Why is Task Manager Disabled?
Some time ago I received an email from a reader curious why their Task Manager option was grayed out on the taskbar right-click menu. After a bit of research his problem was solved, and now I'm sharing the solution with everybody.
There is a registry key that will disable Task Manager, although it's not always clear how or why it was set to disable. In many cases the problem is related to spyware, so you should also scan your computer.
Why is task manager grayed out?
Manual Registry Hack
Open up regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then navigate down to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
On the right-hand side is a 32-bit REG_DWORD value named DisableTaskMgr with one of two values:
- 1 - Disable task manager
- 0 - Enable task manager
Just double-click and change the value, or even delete the key. The change should take place immediately.
Hi….
The Task Manager Registry Edit is different on my Vista system — there is no folder under Policies while you have a System folder. I don't suppose that folder is somehow hidden.
Cheers, Stephen
It works!! Thanks so much! I've needed this information for a long time.
You can also go to Start -> Run and type gpedit.msc and then in the Group Policy editor navigate to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Ctrl+Alt+Del Options and change the Remove Task Manager policy to Not Configured or Disabled.
Great suggestion, Dan. Thank you!
Thanks for this timely post. I read it a week or so ago, and then today, my task manager was greyed out, for some reason. I shall be scanning for spyware, but I appreciate this post for letting me turn it back on right now!
Thank you for sharing your time and experience.
Oh, man thank you so much, i know i have spyware though, so i will need to remove it somehow because i dont have any money. I'm still a teen.
hmm I've tried all this.
I have run the latest AVG (Free Edition) software and the latest Ad-Aware (2007) and all infections are removed. I still can't run regedit.exe (automatic system reboot) nor can I run task manager (automatic system reboot). I have checked the gpedit.msc and Ctr-Alt-Del options were not configured and even after setting these options to "disabled" it would not fix the problem.
I have downloaded and run a program called "Remover Restrictions Tool" (RRT.exe v1.0.4 by iSergiwa www.sergiwa.com) which said would fix the problem, but to no avail.
After having booted in "Safe Mode" and having tried all the above it still will not work.
Please help me!
@Jochem
Please download the latest version of RRT
RRT - v3.0 Beta
http://en.sergiwa.com/modules/.....&lid=1
If the problem presists even after using RRT, then it MUST be an active malware lurking in your PC.
Use a good & updated AV to get rid of it first, then use RRT to fix the malware leftovers
Thanks
I got rid of the bugger a few days ago. With the last updates of AVG it detected a Worm/Autoit.GH in the path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msmgs.exe
after healing it, everything worked as it supposed to! But nevertheless, that RRT-program is awesome. It let me into regedit (in safe mode) even though the virus had shut it down.
Thanks for the help!
Kind regards,
Jochem
I used vista home basic, so in the registry I did not found the System folder as your mention.
How can I do now, Geek?
i could not run regedit.exe on the run command. i did a scan for viruses. it found nothing on the system. i need alternatives.
Hey man thats so cool…It worked….its actually because of the spyware….thanks a lot….
hey this resolved my probs …. i need to get rid of the spyware …
Thanks! Spot on…
It works for me, thanks a lot
Hi,
Last night, I navigated to a website which tried to install some spyware. I have AVG and Windows Defender installed on Home Premium. First, AVG warning came up, and I clicked on "Deny access". After 3-4 AVG warnings, Defender warning came up, and I clicked on "Remove" to remove offending program.
Then, the task manager was disabled. Thanks, by following your post, I restored it. But, I am still searching for reason, why and who disabled tm and is their any normal way to restore it!
looking into this for ages
thanks mate!
Worked for me glad to have the task manager back- cheers!
Works a treat. Thanks for this quality advice. For SpyWare removal I recommend using HiJackThis. The name may sound a little dodgy, but the software gets rid of all the nasty's very well, restoring the corrupt entries to a pristine condition, and thats the main game.
Thank you very much for the info because i'v been trying to do that for ages. lol
thank u sooooooo much iv been surfing the web for hours now and ur the first person that knows what there doing thanks alot
Registry Editor has been diabled by your administrator
What do do now!!!!
Thank you! I thought I would never be able to close pesky programs again. Thank God you're here to mae things right again!
