Task Manager won't load?

Just today all of a sudden, I cannot load task manager. I get an error window that pops up and says "Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator."

And I'm like, WTF?! I'm the only user, and am enabled as the administrator by default. What the hell is going on here? I couldn't find anything in the control panel to change this. And considering I haven't updated or otherwise changed any software on my PC, I have no idea what caused this in the first place. Any ideas? This is really bothering me.

There is a registry hack to enable or disable Windows NT TaskManager. The same registry hack applies to Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Name: DisableTaskMgr
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
Value: 0=Disablethis key, that is Don't Disable, Enable TaskManager

As part of the enhanced management available in Windows 2000 and Windows XP, rather than risking a registry change, as an administrator you can enable or disable Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP Pro's TaskManager using Group Policy Editor. This can be applied to the local policy. Note: if you are trying to override your organizations group policy, you can't. As soon as you re-authenticate to the domain, the domain or OU Group Policy will rewrite the registry setting. But if the TaskManager was accidently disabled or you need to control this item for a set of standalone boxes this is for you:
Click Start
Click Run
Enter gpedit.msc in the Open box and click OK
In the Group Policy settings window
Select User Configuration
Select Administrative Templates
Select System
Select Ctrl+Alt+Delete options
Select Remove Task Manager
Double-click the Remove Task Manager option
And as I mentioned above, since the policy is Remove Task Manager, by disabling the policy, you are enabling the Task Manager.

Got XP Home - use the registry edit.

Well Did it work out for u???

Yeah. It worked. Change Password was also disabled and so was Lock Workstation. Who knows how. Any viruses do this? I only have Seek and Destroy spyware cleaning software. I haven't bothered with anti-virus apps yet. I suppose I should look into a firewall and anti-virus, but in 3 years of cable internet, I've yet to have a problem until now.

I also noticed, I cannot run gpedit.msc - it was mentioned in a tweak forum a while ago, and when I try to run it, it cannot be found? Possibly part of my problem?

sounds like you have a virus on your hands and having cable internet created a possibility....get Norton Anti Virus 2004 its the best and watch the viruses pop up after install....www.download.com should have trial ware or something like that but ill pm you with something aight

I don't have gpedit show up either, there was supposedly a bandwidth tweak you perform within it I wanted to try. Anyone know why our comps don't have this. I know that my machine is clean so thats not an accociation between us. I have every process I use memorized, and if I see something else I zap it.

everything doesnt run in your processes...there are viruses that doesnt run in process...viruses improves over time to be able to do that kind of stuff....

I check services too, and do a rutine registry check about every two weeks. And its not as if I'm not running anti-virus and firewall software, becuase I am.

EDIT: I also rewrite my boot sector often enough with linux installs that there wouldn't be one there either.

you can never be to careful