Programs don't install until I open Task Manager

[myesmtremendous]

Windows 7 64 bit on a Dell Inspiron.

Not a major problem -- more of a minor irritation and an "I wonder if anyone else has struck this...?"

Whenever installing a program lately (can't remember how long -- I've been ignoring it for a while), Windows doesn't respond when I click the .exe installer file.
But as soon as I hit Ctrl - Alt - Del and open the Task Manager, Windows suddenly wakes up and installs the program without a hitch. I don't have to do anything in Task Manager; simply opening it is enough. Also, the computer hasn't crashed in this state. If I want to open another already-installed program and use it, I can without any problems. It's just that it completely ignores my command to run the .exe file until I threaten it with Task Manager.

The first couple of times, before I thought of opening Task Manager, I'd double click the .exe file several thousand times, as you do, wondering why it wasn't doing anything. Then, when I opened the Task Manager, it'd try to install the program several thousand times.
Now I know to simply double click the .exe file, then hit Ctrl - Alt - Del, and voila, the program is installed.

What I want to know is, why doesn't Windows install the program in the first place?

FYI, the programs I was having trouble with were (from memory) Dropbox, Skype, memoQ (translation memory software) and a few others I can't remember. I doubt that the programs were the problem though. I'm pretty sure this is a Windows problem.

 

[BlackSparrow]

Check your computer to see if there are any Trojan viruses around, that might be the main problem. It was for me when I had that problem. Try it out and reply to this post to tell me if that helped.

 

[myesmtremendous]

Nope, a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials turned up nothing.
Thanks for the suggestion though, BlackSparrow...

 

[BlackSparrow]

OK, than I'm am completely flushed out of ideas...
It's fine, and please just call me Ryan...

 

[Petey7]

Dowload, update, and run a full scan with Malwarebytes Antimalware. MSE is a good program, but it isn't perfect (no antivirus is). Malwarebytes is a great on-demand scanner and will help confirm that you computer is virus free.

Just to gain some more information, if Malwarebytes won't isntall at first, open task manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. This will open task manager directly, rather than taking you to the Windows security screen. I just want to confirm that it really is task manager, not the security screen, that gets programs to install.

 

[James7679]

Try this option as well, http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[Loki]

Have you changed/checked your UAC status?

 

[windude99]

Try system restoring to a time before this started happening: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html