Cannot find VCI_Task.exe, and MS Office attempts to install upon startup

[delphine]

Hi,

I have two startup problems with my computer which happened recently after i did some cleaning out of my computer. I doubt they are related though, since they didn't happen at exactly the same time.

Firstly, whenever I start Windows, I get a "Windows cannot find file \VCI_Task.exe" error. I'm pretty sure VCI_Task.exe is a Sony-related file (I have a Vaio), but as far as I know I haven't touched it, and it's not in my startup folder. My computer runs quite normally after I click OK to make the error message go away, but it's annoying to have it pop up every time I reboot.

Secondly, also whenever I startup, Microsoft Office 2003 Professional attempts to install something. I've no idea what it is, but I keep getting a "Preparing to install" message, followed by an Office installation screen that proceeds normally until it reaches an "SKU111.cab not found" error, where it then asks me to insert a CD. My Office 2003 CD is not with me at the moment so I can't even try that, but I'm at a loss as to why this installation starts up in the first place. Office seems to be functioning perfectly normally and according to the Microsoft Update website I don't need any updates for it.

I'm running Windows XP SP2. Any help would be appreciated!

[thunderstorm98]

To stop vci_task.exe warning please go to registry editor and find that key by find option..if it shows that in a startup or run category then delete only that key.
For information about sku111.cab (MS-Office 2003) please click this link to know what it is
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896866

[delphine]

When I search for VCI_Task.exe in regedit, I find the following:

Name C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Cooperated Initialisation\VCI_Task.exe
Type REG_SZ
Data VAIO Task Scheduler

That's the only match when I use the find option to search for VCI_Task.exe. I'm not really sure what to do after that because I'm not experienced with tweaking the registry. What should I do?

As for the MS Office error, I've said that I don't have the MS Office installation CD with me. Is there anything I can do without it? I'm just curious why I get the error in the first place, because my Office seems to still be working perfectly and I don't remember having tampered with it lately.

Thank you for your help!

[thunderstorm98]

delete that only key and for MS-Office you need disc for that..it may be caused due to corrupted file and office try to recover.
Without disc nothing you can do any solution.

[delphine]

Apologies for the late reply, I somehow didn't get an email notification of your reply and didn't actually check this thread until now!

I managed to take care of the Office problem - traced it to another program I had, uninstalled that program, and now the problem is gone. :)

Unfortunately even after deleting the VCI_Task key in the registry I still get the "Windows cannot find \VCI_Task.exe" error when I startup Windows. Is there anything else that can be done?

Thanks!

[thunderstorm98]

also check it through msconfig utility..go to run and type msconfig and press enter...here in msconfig check the 'startup' tab and watch out for vci_task path..if its there then uncheck it then restart your system.

[delphine]

I couldn't access msconfig utility, when I type msconfig into the run box it returns a Windows cannot find msconfig error. But happily, I managed to stop the popup by following some instructions I found elsewhere! Will post them here for others having a similar problem:

1. Go to run and type services.msc
2. Scroll down to VAIO Cooperated Initialisation
3. Right click > Properties
4. Change Startup Type to Disabled
5. Click OK and close all the windows

Upon next restart, the popup was gone!

[thunderstorm98]

msconfig is missing ?? i think windows 2000 is running..right ?

ok..thats great you have done with Microsoft management console (.msc)