Task manager won't start after nasty virus

windows-7 virus task-manager trojan worm

5,759

Solution 1

I'm not totally trustful of these anti virus removal programs. They do a pretty good job but the virus writers are sometimes a lot smarter.

If this system is critical, important and needs a high level of integrity, I'd be cracking out the Install disks for Windows and reinstalling the entire thing. THEN, using the fine backups that I have been keeping restore necessary files.

Solution 2

Run regedit.exe go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options and delete the key taskmgr.exe. Malware can create a key debugger and redirect the calls to a different tool.

Solution 3

I would open a Command Prompt window, and run sfc /scannow, and see if that repairs your damaged task manager files (it might even repair some other damaged files in the process)!

5,759

Saphyron

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

Saphyron almost 2 years

Had a nasty virus. Got a trojan through a patch to a game I have played a lot (world of tanks). The trojan was named Win32: Patched-ZX. Which opened up for several rootkit(according to AV) and 3 worms (forgot name).

Got them all deleted but ever since then my task manager won't start. when I press ctrl+alt+del and select task manager it shows up as a icon in my small taskbar in lower right corner but nothing opens. after a few seconds it closes down and dissapers. Same thing is happening to my CCC (going to reinstall that one though) and my desktop window manager keeps crashing.

What can I do to make task manager and desktop window manager work again?
- ganesh almost 11 years
  
  If your OS still act weird after seemingly removing a root kit then it is time to read this post: How do I get rid of malicious spyware, malware, viruses or rootkits from my PC?. (or skip it and never use that PC for anything important. E.g. no telebanking, never buy anything from amazon with a credit card. Etc etc)
- Saphyron almost 11 years
  
  I did the chdsk or whatever it was called. ill try reboot and run a boot scan and a new one of that. if it does not work ill just reformat everythign and keep the important parts.
- Braiam almost 11 years
  
  "Format"... the problem is within your registry and/or User/Group policy. You can try using Sysinternals Process Explorer. Also, your backups could be infected too! Check them before doing anything!
- Saphyron almost 11 years
  
  I will just be backupping important documents and family photos which ill scan before putting onto a couple of flash disk
- Samie Bencherif almost 11 years
  
  Until you manage to get Task Manager back, bear in mind that you can always just use the command-line tools: tasklist & taskkill as a replacement.
Saphyron almost 11 years

That is basically what I am going to do. 20gb important files just take a while to get onto an old flash disk. which max speed is 2mb/s. At least the format I have plenty of experience with just sucks I have to go through it again when I just wanted to play a game.