[RESOLVED] missing task manager

[shooter bob]

ok, there is no task manager on my computer anymore. i tried ctrl+alt+delete one day and nothing showed up. nothing happened. i tried ctrtl+shift+esc, but that didn't work. i looked up the task manager in the "help and support" program then i clicked "open windows task manager" then, a window popped up and said,

This program could not startThe operating system could not start this program. This may happen if:

Your computer is on a network.

If a system administrator controls your computer, you should ask the administrator why you cannot start the program. Your administrator might have removed the program or set a policy that prevents you from starting it.

You need to install the necessary hardware.

Some programs are installed automatically when you install the hardware associated with them.

You need to install the necessary software.

The program might not be installed on your computer because:

It is an optional component. To add components after completing Setup, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove Programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components.
It is a Value Added component. To install a Value Added component, insert the Windows XP installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Click Browse this CD, and double-click the Valueadd folder. After you read the valueadd.htm file, browse through the folders to find the installation icon for the program that you want to install. Double-click the icon and follow the directions on the screen.
You have not installed the hardware that uses this program.
If your computer is on a network, your system administrator may have removed this program or set a policy that prevents you from starting it.
You need to re-install the program file.

The program file may have been accidentally deleted or corrupted. If you know the name of the file that is missing, you can copy the compressed version from the operating system installation compact disc to your hard drive, and then restore it by doing the following:

Insert the installation compact disc.
Click Browse the CD.
In the folder list, open the I386 or IA64 folder.
Find the name of the missing file.
Note The last letter in the file name extension will be replaced by an underscore because it is a compressed version of the file. For example, notepad.exe is called notepad.ex_ on the installation compact disc.

Copy the compressed file to your systemroot\System32 folder on your hard drive.
Click Start, click Run, and then type:
expand %systemroot%\system32\my_file_name.ex_ %systemroot%\system32\my_file_name.exe
and then press ENTER.
You are running Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.

If you are running Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, the program might not be available. The information or program that you are trying to locate is not applicable in this version of Windows, and it is not contained in your current documentation set.

You need to access an Active Directory snap-in.

You can use Remote Desktop on Windows XP to access Terminal Services on a Windows 2000 Server that has the snap-in available. For more information about using Remote Desktop and Windows 2000 Terminal Services, see:

To create a new connection
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Documentation (http://www.microsoft.com/)

so what can i do? help me please!

[Welshjim]

shooter bob--The executable for TaskManager is taskman.exe. Run a Search for taskman.exe. Do you find it?
If not, the directions for reinstalling it are given in the error message you posted.
If you do find it, this might help
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/nt/.../rtips56.shtml
http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...000_and_xp.htm

Lots of other references
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...e+task+manager

[shooter bob]

nothing came up in the search and i'm too computer illiterate to understand what the error message is trying to tell me. so would you be so kind as to translate it into normal people english please?

[shooter bob]

ok, ignore tht last one.

i found the task manager(taskmgr not taskman) and if i click on it the task manager will pop up. but, the ctrl+alt+delete thing still won't work, how do i fix that?

[Welshjim]

shooter bob--You are correct. The correct name for the executable file is taskmgr.exe. So at least you can now access TaskManager by clicking on that file. You can also make a shortcut to that .exe (right click|Create Shortcut) and put it in a convenient place, like Desktop.
Where did you find that .exe?
I have never run Win2000. My experience is with WinXP and I probably should not have responded to your post.
In WinXP taskmgr.exe should be in C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\System32\DLLCache. You could put a copy of taskmgr.exe into those two files. It cannot hurt. Does Control+Alt+Delete work now?
If not, here is a slightly doctored version of the important parts of the message you got.
"Insert the installation compact disc.
Click Browse the CD.
In the folder list, open the I386 or IA64 folder.
Find taskmgr.ex_.
Note The last letter in the file name extension will be replaced by an underscore because it is a compressed version of the file. For example, notepad.exe is called notepad.ex_ on the installation compact disc.

Copy the compressed file to your systemroot\System32 folder on your hard drive, as follows:
Click Start, click Run, and then type:
expand %systemroot%\system32\taskmgr.ex_ %systemroot%\system32\taskmgr.exe and then press ENTER. "
Do not worry about the fancy words, like systemroot. Just copy the bolded type, insert into the Run line and press ENTER.
Does Control+Alt+Delete work now?
If not, suggestions of "fixes" that work for WinXP are here
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
Click on T and then scroll to TaskManager.
Another source is
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
See 51 Right and 113 Left.
If nothing has worked so far, note that in the first reference link above there is a chance your problem is due to spyware. You may then want to follow the procedure here.
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=167915

P.S. Still based on WinXP, there are two other ways to access TaskManager.
1) Right click on a blank spot on the Taskbar (very bottom of your screen). The context menu offers TaskManager. Click on it.
2) Start|Run|type taskmgr|Enter.
But neither is a cure for a Control+Alt+Delete that does not work.

[shooter bob]

ok, neither of them worked. i'm actually running winXP. (i know this thread is under win2000, but i'm new so please don't jump on my back about that) and next time please do your best to explain it to me with less computer jargon, ur confusing me.

[Welshjim]

shooter bob--I once knew absolutely zilch about PC's and know how I needed clear guidance to do anything.
Since you have WinXP, how long ago did the problem start? If only a few days you might try a System Restore to a date before the problem started.
If that does not help...
I gather you tried both 51 Right and 113 Left in the link mentioned above.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
I also have learned that 275 Left may help.
Did you reboot afterwards?
Have you run a Search for taskmgr.exe and tried to copy it into the C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\System32\DLLCache folders? Did you reboot after doing that? Did that work?
If you could not find taskmgr.exe or if physically copying it did not help, try this (which appears in a slightly different form in the link http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm on the T page under Task Manager)
Taskmgr.exe should be listed in the %SystemRoot%\system32 directory. (%SystemRoot% usually means C:\Windows.) If you cannot find the file, you can extract it from the Windows XP CD. To do so, you can perform the following steps:

a. With your mouse cursor, highlight the following words
expand taskmgr.ex_ %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\taskmgr.exe , and copy them by simultaneously clicking Control+C.
b. Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM.
c. Click Start, Run, type cmd and press Enter.
d. At the Command Prompt mode (flashing line), type the following commands:

(First, however, step e. assumes that the drive letter of your CD-ROM is F: (check that before you start).
Adjust the F: in step e. if your CD-ROM drive has some other drive letter.)

e. type F: , click Enter.
f. type cd \i386 , click Enter.
g. Since you will be in a window that looks like a DOS window, you will click the little "C:\" icon at the very top left and click Edit and then Paste. That should paste the words you copied in step a.) Then click Enter. (If you get a message other than announcing success, write it down and post here. )Reboot.
Does Control+Alt+Delete work now?
If still no success, there are other ideas in http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm on the T page under Task Manager. One of them is that you may have spyware on your PC. I have already suggested this link.
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=167915
Good luck and post your results.

[Welshjim]

shooter bob--Any chance that you disabled Task Manager by playing in the Registry?
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kba...XPHomePro.html

[shooter bob]

ok sweet, i tried everything and i don't know which one did it but it works now so thanks alot.

[Welshjim]

shooter bob--Thanks for posting back. Glad to hear the good news.