Notice: I am aware that Internet Explorer 6 pushes the middle column down below the sidebars. This is because IE is not standards compliant. Please use Firefox for all of your web-browsing needs.

  •  
  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

    [+] 2008

  • Build website traffic for free!
  • RSS CERT Current Activity

  • « The Emperor has Arrived | Home | Making Windows Vista and Windows XP work together »

    Can’t get to the Control Panel, Task Manager, or Registry Editor?

    By admin | January 26, 2008

    One of the most frustrating things that my users have run into is Malware or Virus infections which lock down the Task Manager, The Control Panel, and your ability to run regedit. In order to defeat this kind of nasty virus you’ll need to use the command line to re-enable your ability to edit your registry and view the task manager and control panel. The specific registry keys involved are listed below:

    Enable Registry Edit:
    User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\System]
    Value Name: DisableRegistryTools
    Data Type: REG_DWORD
    Value Data: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

    Enable Control Panel
    User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
    System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
    Value Name: NoControlPanel
    Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
    Value Data: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

    Enable Task Manager
    Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    Name: DisableTaskMgr
    Type: REG_DWORD
    Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
    Value: 0=Disablethis key, that is Don’t Disable, Enable TaskManager

    SOLUTION:
    Now to simplify this process I’ve written a batch script that enables all of these keys for you.
    You can download it from here or you can copy and paste the below text into a command prompt:

    REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
    REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer /v NoControlPanel /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
    REG add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer /v NoControlPanel /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
    REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

    After running these commands you will have access to your Control Panel, Task Manager, and Regedit again and can continue cleaning your system.

    Remember, if you found this helpful

    And feel free to leave comments and questions if you have any trouble.


    If you can't find your answer here then Petition The Emperor for Aid
    Remote Support

    Topics: control panel, disable, enable, january, missing, regedit, task manager, virus |

    One Response to “Can’t get to the Control Panel, Task Manager, or Registry Editor?”

    1. Help with my IE - Page 2 - Computer Forums Says:
      February 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am

      […] First you need to follow the procedures you were given in the Spyware/Virus forum here, then Go Here and follow those steps. To re-enable the task manager. __________________ The Emperor The Tech […]