The most likely cause is a registry change made by some software. The most common culprit is malware. Both spyware and viruses don't want you getting into the Task Manager, Control Panel's Add or Remove Programs or the registry because that's where you can remove or disable them. So they try to disable your access first.
To regain access to the Task Manager, go to
Kelly's Korner, scroll down to line 51 and in the right-hand column, click on "Enable the Task Manager" to download a small .reg file.
Once you have it saved to the hard drive, run it according to the directions at the top of the Kelly's Korner page. If your antivirus objects, ignore it. The files from Kelly's Korner are safe.
If that doesn't work, go back to Kelly's Korner and this time download the .reg file on line 113, left-hand column and run it.
It wouldn't hurt to run a full system scan with up-to-date antivirus software and a couple of up-to-date spyware removal tools, too, just to be sure.
Linear Mode
