Zombie Task Manager on Bootup

[baytech3]

Hi Folks -

Have an issue that's been driving me crazy the past couple of days.

Did a system restore from the recovery partition
(Vista on a Compaq CQ500)

and the darn Task Manager keeps popping up on rebook.
I've checked
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System to DisableTaskMgr with 0 or 1

Also checked Msconfig
Any tricks to stop a Zombie Task Manager at startup ??
Thanks, John

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

maybe something in task scheduler?

edit: does the keyboard have any kind of hotkey that can trigger task manager?

 

[Xander]

That's a very limited check you've done, almost nothing. What did you find in Autoruns or Process Explorer?

 

[baytech3]

Unless I'm missing something, can't see anything in Autoruns
that would trigger it.

I've attached a zipped Autoruns.txt (if anyone can make anything out of that)

John

 

[NYJimbo]

The problem with this kind of post is that we end up asking you "Did you check this" or "Did you try that". Its just too much.

You checked some locations of things in the registry and msconfig but you don't mention something simple like did you check "Startup" in "All Programs" from the start menu ? Did you try booting into safe mode ? Did you try to run a few virus cleanup programs to see if they spot anything ?

I'm not even actually looking for answers for the above, but you see there are many things we would end up asking as you don't seem to have done anything other than check a few places.

 

[Markverhyden]

When you close it does it stay closed? Does it happen when booting in safe mode? Why did you run a recovery to begin with?

As far as what to look for. It's not necessarily task manager itself being launched. There may something else that may be calling it. I would go back to msconfig and turn everything off reboot and then start from there.

By the way, from my experience, those recovery partitions are not the same as using cd's/dvd's. I've seen several instances where a recovery run from that option has problems. Had to do a restore from disc to get the machine to work properly.

 

[baytech3]

Been playing around with this long enough.
I should have mentioned earlier = Msconfig / sfc /scannow / safe mode/ virus scans/ ccleaner /
Markverhyden - You're right, I should have done a clean install
Originally there were corrupted files after virus removals.
John