelly link there are write-ups for Spybot Worm, Klez, and Yaha probably are others and finding and booting one may well solve the problem.

SMBP

Doug–

I wasn’t trying to minimize that viral causes that Mark and Jefferson referenced and they may well be ahead of the pack in causing Task Manager loss because every time that comes up there is a lot of discussion here and elsewhere about viruses that are known to do this. In the Kelly link there are write-ups for Spybot Worm, Klez, and Yaha probably are others and finding and booting one may well solve the problem.

SMBP