Vista - task manager problem

Hi fellow Vista owners. I have a problem that I haven't found an answer to yet, perhaps one of you can help. My vista task manager has only a task tab, no processes etc. It's nothing like the one on xp was like, just bare bones. I desperately need to terminate a process (m s antivirus - which, ironically is malware that crept past my mc afee and windows defender) so that I can delete the exe file. Right now my main pc keeps crashing every few minutes, no time for a scan or anything so I need to know where to find the processes. Sorry for going on, I'm a bit stressed by it. Hope someone can help and thanks in advance.

Download and run Malwarebytes Antimalware, run an update and post results here ~ Malwarebytes.org

The full version is $25, but you can use the free version for as long as you wish and it still has lots of useful features.

You can also try killing the process with Process Explorer ~ Process Explorer

If you can't delete the file you can try to delete it with unlocker ~ UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB

thanks for advice. No time to install and run any programs before the system crashes. Still wondering where all the tabs (inc. processes ) have gone from my task manager.

Can you boot into safe mode?

EDIT: Try double clicking on an empty space next to where the tabs used to be.

Thanks for the help. Will try it out tomorrow. Main problem is the pc only runs for 3 minutes before crashing. Wish I could understand why my yask manager is different form everyone elses. Oh well, bye for now

Make sure you see my edit above..."try double clicking an empty area where your tabe used to be." Good luck.

Good morning from Ireland. You're a genius! Started in safe mode and used system restore to restart before the malware. You were right about my task manager. I've only had this pc a few months and had no reason to use the manager before. It was in some minimal status and when I double clicked on the top, presto, the task manager i knowand love so well is back. I was too freaked yesterday with the constant crash/reboot sequence to think straight and you've come to my aid. Nice one. Thanks.

Glad you got it sorted...cheers!