I cannot open or access Task Manager, Msconfig and the Registrar

[2p]

Hi,
I have a 697 MHz Compaq Presario, 256 MB RAM, 8. Gig Hard drive and Windows XP Professional and I cannot access the task manager, msconfig and the registrar utility.
When I do CTRL+ALT+DEL nothing opens! It seems almost as if this function is "Kaput" or broken. If I typed regedit, the registrar pops up for a few miliseconds and goes away! If I try to access the Task Manager functions, by doing a right click on the Task Bar nothing HAPPENS. I cannot access or open any of these utilities.
I have ran Norton Anti-virus 2002 and it reports no virus or worms.
Please advise how I can correct this problem.
Thank you,
2p

 

[bcastner]

It is a virus.
Do you have current definitions for your Norton? Update them immediately, as it can eliminate this virus.

 

[bcastner]

Read this thread for some workarounds, temporary, and removal ideas: thread779-632882

 

[2p]

Thank you for your feedback.
No, I do not have current definitions for Norton 2002. However, I just purchased Norton Anti-Virus 2003 can I intall this later version of Norton and bypass the definitions for 2002?
Thank you!

 

[bcastner]

Remove 2002, install 2003. Update the definitions immediately through live update (I think it does this as part of the installation but I do not remember), and do the virus scan.

 

[bcastner]

If it was my machine, I would do two more steps:

1. Run the trojan "Trinity":

Hijack This!
SpyBot Search and Destroy 1.2
AdAware Version 6.01

All can be found here:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/#removal

2. Add a firewall.

There are several excellent freeware firewalls. I like Kerio, Tiny, and Sygate. Several like Zone Alarm. There are others. Here is a good site that discusses them and provides links to the various programs:

http://www.petri.co.il/firewall_recommendations.htm

 

[2p]

Hello Bcastner,
I did a virus scan with Norton AV 2003 and No Virus was found. I will try later AdAware program.
Thank you your help.
2p

 

[bcastner]

If you face one of the many virus/worms that deny you access to Task Manager, download the freeware "Process Explorer" utility from sysinternals.

This will let you view the running processes, and terminate them when you are unable to do so from Task Manager.

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

Read again Thread779-632882

 

[bcastner]

Note, this is not the sort of issue that AdAware is very good at solving.

You might try an on-line scanner, as many of these types of viri will essentially circumvent Norton and some other AVs:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

 

[2p]

Thank you so much for your technical expertise. I will definitely will download one or two of these programs since I am still cannot open the Registrar and others.

 

[smah]

Give a couple of these online virus scanners a try faq760-3862