Task Manager Look & Functionality has Changed!!!

Hi folks,

Sorry for the above Title ... that is the best that I could describe my problem.

I noticed in the past couple of days my Task Manager is NOT like it used to be in the Past ... this new look is uselss to me and it does not show me any of the running functions and so forth.

Now, I have seen this BareBone look to happen on my Office computer, since the office computers are under lock and key and we have No Admin Rights and not even a Power User Right ... just "BASIC" user account. So, I can't even get a Regular looking Task Manager.

I personally have NOT knowingly changed anything in my operation ... and I have not installed any Windows updates recently that I know of ...

BTW, this is on a Gateway M-6862 laptop, and I am running Vista Home Premuim, SP1, 64-Bit. And I am still on IE7. And I have Full Admin Rights on this laptop.

I have attached the "New" Task Manager look .jpg (the Crapped out look) FYI.

Q1: How can I get back my Old Version of the "Task Manager" back? Where I could see all the applications running and other services and so forth!!!
Hopefully without re-installing the OS!

Q2: How the heck an application like Task Manager gets changed without the User's knowledge? BTW, I have run MBAM and SAS and I don't think I have Virus issue!

Any Help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

G!

 

Double click the top edge of the task manager.

It's maximized right now.

 

As an aside, you might also consider installing SP2 for _Vista as well as IE8 while you're at it. Just a passing thought.

 

I like to call this Microsoft's little practical joke on the rest of the world--you know it is a joke because they even have a name for it--TINY FOOTPRINT mode.

What does it save? About a half inch?

 

Hi folks,

@ jackluo923 ... dude YOU are the Man ... saved me from getting an Ulcer! BIG THANKS!

I don't recall minimizing or maximizing the darn thing ... and also nowhere on the darn thing "Shows" that is in Maximized Mode ... so I would have never realized that.

@ gerryf19 ... I guess Microsoft will call the darn thing something else the next time ... just to keep us Guessing & Changing & Re-learning ... suxs.

@ Shyster1 ... long time no see ... Wow a New Avatar. Shyster I also noticed in your Sigline that your "Sony VAIO Z1A" bit the dust or did you just upgraded for the heck of it!?!?

Shyster the reason I have not gone to IE8 ... I am concerned (just a Guess on my part) that some of the Sites and Forums that I go to ... they might not support IE8!!! I think I saw somewhere on the net someone saying that IE8 was not compatible with some sites.

Q1: Any truth to that!?!?

Shyster on Vista SP2 ... my Windows update has not provided me with the SP2 update. I was again reading somewhere that Microsoft does not push to some machine if other updates are not installed ... BUT in my case I have installed every single update they have pushed down with the Exception of IE8.

Q2: How and Where can I get the SP2 update, since Microsoft is not pushing it to me anyway?

Thanks,

G!

 

q1
Haven't see it yet...ie 8 has a compatibility mode if it occurs

q2
Not showing up in your system tray as time to update, or not showing up in START > Windows Update?

When the latter, do you see it in the OPTIONAL UPDATES list?

Is SP1 installated--Vista SP2 does not include SP1, as has been the case previously.

If your up to sp1 and visting Windows updates shows no critical updates, you can go here to download the full sp2 update for either 32bit or 64bit

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791

 

I've been running on IE8 for a while (both on XP on the old VAIO, as well as on 64-bit _Vista on the new _HP) and haven't had much of a problem; I have run across a few sites that don't come out properly in IE8 directly, but a click of the compatibility button and - hey presto - those sites are back in proper working order.

I'm a little surprised that you haven't had SP2 pushed out to you yet. I've been running on it since it came out and haven't had a lick of trouble with it. I would suggest trying the link that gerryf19 provided.

 

Hi Gerry & Shyster,

I pretty much trust Shyster's recommendations ... since I have a history with him and so far he has not managed to Smoke my laptop ... so Gerry ... now you are on the hook also ... on the Tursted List ... so my laptop better not go poof just kidding ...

Gerry to answer your Qs ... I have set up my Windows Update to Check for "ALL Updates" ... but not to Download ... and let me Choose what to do ... and the only reason I have opted for this Option is because once I had a probelm with an update ... it would never go thru steps 1, 2, and 3 ... never finalized step 3 ... after hours of research on internet finally I came across an answer that saved me ... the problem was that some of the conflicting Microsoft updates HAD to be installed in a special order for the darn thing to work ... so since then I have done it this way.

The only update that Microsoft has provided me so far that I have NOT yet installed is the IE8.

Microsoft has not offered SP2 to go on my Vista Home Prem., SP1, 64-Bit yet.

BTW, as I made a cursory search on SP2 ... I see some folks are having a dickens of Hard Time to install this upgrade ... I hope it will not be the same for me.

I will do the IE8 since I trust you guys!

Q: BTW, just out of Curiosity ... what in the world will I gain with SP2 upgrade anyway!?!?

THANKS,

G!

 

Mostly you'll gain under-the-hood improvements and security-related stuff; it's good to have, but you won't get a night and day sense of any difference between SP1 and SP2.