Thinkpads Forum

Don't use AC at all, the Intel wireless drivers are installed and I prefer the simple Windows wireless interface.

However, every time I upgrade through Software Installer, all hell breaks loose. It installs Access Conections (with all the multiple icons in the taskbar) and I don't really know whether it installs new wireless drivers as well (Is AC just a program which finds networks, or does it come with its own wireless drivers?).

Then I start having kernel panics (blue screen appears). Restart, and since I prohibit AC from startup, the usual Intel/Windows standard happens.

However, I would prefer if I could avoid the panics all together. Does anyone know whether there is a possible conflict with Access Connections and the usual Windows stuff?

A bit lost on this one...

First, Access Connections is a reliable program that (at least for me) has never caused a blue screen.
Second (however), I do not let Access Connections look after itself.

(a) I never use Software installer to download it and install it. I uncheck in Software installer.
(b) If the NIC driver is new, I uninstall the old one before installing the new one, AND, before installing Access Connections.
(c) If only Access Connections is new, I uninstall it (leaving the profiles in place) and install the new one. There is usually a reboot in the middle.

Pain in the butt, to be sure, but at least Access Connections works fast, well, and reliably for me.
... JD Hurst

Ok thanks for the response.

Last time I upgraded AC, the wireless was working even though it was marked as disabled (!?) in the hardware in system control panel. This was again coupled with the blue screens.

Would you say it is okay to uninstall AC if I just use the Windows default wireless?

If you don't wish to use Access Connections, just completely uninstall it. It is an add-on application, not required. I use it because of multiple profiles. ... JD Hurst