when i try to open task manager i get a message saying "Task Manager has been disabled by your Admin"... any clue how to fix this?

I also have 2 red "X" on my task bar that constantly spam me with "Your computer is infected!" messages demanding i click them and DL some software. The links are dead but the pop-ups just keep comming, how can i get rid of these?

Thanks in advance for any help you give me.

Hello and welcome to TechSpot. This sounds like a "anti-spyware" program like SpySheriff. Have a look at the sticky topics in the Web/Security section.

try these:
get ewido from here
microsoft anti spyware called "giant" from here
spybot search & destroy from here
hijack this from here
lavasoft's adaware from here
AVG from here
try each and see which one catches most of the viruses
each one is good at something. not all of them catch all the bugs.