How to Enable Task Manager in Windows XP

The Windows XP Task Manager is a powerful tool that controls Windows' vital functions, as well as the presence of applications in system memory. With the Task Manager, you can open and control whichever processes are installed on your computer. You can also control logins. As it is such a powerful tool, there are times when you'll want to enable or disable the task manager for use by specific profiles.

Enable Task Manager in Windows XP

Step1

Start Windows in your normal manner.

Step2

Click "Start." Then highlight and click "Run."

Step3

Type "REGEDIT" into the text bar and press "Enter."

Step4

Navigate through the registry, looking for the following directory: "HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ System."

Step5

Right-click on the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" and click "New" from the context menu to include a new string. This is only necessary when the necessary directory is not currently present in the registry. By default, Windows XP Home Edition does not include the necessary directory string.

Step6

Click on the "DisableTaskMgr" phrase and delete it. This is the simplest way to do it, but it makes it more of a challenge to repair in the future. You will need to manually reenter the string if you didn't back up first.

Step7

Change the numbers in the boolean section of the entry from one to zero. This will enable the Task Manager in Windows XP. Note that the zero is essentially equivalent to a positive entry in this regard, as the initial string is a negative.

Step8

Change the string manually from the "Run" window of the Start Menu, without having to access the Registry Editor. Simply type "REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f" into the text field and press "Enter."

By eHow Computers Editor