Enabling Task Manager in XP:

[Smellincoffee]

My parents bought me a new CPU for Christmas. I found the system I wanted in Best Buy, but when they went back to get it, Best Buy said the system wasn't in stock-- so my dad convinced them to let him buy the one on display.

After uninstalling the Best Buy software from it and installing Norton Antivirus, I'm guessing they let my folks have it. Unfortuantely, they disabled the Task Manager-- I guess to prevent customers from messing around with in while it was on display.

I've poked around in the Control Panel, but I can't find any solutions to my problem.

 

[eyrei]

If I were you I would simply reinstall XP. I'll check when I get back to my place tomorrow (the comp I am using right now is 98), but I have a feeling that the easiest solution is to reinstall.

Some programs (and the software BestBuy used most likely) integrate so fully into windows that they don't uninstall very well. We tested some software used to lock users out of the desktop for gaming centers, and we actually had to do a full system recovery to get them to function properly even after uninstalling the software.

 

[Jeratain]

^What he said.

Reformat, and make sure those guys at BestBuy gave you the XP CDs and drivers and whatnot.

 

[Phantom Lord]

There is a registry key for enabling / disabling it. If your Task Manager is simply not there, this hints at a customized unattended setup procedure that was used, ie other things are likely to be disabled as well.

Therefore I'd agree with the above: Format & Reinstall, but make sure you have the necessary driver CDs for all components first.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Here's the weird thing. I made my mom's account to have adminstrative privileges. Task manager was enabled for her. Go figure.

(I changed it back to limited, though. )