It use to be that when I right clicked on an empty space on my task bar, or hit Ctrl,Alt, and Delete at the same time it would open the TASK MANAGER and show all the programs that were running on my PC.  NOW, When I do that all I get is a graph showing CPU Usage and CPU History.  My wife also uses this computer.  But when she brings up the task manager, it opens the way it should, ( showing all the open programs ).  What did I do to cause mine to open the way it does?  I'm using a Gateway Desktop PC running Windows XP, with 512MB's ram.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thank You.  Bob

There should be four tabs displayed in the task manager window. You are viewing one of them.
I assume that the tabs are not being displayed, since all you would have to do to get the view you want is click on the correct tab.
What are you seeing when task manager is open? Are you seeing the menu bar?
It sounds as if you have changed the view options for the program, perhaps accidentally.

   My guess as to what is happening is that you clicked on the Performance tab in the Task Manager and then closed the Task Manager.  The Task Manager remembers which tab was selected the last time it was opened and displays that tab when it is open.  So when you open Task Manager it shows the Performance tab.  You probably did not see the tabs at the top.
   If you open the Task Manager and click on the Applications tab at the top, it will show the open programs.  When you close it and then open it again, it will open showing the open programs as you want it to.

Hey Guys,  I want to thank you, ( dlwolffo & Ray ), for the suggestions I recieved.  All I could see when I opened the task manager was a big, checkerd  screen.  There was no menu bar or anything else.  After reading your posts I started thinking that Ray was right, That I'd closed the task manager in that VIEW.  And sure enough, I did!  After clicking around on the open view I finally, accidently, clicked on the menu bar somehow and...... POOF...... there it was!   Thanks guys, I would never have found it without your help.(  At least not for a lot longer time.  )   bobw508