I recently had a problem with a virus... This virus change my computers background to tell me I had a virus when I really did not(Except for said virus, It wanted me to purchase a spyware remover). I scanned my system and got rid of the virus but I still can't change my background and I also noticed that I can't get into Task Manager. It says "Task Manager has been disabled by the administrator." Any thoughts as to how to get my computer back to normal?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

If you are familiar with the Registry and editing it then you know how to start. You know the risk and you know how to backup. The following list are common restriction keys. That being said: Go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\Policies
\System


Note: The \System subkey does not appear by default. You
must edit the Registry to add the System subkey.


NoDispSettingsPage REG_DWORD


Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0


If the value of this entry is 1, the Settings tab does not appear in the
Display Properties page accessible from the Display option in Control
Panel. This prevents users from using Control Panel to add, configure or
change the display settings on the computer.


DisableTaskManager REG_DWORD


Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0


If the value of this entry is 1, Task Manager will not run. Instead, a
message appears explaining that Task Manager has been disabled by the
network administrator. This value entry is supported by Windows NT 4.0
Service Pack 2 and later.


NoDispAppearancePage REG_DWORD


Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0


If the value of this entry is 1, the Appearance tab does not appear in the
Display Properties page accessible from the Display option in Control
Panel. This prevents users from using Control Panel to change the colors
or color scheme on the desktop.


NoDispBackgroundPage REG_DWORD


Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0


If the value of this entry is 1, the Background tab does not appear in the
Display Properties page accessible from the Display option in Control
Panel. This prevents users from using Control Panel to change the pattern
and wallpaper on the desktop.


NoDispCPL REG_DWORD


Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0


If the value of this entry is 1, the Display option in Control Panel will
not run. When users double-click Display, the following message appears:
"Your system administrator disabled the Display control panel". This value
prevents users from using the Display Properties page to change display
options.


NoDispScrSavPage REG_DWORD


Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0


If the value of this entry is 1, the Screen Saver tab does not appear in
the Display Properties page accessible from the Display option in Control
Panel. This prevents users from using Control Panel to add, configure or
change the screen saver on the computer.

I fear that you have lost me...This may seem like a brainless noob question...but how do I access the registry? And then do I just type those commands you listed into the registry?

Perhaps I should have someone a little more computer savvy come and check it out?

My post was intentionally "vague" as if you do not know the registry it can be very dangerous to change.

I can be more specific if you want me to but it is your risk. Let me know.

If it's not too much of a hassle...
I really just want to get the problem fixed, and I can always system restore, right?
Is there any other way to fix this other than the registry? And if I follow your instructions concerning the registry I should be safe, right?

Sorry for my lack of computer knowledge.

No problem.

As you said a virus made these changes.

This is a common viral issue unless a systems administrator has limited the system access legitimately.

Have you cleared this virus completely?

I believe so, I've scanned my computer with Symantec Antivirus(The program the my college installs on our computers) and it got rid of the virus. Now the only problems remaining that I've noticed are the task manager being locked and the background can't be changed. I've got rid of the image saying that I have a virus but I still can't change the background image, only the color.

OK I found a few "automated" and otherwise detailed links for you.

See if these work:

---------------------------


Task Manager:

Error Message: "Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator"
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Taskmanager_error.htm


Enable/Disable Task Manager
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_taskmgrenab.htm


http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
51. Right hand side
Enable the Task Manager


Error message when you try to open Task Manager on a Windows XP-based
computer: "Task Manager has been disabled by your Administrator"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913623


--------------------

Wallpaper:

http://malektips.com/windows_xp_disp...ktop_0002.html

Fixed. Thank you very much! I appreciate your help and am grateful to find a place where people can go for computer solutions without being laughed at for not having a lot of knowledge about computers.
Thanks.

No problem. Glad it worked!

Let us know if we can help further in the future.