Alarming disappearing Task Manager!

[Simon]

Weird...
When I try to activate Task Manager, either by Ctrl-Alt-
Del or R/Clicking the taskbar, it appears but then
minimises again within a 1/4 of a second (before I've
even returned to my mouse or moved it).
If I move my mouse to the bottom of the screen to bring
up the taskbar it is there in the 'icon' area near the
clock.
This would not be a problem but when I then try to go and
click it; it too dissapears...
It reminds me of those joke executables where it says:
"Click here to win........."
So you try and click it only to chase it round the screen.
The difference is, this is no joke as task manager is
fairly important.
If I were feeling particularly paranoid I might think
somebody or something does not want me to see what is
running in the background....
Anyway down to specifics:
Win XP Professional
Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpclnt_qfe.010827-1803)
Auto Update is enabled
I am logged on as Admin (Yes I know it's foolish but it's
already ocurred, so be gentle with your admonishments!)
Internet access through cable
ICS thru LAN for 1 further PC (The client you understand)
Firewall IS enabled on the Cable modem connection
Whew I think thats it..?
TIA
Simon

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

In description of your setup you did not mention anti-virus
Have you scanned lately ? with a couple good, up-to-date AV progs ?

"Simon" > wrote in message
...
> Weird...
> When I try to activate Task Manager, either by Ctrl-Alt-
> Del or R/Clicking the taskbar, it appears but then
> minimises again within a 1/4 of a second (before I've
> even returned to my mouse or moved it).
> If I move my mouse to the bottom of the screen to bring
> up the taskbar it is there in the 'icon' area near the
> clock.
> This would not be a problem but when I then try to go and
> click it; it too dissapears...
> It reminds me of those joke executables where it says:
> "Click here to win........."
> So you try and click it only to chase it round the screen.
> The difference is, this is no joke as task manager is
> fairly important.
> If I were feeling particularly paranoid I might think
> somebody or something does not want me to see what is
> running in the background....
> Anyway down to specifics:
> Win XP Professional
> Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpclnt_qfe.010827-1803)
> Auto Update is enabled
> I am logged on as Admin (Yes I know it's foolish but it's
> already ocurred, so be gentle with your admonishments!)
> Internet access through cable
> ICS thru LAN for 1 further PC (The client you understand)
> Firewall IS enabled on the Cable modem connection
> Whew I think thats it..?
> TIA
> Simon

[Simon]

Thanks for the reply, but yes I do regular V-checks with
AVG 6.0 (Free edition) Ver 6.0.491
In fact that is one of the first things I did upon
discovering the problem, was download new Virus database
and then scan.No results
The Virus database is dated 18/06/03.
Any other ideas? This is annoying
Regards
Simon
>-----Original Message-----
>In description of your setup you did not mention anti-
virus
>Have you scanned lately ? with a couple good, up-to-
date AV progs ?
>
>"Simon" > wrote in message
...
>> Weird...
>> When I try to activate Task Manager, either by Ctrl-
Alt-
>> Del or R/Clicking the taskbar, it appears but then
>> minimises again within a 1/4 of a second (before I've
>> even returned to my mouse or moved it).
>> If I move my mouse to the bottom of the screen to bring
>> up the taskbar it is there in the 'icon' area near the
>> clock.
>> This would not be a problem but when I then try to go
and
>> click it; it too dissapears...
>> It reminds me of those joke executables where it says:
>> "Click here to win........."
>> So you try and click it only to chase it round the
screen.
>> The difference is, this is no joke as task manager is
>> fairly important.
>> If I were feeling particularly paranoid I might think
>> somebody or something does not want me to see what is
>> running in the background....
>> Anyway down to specifics:
>> Win XP Professional
>> Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpclnt_qfe.010827-1803)
>> Auto Update is enabled
>> I am logged on as Admin (Yes I know it's foolish but
it's
>> already ocurred, so be gentle with your admonishments!)
>> Internet access through cable
>> ICS thru LAN for 1 further PC (The client you
understand)
>> Firewall IS enabled on the Cable modem connection
>> Whew I think thats it..?
>> TIA
>> Simon
>
>
>.
>

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Get a second opinion on the virus scan.
Maybe non-viral malware. You could try
www.pestpatrol.com or others
I have not heard of what you describe except when
some software has intervened in normal operations.

"Simon" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for the reply, but yes I do regular V-checks with
> AVG 6.0 (Free edition) Ver 6.0.491
> In fact that is one of the first things I did upon
> discovering the problem, was download new Virus database
> and then scan.No results
> The Virus database is dated 18/06/03.
> Any other ideas? This is annoying
> Regards
> Simon
> >-----Original Message-----
> >In description of your setup you did not mention anti-
> virus
> >Have you scanned lately ? with a couple good, up-to-
> date AV progs ?
> >
> >"Simon" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Weird...
> >> When I try to activate Task Manager, either by Ctrl-
> Alt-
> >> Del or R/Clicking the taskbar, it appears but then
> >> minimises again within a 1/4 of a second (before I've
> >> even returned to my mouse or moved it).
> >> If I move my mouse to the bottom of the screen to bring
> >> up the taskbar it is there in the 'icon' area near the
> >> clock.
> >> This would not be a problem but when I then try to go
> and
> >> click it; it too dissapears...
> >> It reminds me of those joke executables where it says:
> >> "Click here to win........."
> >> So you try and click it only to chase it round the
> screen.
> >> The difference is, this is no joke as task manager is
> >> fairly important.
> >> If I were feeling particularly paranoid I might think
> >> somebody or something does not want me to see what is
> >> running in the background....
> >> Anyway down to specifics:
> >> Win XP Professional
> >> Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpclnt_qfe.010827-1803)
> >> Auto Update is enabled
> >> I am logged on as Admin (Yes I know it's foolish but
> it's
> >> already ocurred, so be gentle with your admonishments!)
> >> Internet access through cable
> >> ICS thru LAN for 1 further PC (The client you
> understand)
> >> Firewall IS enabled on the Cable modem connection
> >> Whew I think thats it..?
> >> TIA
> >> Simon
> >
> >
> >.
> >