P.S. I had to delete the value permanentely. Changing the value didn't work. It was almost like the computer knew what I was doing…
iver im just whacked or my computer has shot it self in da head my regedit dnt work proplerly i get as far as windows and theres nofing ellse to link to
I don't mean to be rude but just type 'taskmgr' … you also need to learn the cpl etc commands don't be so dependent on GUI ( ohh wait you have vista its hopeless for you never mind … )
runas /user:Administrator "cmd.exe"
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL odbccp32.cpl
rundll32 shell32,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl
rundll32 shell32,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl
JRE\jre-6u2-windows-i586-p.exe" /s IEXPLORER=1 MOZILLA=1 ADDLOCAL=ALL REBOOT=Suppress JAVAUPDATE=1 JU=1 AUTOUPDATECHECK=0
Control
Panel access.cpl Accessibility
appwiz.cpl Add/Remove Programs
desk.cpl Display Settings
firewall.cpl Firewall
hdwwiz.cpl Add Hardware Wizard
inetcpl.cpl Internet Settings
intl.cpl International/Language
irprops.cpl Infrared/Wireless
joy.cpl Joysticks
main.cpl Mouse
mmsys.cpl Sound and Audio Devices
ncpa.cpl Network Connections
netsetup.cpl Network Setup Wizard
nusrmgr.cpl Users
odbccp32.cpl ODBC Settings
powercfg.cpl Power Management
sysdm.cpl System Properties
telephon.cpl Phone & Modem
timedate.cpl Clock/Calendar
wscui.cpl Security Center
wuaucpl.cpl Auto Update Settings
Microsoft
Windows
XP
Microsoft Service certmgr.msc Certificates
ciadv.msc Indexing Service
compmgmt.msc Computer Management
devmgmt.msc Device Manager
dfrg.msc Disk Defrag
diskmgmt.msc Disk Manager
eventvwr.msc Event Viewer
fsmgmt.msc Shared Folders
gpedit.msc Group Policy Editor
lusrmgr.msc Local Users & Groups
ntmsmgr.msc Removable Storage
ntmsoprq.msc Removable Storage Operator
perfmon.msc Reliability & Performance Monitor
rsop.msc Resultant Set of Policy
secpol.msc Local Security Settings
services.msc Services
wmimgmt.msc Windows Management Infrastructure
Microsoft
Windows
XP
Core
Program calc Calculator
cdplayer CD Player
charmap Character Map
cleanmgr Disk Cleanup
clipbrd Clipboard
command Command Prompt
cmd Command Prompt
control Control Panel
control printers Printers
defrag Disk Defrag Utility
drvspace Drive Space Utility for Drive Compression
dxdiag DirectX Diagnostic Utility
excel Microsoft Excel
freecell Freecell Game
inetwiz DUN Connection Wizard
iexplore Internet Explorer
msmsgs Windows Messenger
msnmsgr MSN Messenger
msimn Outlook Express
mplayer2 Windows Media Player v6.4
msconfig System Configuration Utility
mshearts Hearts Game
msinfo32 Accesses System Resource Information
msn MSN
msn6 MSN v7.0, v8.0, v8.5
notepad Notepad
outlook Microsoft Outlook
rasphone Dialup Networks
regedit Registry Editor
rstrui System Restore
rsrcmtr Loads Resource Meter Utility
scandskw Scandisk
scanregw Scan Registry
sndrec32 Sound Recorder
sndvol32 Sould Volume Utility
shrpubw Create A Shared Folder Wizard
sol Solitaire Game
sndvol32 Volume Control/Mixer
sysedit System Configuration Editor
sysmon System Monitor Utility
taskmgr Task Manager
telnet Telnet Client
tourstart Windows XP Tour Wizard
winipcfg Displays Internet Connection/Adapter Information
winver Displays Windows Version
wmplayer Windows Media Player
wordpad Wordpad
wupdmgr Connects to Windows Update
Microsoft
Windows
XP
System
Command control userpasswords2 Change Account Passwords
rundll32 devmgr.dll DeviceManager_Execute Device Manager
rundll32 diskcopy,DiskCopyRunDll
Show Copy Disk Window
rundll32 shell32,Control_RunDLL Control Panel
rundll32 shell32,Control_RunDLL X Start applet X of Control Panel ("X" = any CPL filename)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl
Add/remove programs
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL timedate.cpl,,0 Date/time settings
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL odbccp32.cpl
ODBC settings
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL DESK.CPL,@0,1
Screensaver Tab
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL NCPA.CPL,@0,2
Network Protocols
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL DESK.CPL,@0,3 Screen Size Tab
rundll32 shell32,OpenAs_RunDLL
Open The 'Open With…' Window
rundll32 shell32,ShellAboutA Info-Box
Open 'About Window Window'
rundll32 shell32,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl Open Display Properties
rundll32 user,cascadechildwindows
Cascade All Windows
rundll32 user,tilechildwindows Minimize All Child-Windows
rundll32 user,repaintscreen Refresh Desktop
rundll32 keyboard,disable Lock The Keyboard
rundll32 mouse,disable
Disable Mouse
rundll32 user,swapmousebutton Swap Mouse Buttons
rundll32 user,setcursorpos
Set Cursor Position To (0,0)
