Help error message when loading Sony Clie Desktop Software

Please help. I'm getting an Error message when I try to load the Sony Clie Installation CD onto my Dell desktop.  I have XP home edition, with pentium 4.  The error message i'm getting is

 

Error 1402. Could not open key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.vcs.

verify that you have sufficient access to that key, or contact support.

 

I have been on Sony support for a long time and they are now telling me it is a Dell issue and that I need to contact the computer manufactuer to check for information on how to edit the registry. 

 

What does that mean?  Where do I go for here?  What do I need to edit the registry to do?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!