

"If the shell can't start something or is hung, try Task Manager. Even if your tray is missing and gone, this combo should start it. "So if the Shell/Explorer is dead, use this key combo to bring up TM and then reset/restart the shell. Restart it while holding down Ctrl, Alt, and Shift, and Task Manager will reset ALL internal settings to factory fresh if it sees that key combo at startup."Īdditionally, Ctrl-Shift-ESC will launch Task Manager without any help from the Windows Shell. "If Task Manager ever becomes internally corrupted, kill/close it. That way, you're never without a Taskmgr as long as there are some resources available," he wrote. If the old Taskmgr doesn't start making sense by responding with a secret code within that time, another one will be launched. Winlogon will look for an existing instance and try to revive it for up to 10 seconds.

"If Task Manager ever hangs or crashes, start another by pressing ctrl-shift-esc. He offers several tips on Reddit for users running into problems with Task Manager.
