everytime i press alt ctrl delete i get taken to the stupid welcome screen, how can i make the task manager automatically pop up.

Don't know about Vista, but in XP you can just right click on the taskbar and select Task Manager. You might try that. There are times where it doesn't work and you have to use Ctl + Alt + Del anyway. I'd be interested if someone has something that will get you that as I will be on Vista sometime in the next couple of months (probably).

how can i make the task manager automatically pop up.

Try ctrl+shift+esc and the task manager will pop up.
Click on the tab that you want and next time the tm will open using that tab.

Try ctrl+shift+esc and the task manager will pop up.
Click on the tab that you want and next time the tm will open using that tab.

that works, but i <3 alt ctrl del .. lol