Vista - task manager fails to launch with administrator rights

I've installed the Vista Ultimate RTM and I've been using it for a few weeks
now.
Then I've started to see some strange behaviours with the task manager.
Here is what happens.

I am using the computer as usual and every now and then, I need to launch
the task manager by right clicking the taskbar and choosing task manager on
the menu.
The task manager comes without any problem up everytime. but when i click
the "Show processes from all users" button at the bottom of the processes
tab, the task manager that was running disappears and nothing happens
afterwards.

This doesn't happen every time I do this. It happens only about once or
twice out of 20~30 times I try to launch task manager with adminitrator
rights. I am guessing that this has something to do with the UAC but I really
don't have a clue how to resolve this.

Is there anyone who has seen this problem?

When this happens, check your taskbar for a glowing red button that says
"Windows needs your permission to continue".

You have to click that to get to the UAC prompt.

If the Window determines that the Window that is requesting the UAC prompt
is not the one you are working with, it does not display the UAC prompt and
instead sticks a button in your taskbar for you to get to at your
convienence.

I think this may be what is happening.


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

HC
How are you launching the Taskmanager with administrator rights?

Try creating a shortcut, on the desktop with the location as taskmgr.exe.
Right click this shortcut and select Run as Administrator. Test this for
awhile to see if the problem returns.

When you launch the Taskmanager with admin privileges, it should open with
all processes from all users automatically displayed. There will be no "Show
processes from all users" button.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"HC" <HC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:26B2DDAF-92E7-47D0-877D-2FF26722B4D1@microsoft.com...
> I've installed the Vista Ultimate RTM and I've been using it for a few
> weeks
> now.
> Then I've started to see some strange behaviours with the task manager.
> Here is what happens.
>
> I am using the computer as usual and every now and then, I need to launch
> the task manager by right clicking the taskbar and choosing task manager
> on
> the menu.
> The task manager comes without any problem up everytime. but when i click
> the "Show processes from all users" button at the bottom of the processes
> tab, the task manager that was running disappears and nothing happens
> afterwards.
>
> This doesn't happen every time I do this. It happens only about once or
> twice out of 20~30 times I try to launch task manager with adminitrator
> rights. I am guessing that this has something to do with the UAC but I
> really
> don't have a clue how to resolve this.
>
> Is there anyone who has seen this problem?

I think I should have been more clear on my question. When I click the "Show
processes from all users" button, the elevation prompt shows and I click
"continue" to give consent to launch with adminitrator privileges. Then the
elevation prompt goes away along with the task manager that was showing. The
task manager should reopen with adminitrator privileges but nothing happens.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> When this happens, check your taskbar for a glowing red button that says
> "Windows needs your permission to continue".
>
> You have to click that to get to the UAC prompt.
>
> If the Window determines that the Window that is requesting the UAC prompt
> is not the one you are working with, it does not display the UAC prompt and
> instead sticks a button in your taskbar for you to get to at your
> convienence.
>
> I think this may be what is happening.
>
>
> --
> - JB
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User
>
> Windows Vista Support Faq
> http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
>

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll be sure to try this.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> HC
> How are you launching the Taskmanager with administrator rights?
>
> Try creating a shortcut, on the desktop with the location as taskmgr.exe.
> Right click this shortcut and select Run as Administrator. Test this for
> awhile to see if the problem returns.
>
> When you launch the Taskmanager with admin privileges, it should open with
> all processes from all users automatically displayed. There will be no "Show
> processes from all users" button.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "HC" <HC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:26B2DDAF-92E7-47D0-877D-2FF26722B4D1@microsoft.com...
> > I've installed the Vista Ultimate RTM and I've been using it for a few
> > weeks
> > now.
> > Then I've started to see some strange behaviours with the task manager.
> > Here is what happens.
> >
> > I am using the computer as usual and every now and then, I need to launch
> > the task manager by right clicking the taskbar and choosing task manager
> > on
> > the menu.
> > The task manager comes without any problem up everytime. but when i click
> > the "Show processes from all users" button at the bottom of the processes
> > tab, the task manager that was running disappears and nothing happens
> > afterwards.
> >
> > This doesn't happen every time I do this. It happens only about once or
> > twice out of 20~30 times I try to launch task manager with adminitrator
> > rights. I am guessing that this has something to do with the UAC but I
> > really
> > don't have a clue how to resolve this.
> >
> > Is there anyone who has seen this problem?
>

"HC" <HC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

> I've installed the Vista Ultimate RTM and I've been using it for a few
> weeks
> now.
> Then I've started to see some strange behaviours with the task manager.
> Here is what happens.
>
> I am using the computer as usual and every now and then, I need to launch
> the task manager by right clicking the taskbar and choosing task manager
> on
> the menu.
> The task manager comes without any problem up everytime. but when i click
> the "Show processes from all users" button at the bottom of the processes
> tab, the task manager that was running disappears and nothing happens
> afterwards.
>
> This doesn't happen every time I do this. It happens only about once or
> twice out of 20~30 times I try to launch task manager with adminitrator
> rights. I am guessing that this has something to do with the UAC but I
> really
> don't have a clue how to resolve this.
>
> Is there anyone who has seen this problem?

When launched from the taskbar it doesn't run in an admin context so
clicking on show for all users needs to do the switch, and UAC is invoked.
I don't know why it doesn't come up sometimes for you though. I have had
situations if a lot is going on in background processes that it takes a
while for the secure desktop to show up and then for the UAC prompt, but it
has always come up.

One thing to do is create a shortcut to task manager on the desktop, then
right click it, choose properties, shortcut tab, advanced, and check mark
run as administrator. Then double click that when you want to open TM, it
will start with the UAC prompt.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]