Registry Guide

XP Registry Guide

Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator

This error is caused if the DisableTaskMgr restriction is enabled. To enable Task Manager, try one of these methods:
IMPORTANT: If this restriction was enabled in your system without you doing anything or without your knowledge, then it's highly likely that a Virus has blocked the usage of Task Manager in your system by enabling the DisableTaskMgr policy via the registry. I strongly suggest that you perform a thorough checkup of your system immediately. Steps listed in the Resolution section of this article helps you unblock the Task Manager, but that does not remove the Virus (if any) from your system.


Method 1

Click Start, Run and type this command exactly as given below: (better - Copy and paste)

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

Method 2

Download and run this REG fix and double-click it.
Method 3

* Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
* Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ System

* In the right-pane, delete the value named DisableTaskMgr
* Close Regedit.exe

Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor - for Windows XP Professional

* Click Start, Run, type gpedit.msc and click OK.
* Navigate to this branch:

User Configuration / Administrative Templates / System / Ctrl+Alt+Delete Options / Remove Task Manager

* Double-click the Remove Task Manager option.
* Set the policy to Not Configured.

Removing the DisableRegistryTools restriction

For standalone Windows XP systems, perform the steps below to remove the registry editing restrictions.
Method 1: Using the REG.EXE console tool

1. Click Start, Run and type this command:


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

You should be able to launch Tweak UI, as well as the Registry Editor.


Method 2: Using the Group Policy Editor (Windows XP Professional only)

* Click Start, Run and type gpedit.msc and press ENTER
* Go to the following location:

User Configuration | Administrative Templates | System

* Double-click Disable registry editing tools and set it to Not Configured
* Exit the Group Policy Editor

Note: If the setting already reads Not Configured, set it to Enabled, and click Apply. Then revert it back to Not Configured. This ensures that the DisableRegistryTools registry value is removed successfully.

The command prompt has been disabled by your administrator

When you attempt to run CMD.exe or a batch file, you may receive the message "The command prompt has been disabled by your administrator". This is caused by restrictions placed in Registry. DisableCMD value is set to 1 or via Group Policy. To enable Task Manager, try any of these methods:

Method 1: Using the console registry tool

*

Click Start, Run and type this command exactly as given below: (better - Copy and paste)

REG add HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System /v DisableCMD /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Method 2: Edit the registry directly

*

Open Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]

*

In the right-pane, double-click DisableCMD and set it's data to 0


Method 3: Using Group Policy Editor in Windows XP Professional.

*

Click Start, Run, type gpedit.msc and click OK.
*

Navigate to User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ System
*

Double-click the Prevent access to the command prompt

You can then disable or set the policy to Not Configured. Disabling or setting this policy to Not Configured should solve the problem.