msconfig plays hide and seek

Hi Everyone,

Lately I've been unable to run "msconfig" (or hit control-alt-delete) and keep it on the screen long enough to use it.

It starts up okay, but after 2 seconds it disappears (it's not minimized; it simply disappears) before I can make changes or use it.

Any idea what the problem might be or how to fix it?

Thanks.

 

Thanks, PeteC. I extracted a new copy of msconfig as indicated, but the problem remains.

 

I can try some restore points going back a week or so and see if that resolves the problem. Prior to a week ago, though, I installed a whole boatload of windows security and other updates, and so I'd lose all those updates if I restored to a point earlier than that.

Come to think of it, it could well be one of those windows updates that's causing this msconfig problem -- not the first time, of course, that a microsoft update created new problems at the same time that it supposedly solved old ones.

But bottom line, PeteC, is msconfig's lack of functionality really that big a problem? I mean, I've already configured my list of startup programs and don't anticipate neding to do anything more in this regard. Are there other possible uses of msconfig (or of control-alt-delete) that are important enough to make it worth my while to restore my PC to a point that un-installs all those windows security updqates?

Hope I'm making sense here.

 

Just wanted to update you. A friend mentioned that disappearing task manager problems are often caused by viruses, and sure enough I was infected with the w32.spybot.worm as well as backdoor.sdbot. After a grueling cleanup process, all is working fine now. Thanks again for your help, though. I appreciate it.

 

Thanks for the update.

That is good information to have since I'm sure you won't be the only person posting about the task manager issue.