My task manager is messed up can someone please help? Also spyware issues...?

Question

How do I fix my task manager? It doesn't have the tabs at the top anymore - http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/410/untitled1zc9.jpg

And my comp has just recently been bombarded with the most annoying spyware... everytime I run AdAware it finds 13 objects... I quarantine them... restart.... it's still there, I run AdAware again... 13 objects. How do I fix this? It's so annoying...

Answer 1

to get the tabs back double click on the grey area.

for the spyware, try another program ... like Spybot S&D

Answer 2

If playing with [Alt] or [Tab] doesn't help, close all applications and search the names of all your running processes (google) and end any that are fraudulent. Do the same thing in MSConfig (start/run type "msconfig") under the "startup" tab. Restart, if this still occurs try system recovery.

As for AdAware: those 13 objects (MRU list) are the default folders used by IE, Firefox, IM's, etc. that contain information that malware and trojans could use to hijack your computer. AdAware removes those folders, and Windows just makes new ones under the same directory. Don't worry about them, but you should still quarantine them whenever you run AdAware.

ps. I recommend using Spybot-S&D, HiJackThis, StartupList and ADSSpy to use as well as any other anti-whatever software you have. And when in doubt, do a throrough scan of local discs with Avast! Antivirus

Answer 3

For your spyware issue-

Try using different spyware scanners. Try Microsoft's Defender http://www.microsoft.com/defender and Spybot http://www.safer-networking.org If you are still having problems, there is a program called HijackThis http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/hijackthis.php which will give a log file that those who know better than I can decipher and tell you what needs to be removed and how.

FYI, the best way to remove spyware is to wipe your computer clean and reinstall. A pain in the rear, but you never know how deep an infection is, once a computer has been comprimised the fact is you can never be sure you completely removed it.

Check Steve Gibson's website at http://www.grc.com for tips on how to change your browsing behavior to prevent infections from ever happening, I began following his advice 2 years ago and have not had a single infection since.

Answer 4

In terms of the spyware, it could be a trojan rather than spyware especially if it tells you you have lots of spyware on your system.

Get hold of HijackThis and run a scan and put a check mark next to any spurious processes.

I don't know what has happened to your Task Bar but spyware could not have caused that kind of problem.

Answer 5

To get the tabs back, just double-click the top of the Task Manger window.

Try running the Ad-Aware scan in Windows Safe Mode (press F8 just before Windows starts to load and then select Safe Mode).

Answer 6

Double click the border on Task Mgr.

Answer 7

There is only one answer to this. You need to get a more powerful and Effective anti-spyware tool.

You can find top 5 anti-spywares reviews,comparisons and download links on
http://www.remove-spywares.info
You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 8

some programs have to use types of adware ,you may have deleted a helper object for task mngr. . ID's that are used have to be installed again . even though you have the updates ,the reinstalled "helpers" are not up to date and you may apeare to be a pirate to servers . updates will prevent this from happening.

Answer 9

are you sure they are not just hidden ? (taskbar and shortcut icons) does the taskbar show when the cursor is moved to the very bottom of the screen, or to the top or left and right sides ? have you been running a registry cleaner ? do you have an XP home install CD ? try running in command prompt, sfc /scannow the disc has to be in the optical drive to do this. .

Answer 10

double click the blank spot to the left of the end task button
use spybot