Task Manager being blocked by spyware

[Ste]

spyware often does come in .exe's, therefore are programs.
we can't tell you what program it was, because there is not just one that will lock the task manager.

and doing a repair of XP doesn't remove the spyware and bad .exe's, it just replaces all the core Windows components while keeping all the settings and other files intact. you have to actually delete the spyware either manually or with the aid of a spyware removal program

I know that I even said it, I stated that you still have to get ride of the spyware/viruses but by doing a repair it will fix taskmanager.