"Windows Task Manager has stopped working" anytime I try to run it


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    "Windows Task Manager has stopped working" anytime I try to run it


    Hello,

    I'd be very glad if anyone could help me.

    My OS version is Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.

    Whenever I try to run the task manager, either by pressing Alt+Ctrl+Del and selecting it or right clicking on the task bar, the window opens but immediately an error is displayed "Windows Task Manager has stopped working... Windows is checking for a solution for this problem" followed by "A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available" (see attached screenshot). No solution is provided.

    The computer is rather new (3 weeks old) and has very few programs installed. Since I don't use the task manager very often, I don't know when this problem started, but it wasn't there from the beginning.

    Things I tried, but did not work:

    - Going back to a previous restore point: same problem.

    - Running a RAM memory test with memtest86, no problems found.

    - Performing a clean boot using msconfig.exe and disabling all programs, with the exception of Microsoft services. The problem remained.

    - Scanning the computer for virus and malware. Installed Malwarebytes, nothing found. Using Kaspersky anti-virus, no problems found.

    - Using the system file checker tool. I used it twice and it did indeed find problems, but said it could not fix them.

    The only thing that has changed is that the computer had 8gb RAM, but one of the cards was defective and was sent back to the manufacturer. My computer is currently running with a less than ideal 4gb.

    What can I do to try and fix it? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    Run a system file check and upload your event viewer logs

    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

    How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7


    Please provide us with your Event Viewer administrative logs by following these steps:


    Click Start Menu
    Type eventvwr into Search programs and files (do not hit enter)
    Right click eventvwr.exe and click Run as administrator
    Expand Custom Views
    Click Administrative Events
    Right click Administrative Events
    Save all Events in Custom View As...
    Save them in a folder where you will remember which folder and save as Errors.evtx
    Go to where you saved Errors.evtx
    Right click Errors.evtx -> send to -> compressed (zipped) folder
    Upload the .zip file here.

      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi. Thanks for the reply.

    I've attached the sfcdetails.txt file. Since I ran the test lots of times today, I believe there's a lot of repeated info there.

    Also the logs from the event manager are huge, 705 events. I'm not sure if they're contained there, but if so, older critical errors (blue screens and such) might be due to the extra defective RAM memory card that I disconnected from the motherboard some days ago. The computer is now running with one card and this one seems to have no problems after running memtest86 after many passes.

    Thank you again for the help :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #4

    Well you have more problems than just Task manager.

    Task manager a crashing with a memory exception. To find out if it is s driver or your ram run these.




    These crashes were caused by memory corruption/exception (Cx05) probably a driver.
    Please run these two tests to verify your memory and find which driver is causing the problem.


    * If you are overclocking anything reset to default before running these tests.
    In other words STOP!!!

    * If you have raid update its Driver.




    Memtest.
    *Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using Iso Recorder or another ISO burning program. Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

    *Boot from the CD, and leave it running for at least 5-7 passes.

    Just remember, any time Memtest reports errors, it can be either bad RAM or a bad motherboard slot.

    Test the sticks individually, and if you find a good one, test it in all slots.

    Any errors are indicative of a memory problem.

    If a known good stick fails in a motherboard slot it is probably the slot.

    RAM - Test with Memtest86+



    Driver verifier

    Using Driver Verifier is an iffy proposition. Most times it'll crash and it'll tell you what the driver is. But sometimes it'll crash and won't tell you the driver. Other times it'll crash before you can log in to Windows. If you can't get to Safe Mode, then you'll have to resort to offline editing of the registry to disable Driver Verifier.

    So, I'd suggest that you first backup your stuff and then make sure you've got access to another computer so you can contact us if problems arise. Then make a System Restore point (so you can restore the system using the Vista/Win7 Startup Repair feature).

    Then, here's the procedure:
    - Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
    - Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
    - Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
    - Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Special Pool", "Force Pending I/O Requests" and "Low Resource Simulation" and click "Next"
    - Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
    Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft and click "Next"
    - Select "Finish" on the next page.

    Reboot the system and wait for it to crash to the Blue Screen.
    Continue to use your system normally, and if you know what causes the crash, do that repeatedly.
    The objective here is to get the system to crash because Driver Verifier is stressing the drivers out.
    If it doesn't crash for you, then let it run for at least 36 hours of continuous operation.

    Reboot into Windows (after the crash) and turn off Driver Verifier by going back in and selecting "Delete existing settings" on the first page, then locate and zip up the memory dump file and upload it with your next post.

    If you can't get into Windows because it crashes too soon, try it in Safe Mode.
    If you can't get into Safe Mode, try using System Restore from your installation DVD to set the system back to the previous restore point that you created.
    You have several issues with net framework, and SFC is unable to repair everything. Did you run sfc 3 times?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Yes, I ran sfc at least more than 5 times. Every time it said it could not repair some files.

    I'm going to try running memtest86 again and driver verifier. After running it, if it works, should I post the logs from event manager again?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    Try running SFC in safe mode...
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    zigzag3143
    Tried running memtest86 using a USB-stick through multiple passes again, no errors found.

    Enabled driver verifier. It's been enabled for hours and computer is running quite slow now, but there are no BSODs.

    I can't really figure out why Windows got these files corrupted. Could it be the faulty RAM I had before, that somehow messed up with the system files?


    sibbil said:
    Try running SFC in safe mode...
    Ran it again with safe mode (3 times) and also with safe mode with command prompt, same thing happens: corrupted files found, but SFC can't fix them.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Alright, an update.

    After running around trying to repair those files, I tried to do a repair install of Windows. Some stuff got deleted, but after this repair install Task Manager seems to be working. I used SFC again to check the files, and it did not detect any problems. Microsoft .NET Framework displayed a message as I started Windows for the first time and it seemed to have fixed any errors it had. There are some new events in Event Viewer, but beside those everything seems to be working.

    So I guess the issue is solved for now. But in any case, thanks for the help! Digging around those linked tutorials helped me too.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:50.
Find Us