taskeng.exe black popup window

[macwilly]

Windows 7 x 64 with all updates current
A taskeng.exe black popup window has been flashing across my screen everytime I start my computer or resume windows. It only shows up for a split second most of the time. A couple of times it displayed long enough for me to see what it was.
I found the file and it appears to be where it belongs C:\Windows\System32 last modified on 11/20/2010 it's an Application file with 454KB
In Task Manager - Processes it shows 2 of them with my name in the user name column. When I right click them, click on Open File Location they both take me to C:\Windows\System32.
Just ran sfc/scannow, latest version of Malwarebytes and a FULL system scan with the windows security scanner, all in SAFE MODE with the results showing no corrupt files, virus's or malware.



Also tried this from Microsoft

Please follow the instructions:

1. Go to the Start menu.
2. Type task scheduler and press enter.
3. Press continue on the UAC popup.
4. In the left pane of task scheduler, underneath Task Scheduler Local, right-click on Task Scheduler Library.
5. In the View submenu, make sure the Show Hidden Tasks option is checked.
6. Widen the Name column in the center pane. The hidden task that is likely at fault has a name that starts with User_Feed_Synchronization, followed by a dash and a bunch of digits inside a curly brace.
DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT CAME CLOSE TO THIS TASK
7. Select that task in the middle pane by clicking on its name.
8. To verify that this scheduled task is creating all those taskeng.exe processes, select the History tab in the middle pane near the middle of the screen.
THE HISTORY TAB INDICATES IT'S DISABLED) History (disabled) . So I'm unable to get any information there nor do I knowhow to enable it...
If you expand out the Level and Date and Time Columns, you should see a bunch of errors and date and times that are 5 minutes apart. If that's the case, then this task is the problem.
9. On the rightmost pane, select Disable.
10. There may be more than one scheduled task like this, so you'd need to disable any or all that were causing problems.
Any other suggestions. Although I'm "fairly" confident this probably isn't a virus or malware I would like to know what's causing this to and if possible or necessary what can be done to fix it.
thanks

 

[gregrocker]

I'd disable all tasks unless you know for sure you need them.

I'd also uncheck everything in msconfig>Startup and msconfig>Services (after ticking the box to Hide all MS Services) except your AV and any sync. You can add back anything later that you really can't do without starting with Windows, which is usually nothing - maybe a messenger. But you do not need graphics, sound or other software running at startup.

Compare the install you have with the perfect install compiled in Clean Reinstall Windows 7.
If this is the original factory install then that is the worst possible install of Win7.

I notice you have Norton bloatware AV. We see nothing but problems with it, usually solved by uninstalling it and replacing it with a free lightweight AV like MSE or Panda Cloud.

More Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 will usually always find the problem.