Question : Task Manager Missing

Working on school teachers computer. She needed a new optical drive. I discover that Task Manager
will not function nor does Regedit. The Regedit error says"another program is currently using this file".
As for the Task Manager crl alt delete has no response. When I right click on the tool bar it shows me Task
Manager but it will not highlight. I have ran several Virus scans with no results. Also ran Fixblast from Symantic but it did not find Spybot Worm. She is running Xp with all current updates and service packs  on a Sony Viao Pcv-Rs 530G. Any suggestions?

Answer : Task Manager Missing

The virus could've disabled those utilitites, those are just the results. For example, Alcan worm and many others can disable task manager and regedit by creating a taskmgr.com and or regedit.com in the system32 folder.
If it is caused by worms/trojans then you need to get rid of the cause instead of just fixing the symptoms.

Try these scanners:
1. SUPERAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/


2. Download SDFix and save it to your desktop.
http://downloads.andymanchesta.com/RemovalTools/SDFix.zip

Double click SDFix.exe and it will extract the files to %systemdrive%
(Drive that contains the Windows Directory, typically C:\SDFix)

Please then reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following :

* Restart your computer
* After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, tap the F8 key continually;
*  Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu with options should appear;
*  Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode, then press "Enter".
*  Choose your usual account.

*  Open the extracted folder and double click "RunThis.bat" to start the script.
*  Type "Y" to begin the script.
*  It will remove the Trojan Services then make some repairs to the registry and prompt you to press any key to Reboot.
*  Press any Key and it will restart the PC.
*  Your system will take longer that normal to restart as the fixtool will be running and removing files.
*  When the desktop loads the Fixtool will complete the removal and display "Finished", then press any key to end the script and load your desktop icons.
*  Finally open the SDFix folder on your desktop and copy and paste the contents of the results file "Report.txt" back