Task Manager and Regedit

[Dickie]

I have a new (albeit borrowed) XP system. I am an
administrator. When I press [CTL-ALT-DEL] to get up the
security form and then hit "Task Manager" the task manager
does, in fact, come up--and two seconds later disappears.

I thought I would look in the registry, but running
Regedit has the same effect. Pops open, then immediately
pops closed.

Does anyone know what is wrong or how to fix it?

Thanx