Windows 7: Windows Task Manager appearing on startup...

I think this would be the proper forum and not Performance & Maintenance.

About a week ago, the actual 'Windows Task Manager' screen itself, has suddenly decided to appear upon computer startup. Not a big deal, but I don't really want to have to close that up every time if there 'is' a simple solution for that not to happen.

I have no idea why this started to happen.

The only thing I had added is a program called 'Process Lasso' 3 weeks ago to try and help get control of my computer, but I uninstalled it just after Task Manager started to appear 1 week ago, and that didn't help. I even contacted the 'Process Lasso' company called Bitsum Technologies and they replied that it was a strange occurrence but that 'There is no way Process Lasso would ever invoke the Windows task manager, or cause it to be invoked.''

I checked msconfig and there are only these programs checked to startup:
Logitech setpoint
Nvidia nTune
Comcast Universal Called ID
Microsoft Works 9
Norton DNS

I checked Startup in my 'All Programs' area and in addition to the Norton & Comcast programs, only WCalRem was listed.

I tried checking off 'hide when minimized' in Task Manager options and that didn't help.

I've downloaded and ran a program called 'Startup Manager' which showed task manager was checked, so I unchecked it, rebooted, but Task Manager still appeared, so I reapplied the checkmark.

I have a Dell 630i with Windows 7, 32-bit.

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated!

mike

Hello Mike,

While looking at each startup location in each option in the tutorial below, check to see if you may have either Task Manager or taskmgr.exe is listed. If so, delete or disable it to hopefully stop it from runing at startup for you.

Startup Programs - Change

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Open Task Manger. At the top options/minimize on use checked. I'm sure if this will help but that is the way mine is. I would also run sfc /scannow. This will check Windows System Files. If it finds a problem run it 2 more times rebooting after each run. Norton is known for doing some crazy things to computer. Unplug form the internet and disable Nortons and see if that helps. I don't believe you will need a 3rd party start up manager.

Brink and Layback Bear,

I knew if anyone could help, it would be the people at this forum!! (jeez, what a sucup I am).

I checked the msconfig-startup area again, and 'did' see 'Microsoft/system32/taskmgr' with a check mark, but seeing it previously I never unchecked it because while searching for a solution to this, I read that Task Manager is a very important item you should never disable as it runs/directs traffic for all your system processes. Am I wrong on this?

Thanks again for the help and quick replies!!!

Mike

ps) probably would be a good idea to do a scannow once in awhile anyway, I suppose

By the way, unchecking that 'microsoft/system32/taskmgr' did the trick!

been doing some research on 'Process Lasso'--it does have a "start at login" section--that may have added a registry key.

to get the process to stop, you would need to find and remove this 'reg key'.(but, how will you find this key?)

--or reinstall Process Lasso--go to the start at login section--see if task manager is selected--deselect--reboot--then--uninstall.

or, if you have CCleaner, use the registry section to try to remove any keys that may remain behind

or--see:

processlasso.exe - What is processlasso.exe?

which talks about reg keys being left behind

Glad you got it fixed and getting back to us. I'm still awake.

That's great news Mike. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

Tman69,
I certainly wouldn't doubt that Process Lasso had left a registry key. I see by the pinned item at the top of your Windows 7 forum that you must really recommend CCleaner. I'm going to try it out! Thanks All!

Ccleaner is a great program but we don't recommend using the registry cleaning part unless you have the proper knowledge of Windows Registry.