Question

Task Manager Gone!

Asked by: Kabron

Hey everybody!

My Task Manager in Windows XP Professional was giving me a wierd error:

"taskmgr.exe - Application Error"

I searched google and forums like crazy to find an answer - I found nothing.

I decided I would download an alternative to the default Windows Task Manager, it was no good so I deleted it out of the System32 directory. Woops! No Task Manager now.

I need help on getting my Task Manager back, I have my Windows XP Professional disc, and I am guessing a lot of you are probably thinking: Console Recovery. Please give me detailed info!

Thanks!

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Asked On
2003-12-25 at 22:03:52ID20834763
Tags

task

,

manager

Topics

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

,

Adobe Type Manager

Participating Experts
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: danhalenPosted on 2003-12-25 at 23:33:16ID: 10001217

I`ll email you one

Have you tried replacing the file?

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2003-12-26 at 00:03:36ID: 10001265

What "alternative to the Task manager" did you download, install, and subsequently delete.

Was it an installable alternative, or a single standalone file?
If it was installed, did you use the proper method to uninstall it, or just delete one or more files?

System Recovery is only as good as what you have made it.  Before installing applications, or making other changes to your system, you should create and name a restore point that you can claw back if something goes wrong.  A lot of Windows Updates will do this automatically, but third-party applications won't usually do so.

Run the System Recovery Console and see what backups are available for a restore.

Failing that, reinstalling Windows over itself will usually restre missing or corrupt files, but might necessitate reinstalling some applications, and certainly you should then reinstall windows patches and updates.

You should start reading up on the internal help files, or using online resources:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gettingstarted/guide/backup.asp

 

by: sramesh2kPosted on 2003-12-26 at 07:17:16ID: 10002117

It may be a virus. Run a full system scan and eliminate the viruses. Extract a new copy of taskmgr.exe from XP CD.

 

by: GnartPosted on 2003-12-26 at 07:21:00ID: 10002143

Your alternative task manager may have been a trojan/keylogger that was not coded well enough to hide itself so task manager was removed to keep you from detecting it.  In addition to scan for virus (above) scan for trojan and spyware.  Your system may have been compromised.

cheers

 

by: sunray_2003Posted on 2003-12-26 at 11:05:50ID: 10002954

In this link  http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

check out #113. Try the repair fix first and then if it doesnot work , try enable  taskmanager ..

Sunray

 

by: KabronPosted on 2003-12-26 at 14:02:49ID: 10003507

Well, I installed XP fresh and within hours it started happening. I have scanned my system with NAV 2004, and Trend Micro's House Call. Nothing found.

The alternative Task Manager was a single exe that I had to place in the System32 folder to get it to open when pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

Sunray_2003, that is just the key to make it work with Alt+Ctrl+Delete I believe. I ran the repair and I am going to seek an original copy of taskmgr.exe and put it back in the System32 folder.

This is why I love Linux.... :)

 

by: Xtreme-XPosted on 2003-12-29 at 20:43:41ID: 10014486

use the Syetem File Checker... it should replace ur exe if it has been modified...

SFC /SCANNOW

 

by: KabronPosted on 2003-12-30 at 02:23:55ID: 10015345

I ran System File Checker, no dice. Anybody else have any ideas? Please send me a copy of taskmgr.exe to kabron@columbus.rr.com.

 

by: Xtreme-XPosted on 2003-12-30 at 03:09:46ID: 10015525

I Just sent you a copy.......

also....

are there any errors or warning in your event log....

application and system....
both before you delete the file and after?

and with the file that i sent if that works how far does task manager make it...
ie... does the error message pop up without displaying task manager at all or
does that task manager show up and then the error pops up??

also..... is the computer stable otherwise..... enough to eliminate ram as a very slight potential...

 

by: sunray_2003Posted on 2003-12-30 at 23:52:12ID: 10020591

Is this allowed in EE  by sending through email ?

Sunray

 

by: KabronPosted on 2003-12-30 at 23:57:24ID: 10020603

I believe anything is allowed to fix the problem. And your solution was money Xtreme. For future problems please tell others to download this file and run it:

http://www.esystemscomputing.com/downloads/TaskManager_Reset.reg


And then tell them to download the replacement taskmgr.exe from:

http://www.esystemscomputing.com/downloads/taskmgr.zip.

Both files have been scanned with Norton AntiVirus 2004 Professional and Ad-Aware 6.0 both with latest definitons.


 

by: KabronPosted on 2003-12-30 at 23:58:11ID: 10020604

Also, tell them to put that taskmgr.exe in the %WINDOWS%/System32/

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2003-12-31 at 11:35:51ID: 10023092

Ig you look at Sunray_2003's comment above, the reference was to Repair No. 13 on http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm.  The advice was to "Try the repair fix first".

The "Repair" link is to the file "http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/TaskManager_Reset.reg"

Download this file, and then rename it to anything.  Then download your own linked file:  "http://www.esystemscomputing.com/downloads/TaskManager_Reset.reg".

Now compare the 2 files sid-by-side in NotePad.  Remarkable coincidence.

You made the comment after Sunray_2003's suggestion: >> "Sunray_2003, that is just the key to make it work with Alt+Ctrl+Delete I believe. I ran the repair and I am going to seek an original copy of taskmgr.exe and put it back in the System32 folder". <<

Reinstalling Windows over itself would not only have restored the missing setting, but also the file itself.

Alternatively, as suggested by XtremeX, using SFC should have replaced the file.  If this option failed, then it was most likely because the file was already present and not corrupt.  The options SFC /purgecache Reboot then SFC /scannow may well have worked:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/system_file_checker.asp

The EXPAND command would have allowed you to restore the file from your CD:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/system_file_checker.asp

EXPAND  x:\i386\TASKMGR.EX_   c:\windows\system32\TASKMGR.EXE

This option is also available from:

1. the Recovery Console by booting to the CD on a system that cannot boot to windows, and then running it from the options
2. installing it from the CD x:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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