Ctrl-Alt-Del does NOT bring up Task Manager

Ok - at a friend's house this afternoon and was asked "Could I help with ... a few problems on the computer."

I got almost all of them resolved, but there was still one issue when I left. It's not bothering her (she never uses Task Manager), but I'd sure like to fix it the next time I'm there.

Problem: As stated in title. To expand a bit: Pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del does absolutely nothing! The keys work individually, but simply do nothing as a group. As near as I can tell there is no way to get to Task Manager.

I'm familiar with the policies method of disabling Task Manager -- but was not getting ANY message about "not allowed" or any other indication that ANYTHING was happening (no symbol on task bar, no note, etc.).

Nevertheless, I tried the "fix" for this issue -- removing the "Task Manager" key in the registry at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion

EXCEPT there was no task manager key to remove!!

I also confirmed that the DisableTaskMgr value is ZERO (as it should be) at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System


Finally, I tried the "Enable Task Manager" tweak from Kelly's Korner.

Nothing changed!



She has had this computer for quite a while, and says has tried Ctrl-Alt-Del in the past and it's never worked -- so System Restore is not an option either.

Finally, she is really averse to doing a reload (she's got a lot of installed programs, "tweaked" settings, etc. -- and is simply very much opposed to that option). Unfortunately I probably made her even more against that, because I was able to resolve virtually all of her issues (this was not one of her concerns -- it just bugs me).

Of course I also confirmed that she is an admin user, so this is not a user-rights issue. And I tried "toggling" the "Enable Task Manager" value to 1 & back to 0 (with reboots after each).

Anyone seen this? I'm looking for a specific fix -- not a potpourri of things to try (I'm quite capable of that myself -- and since I don't have ready access to the computer this wouldn't be particularly useful anyway).

System is an HP Pavillion 750c, 512m, XP Home - SP2 with all updates

folder options missing in windows XP

Many times Windows users face a common problem. The "Folder Options" in "Tools" menu is not visible. Even It can't be accessed from Control Panel. Also "Registry Editor" is disabled.

If you are also facing this problem, then you have come to right place. Follow the simple steps mentioned in this tutorial and your problem will be solved:

1. If Folder Options is disabled but Registry Editor is still working in your system, then you can enable Folder Options by editing Windows Registry. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. it'll open Registry Editor, now go to following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer

In right-side pane, check whether a DWORD value named NoFolderOptions exists or not? If it exists, delete it.

2. If you are not familiar with editing the registry, then you can simply download following file, extract it and then run the .REG file:

folder_options.zip

3. But sometimes Registry Editor is also disabled. Whenever you try to open regedit, Windows will show following error message:

Registry Editor has been disabled by administrator.

Its a symptom of “RONTOKBRO” Trojan. To remove this trojan, follow the instructions given in following topic:

Is Your System Infected with a Virus / Spyware / Adware / Trojan?

4. If its not a trojan problem and someone intentionally has disabled it in your system, then you can enable it again by following any of these methods:

a. Type gpedit.msc in RUN dialog box and goto:

User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System

in right-side pane, set "Prevent access to Registry editing tools" to either Not Configured orDisabled.

b. Just type following in RUN dialog box and press :

REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Now after enabling Registry Editor, you can re-enable Folder Options by following methods mentioned in 1st or 2nd steps.