Let’s face it. All of us have been infected by virus before. Even if you have anti-virus installed, you can still be infected by a new or custom virus that is not recognized by your anti-virus. Sometimes after removing the virus completely from our system, you’ll face new problems such as you can no longer bring up Windows Task Manager from CTRL+ALT+DEL. You get the error message saying “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator”. This post will help you to re-enable the Windows Task Manager as long as it cannot open normally. Just follow these steps.
Disabling Task Manager is one way viruses try to make it harder for you to deal with their infections. Before proceeding any further, you should run a complete and up-to-date anti-virus scan of your machine. It’s possible, perhaps even likely, that you’ve been infected.Once you come back virus-free, you can proceed with the fix. Usually when you try to run taskmgr.exe manually, you get this message:

If you have Windows XP, Click Start, then click Run and type in gpedit.msc and press OK.

Once in the Group Policy Editor, expand in turn:
- User Configuration
- Administrative Templates
- System
- Ctrl+Alt+Del Options
You should see something much like this:

Double click on Remove Task Manager to change its setting:

Click on Not Configured and then OK and Task Manager is available once again.
Using Software Method
If you don’t want to apply these settings yourself, here is a software utility that will let you do these settings. Remove Restrictions Tool (RRT) allows you to re-enables all what the virus had previously disabled, and gives you back the control over your own computer, it even lets you re-enable the Task Manager, Registry Editor, folder options and Show hidden files and folders.

I hope this post will let you re-enable your critical system components, don’t forget to leave your comments and suggestions.
46 Comments
…or you can just use linux and not worry about the viruses in the first place.
That’s truly a good idea. Microsoft windows are real crap.
This really helped me though! thank you!
Awsome! My task manager FINALLY works! Thanks so much!
Thanks a lot. It helped immediately. Registry editor is still not enabled. I would seach further on that. Thanks again for sharing the info
Fantastic!!! This really works.. My Task Manager has started working after so long!! thank you so much!!
Thats Really Very good for those who are using LAN networking and their Administrator are not giving this rights for attempting Taskmanager but in this case you should have Administrative Rights on that computer or if you havent rights so kindly you will Logon from your local Administrator than you’ll Run from that Account or after you can use or Manage Group policy Impliment
These type of things not only help in solving system problems but are a big help in preparing assignments for our graduation degree also.
Thanks to the writer of this e-article.
thanks alot
thank u
THANKS! It was REALLY helpful, Since i use the TM a LOT.
Thanks again
Hi Asad, great post, nicely written…. enjoyed it….
thank you so much
Hm.. i’ve tried it, but once i type in gpedit.msc in the run box and click ‘ok’, this window comes up and says:
Windows cannot find ‘gpedit.msc’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the start button, and then click search.
I believe your Windows installation is corrupted, the only way to repair this is to reinstall Windows.
thnk u for ur information greaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
thank’s
Hey nice tip but still not working for me, I tried many things like registry mechanic, registry booster and CCleaner but to no avail
Although I did managed to enable the task manager but when I open it, it immediately disappears!
I dont know what the **** should I do!!!
I believe your windows is corrupted, reinstalling it might help.
thank you very much
i will use your instruction and thank u
Hey my task manager goes to a grey color whenever I try to change a selection in the Processes option how do I get it back to where I can delete processes that I donot want running while I use the system.
it works but after a minute again taskmanager diabled.
give me a complete solution please
thank you!!it will help me a lot..=)
Thank you
It was “not configured” for me. I had to first click “disable”. Then only task manager was enabled. Then i changed it back to “not configured”
Thank you
It was “not configured” for me. I had to first click “disable”. Then only task manager was enabled. Then i changed it back to “not configured”
Great Job!
Thank you so much for your help!!!
thanks man i did it only with ur help thanks ….
i perform all the steps through gpedit.msc but the task manager is still disabled. The RRT Software is not register and it could not enable the task manager. please do some more help in theis reagards. Waiting for your kind reply thanks.
great dude. . . thanx a lOt it did realy wOrk fOr me. . . thanx a lOt dear. . . .
my screen is completly taken over i cant do anything and of course cant get to the task manger so wat do i do
Use Combofix http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/virus-and-malware-software-removal-with-combofix-windows-download/
Hi,
Thanks buddy.I got my Task manager back…..
Thanks it is helpful as it is a free ware
thanx a lot !
thanks this is really a good idea and now my task mngr is enble…………..thanx Addictive Tips
Thanks a lot………………….
It really works
good job….
i tried the gpedit one. it worked for a minute. after a while it went back to the same “your taskmanager is disabled by ………..” state
When i type things like these:
Regedit.exe, it opens and dissapears again in 0.1sec.
When i type msconfig.exe my computer can’t find it.
and when i want to open task manager.. it just doesnt show up.
wtff is wrong with my comp?
Thanks for the solution.. It really worked. I tried 2-3 websites before this but couldnt get the solution but this was very fast and easy…
What can you do if your computer has an older version of Windows? Not windows XP.
thank u for the remove restriction tools
WOW! It really worked You are awesome . Thanks Alot
Thanks A lot…….My task manager was’nt working…………… its now working well after appling the methods…..
with the help of this task manager enables tempararly how should i enable the task manager
permanently
i follow the steps successfully but no result and new browers are also not worked .please reply
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[...] your task manager if it got disabled by your administrator or some virus, then have a look at this post. This tip is for disabling your task manager, not enable [...]
[...] Windows Task Manager and Resource Monitor are the first things that come to a user’s mind when he/she is facing any problem with his/her system’s performance. If you are looking for some advanced tool in this regards then you should give Process Explorer a try. Task Manager does not give you much details about the processes, but Process Explorer displays running processes in such a format that it not only shows process names, but also displays program icons and other data, such as description, image, and processor time. [...]