rundll32 user,wnetconnectdialog Show 'Map Network Drive' Window
rundll32 user,wnetdisconnectdialog Show 'Disconnect Network Disk' Window
rundll32 user,disableoemlayer Display The BSOD (blue screen of death) Window
rundll32 user,setcaretblinktime Set New Cursor Rate Speed
rundll32 user,setdoubleclicktime Set New DblClick Speed (Rate)
rundll32 rnaui.dll,RnaWizard Run 'Internet Connection Wizard'
rundll32 shell32,SHFormatDrive Run 'Format Disk (A)' Window
rundll32 shell32,SHExitWindowsEx -1 Cold Restart Of Windows Explorer
rundll32 shell32,SHExitWindowsEx 1 Shut Down Computer
rundll32 shell32,SHExitWindowsEx 0 Logoff Current User
rundll32 shell32,SHExitWindowsEx 2 Windows9x Quick Reboot
rundll32 krnl386.exe,exitkernel
Force Windows 9x To Exit (no confirmation)
rundll32 rnaui.dll,RnaDial "MyConnect" Run 'Net Connection' Dialog
rundll32 msprint2.dll,RUNDLL_PrintTestPage Choose & Print Test Page Of Current Printer
rundll32 sysdm.cpl,InstallDevice_Rundll Hardware installation wizard
rundll32 user,MessageBeep Default beep sound
win.ini Access a Windows Initialization Component
Thanks very much, it's much appreciated
thanks but do you have any clue why my comp keeps disabling task manager?
Thank you for posting this, it worked and I have my task manager back! Thank you again!
Thank you so much. You Rock!
my regedit.exe is not opening in the run command prompy…i tried ur solution ..but no hopee..i thier any alternative pls help me
@varun
Use this Tool
http://en.sergiwa.com/modules/.....&lid=1
I use RegAlyzer by the people who make spybot search & destory. So i could edit the registry and then enable the task manager aswell as a few other things.
Get RegAlyzer at http://www.spybot.info
Thanks a Million. That worked perfectly. Glad I looked it up before i repaired my system with Vista disc. Saved a great deal of time. Thanks again!
This is one of the easiest, fatest, and EFFECTIVE way ever. I've been reading on every forum and "how to" but all they wrote was giving me a headache not to mention waste of HD space by downloading like 3-5 programs to run. Thank you again. Really this just rocks !!!!
thank you so much
HI all,
Thank you soooo much. I d not know what to do anymore. Taskmanager was disabled. Fake warnings of spyware. nothing worked. In regedit when I tried to enable is (value 0) I could not change it. It was automatically reset to disabled. Even tried spybot, spysweeper, Spyware doctor and adware. tons of spyware were detected but once removed it was restored again witin 1 minute. It almost made me crazy. finalle tried. tried a program called a-squared malware and that was the only program that detected some executable file that was the cause of all this. removed and it seems to be gone for good now.
Hi,
Fantastic … Thanks for the explanation. It worked
But any idea how come suddenly Task Manager can get disabled??
Thanks,
Karthik.
Hi all……
I tried to change the value of disableTaskmanager option But it was changing to 1 automatically when i press the F5 i.e Refresh button in the meanwhile. Is it the virus which it was affecting that option to enable.
I was tried to scan with antivirus which i was having. but it scanned with full updated to till date it was resulted in No virus found on drive.
So please tried to understand situation and i hope to come with remedy……… Even i was working on this.
Actually what happens……
I was using pen drive which it was having one exe file called "Shahrokh.exe" It was not able delete the file from pen drive also. I inserted this pen drive then till time i am not able to optain back my TASKMANAGER & FOLDER OPTION in Tools Menu……
Thank u, for this valuable information. All my college systems are affected by " shahrokh.exe ", which disables task manager and removed folder option from control panel. This .exe file makes annoying window popup of c drive very frequently. If there is any advice on how to remove it and make system back to normal working mode, please send me a mail.
thanks so much for this, kind of odd why taskmgr is disabled on a brand new laptop though.
Thanxs so much it worked
Hey man thanks so much. It worked perfectly.
i had forgotten about this and was getting pretty frustrated, thank you for taking the time to post so i didnt have to throw my laptop against the wall.
Hi All,
I can see the following files even after I format my thumb drive…
1. autorun.exe
2. autorun.inf
3. shahrokh.exe
Even if I force delete the files, they are replicated again soon after the delete is completed.
The 3rd file is not hidden where as the other 2 files are hidden and cannot b viewed in the Window.
How can this infection be cleaned?
Thanks in advance
Inferano
wow it really worked. you are a genius =D next time i'll check here for anything i don't know =D