No Access To Task Manager

[moskaski]

Hi, having trouble with a computer at work, and cant access task manager and some other features, i tried running msconfig and it started and then killed itself straight away. When i try and start Task Manager, a message saying the administrator has blocked access to task manager, or something similar to that appears. This is when i have access as the administrator, this also happends when logged on as administrator in safe mode, I ran a virus scan from command line in safe mode thinking it was a virus but got the same result.

The computer is an oldish beast, and used to be part of an army network before the current system but im not sure if it has any third party software installed to prevent access to these features. I've was only asked to look at it yesterday, so have no idea about its history really and whether or not windows has been re-installed since the computer became redundant, as its still military property and hasn't gone through any cleansing process.

Its running windows xp pro sp2

I think this is a Chuckfickens one

[ChuckFickens]

Why me :)

It does sound like it has been infected by something that is trying to block the normal ways of removing/killing it.

I personally use the kaspersky rescue disk and malwarebytes and find that between them they will remove most nasties. you can download them from the links at the bottom of the answer.

The kaspersky rescue disk needs to be burnt onto a CD using any burning software that supports burning ISOs, once the image has been burnt to CD you can boot the infected computer from it and then run a full scan (it will take a long time) and it should be able to find anything that would normally be locked/hidden by booting into windows.

for malwarebytes I'd suggest downloading it on another computer, putting it on a USB memory stick (or CD) and then boot the infected computer into safe mode with networking, install malwarebytes while in safe mode and then when it's installed run it, let it update (hence why you needed safe mode with networking) and then, again, run a full scan.

cont......

[ChuckFickens]

you should also perform a full windows update at least twice once everything has beenn cleared as you are still on service pack 2 the system is obviously not up to date and there may be some serious security holes that are un-patched.

Kapersky rescue disk
http://devbuilds.kasp...k/kav_rescue_2008.iso

Malwarebytes
http://download.cnet....804572.html?tag=mncol

And if you have nothing to burn an ISO image to CD already
http://download.cnet....191803.html?tag=mncol

[craft1948]

^^ that's why you......

[ChuckFickens]

Oh and just to add, the above is how to attempt to clear the problems, with a computer that's a few years old and you don't know the history of it fully the best answer is always to wipe it totally and reinstall windows again.

[moskaski]

Thats exactly why, Cheers Chuck ill give those a go over the next few days

[ChuckFickens]

I apologise moskaski, I posted an incorrect link for the kaspersky rescue disk (the link I posted is an old version) the correct link is below

http://devbuilds.kasp...k10/kav_rescue_10.iso