somthing is worng wit windows xp, when i do anyhting to get task manager up, nothing happens, also when i go into start/run/cmd, cmd dont work too, an error message come up saying… the NTVDM CPU has encounterd an illegal instruction.
cs:06c2 ip: 0038 op:ff ff ff 00 ‘close’ to terminate application.
yesterday it was working ok, but now its impossible to get onto it.
I had this same problem with my younger cousins pc and still havent overcome it. It was most frustrating in our case task manager flashed on and off and I dont think we got that error. Id love to know the answer to this one too so if anyone can shed some light Id also be greatful 
Try this link and see if it helps. You may have to do a repair install of XP though. Of course you could always try a Google Search.
i am installing a different version of windows xp, as i suspect its just this copy of windows.
the reaosn i think its the copy of windows is becouse i had a simaler problem before, thanks for the link, it will be usefull incase it happens one time and i aint prepaird to restore or repair my computer.
Interesting, try going to C:\WINDOWS\system32 and see if the actual TaskManager
program is in there (C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe) if its not whats happened to it? if it is i dont know how to help!
the only thing i can see in windows for task manager is an .exe file for it, i suspect a virus could of done this, but i dont have a virus scanner on at moment as i am restoring my computer tomorrow hopefully.
when i type it in run it says another program is currently using this files.
i think its a virus becouse my cpu usage will never go below 50, even when i am just running one app, but task manager not working could be to do with cpu usage above 50 % all the time.
[QUOTE=willhub]
the only thing i can see in windows for task manager is an .exe file for it, i suspect a virus could of done this, but i dont have a virus scanner on at moment as i am restoring my computer tomorrow hopefully.
when i type it in run it says another program is currently using this files.
i think its a virus becouse my cpu usage will never go below 50, even when i am just running one app, but task manager not working could be to do with cpu usage above 50 % all the time.
[/QUOTE]
One should always have an antivirus, AVG has a free version at Download Free Antivirus Software for PC | AVG Virus Protection or you can search for a free version of AVAST. You can try going to a prievious restore date that you know that everything was working.
Im having the same problem..
Got a brand new laptop yesterday with xp and there is no task manager on it. 
Does anyone think that taskmanager could of been disabled somehow? because as Kez said hers doesnt have taskmanager either!