Wi-fi management, Access Connections vs. Windows issue

[niccolo]

I have an old but still loved T42. Oddly, IBM Access Connections often doesn't recognize wireless networks, and even when it does recognize them often garbles or doesn't get their SSIDs at all.

As a result, I've started enabling Windows Wireless Network Connection to manage my connections. But Access Connections is constantly taking control again, so I have to keep rechecking the box that gives Windows control.

How do I disable Access Connections? I don't necessarily want to uninstall it, just stop it from taking control unless I specifically enable it.

Appreciate any suggestions!

[killer]

Which version of Access Connections do you have installed?

I'm using version 5.61 and it works well.

[Mike Blake]

Some folks love Access Connections, but across the board on my Thinkpads I've fewer problems with the Windows wireless manager.

I've had to go to the Network Connections window, select the Properties sheet of the network connection you're using, and on the second tab, "Wireless Networks" put a check in "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings."

To totally stop AC from running, go to the Start button, Run and enter SERVICES.MSC. There I have Access Connections Main Service as well as AC Profile Manager Service disabled. The latter is certainly a confusing name; I think it could easily be interpreted as a manager of power profiles instead.

One of those rare cases where I'd recommend the Windows applet for doing something!

[USSS]

Alternatively, you might try the Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi Connection Utility v12.4.011.

I just installed it last night and it works great after disabling both of the Access Connection services mentioned in the post above. It offers most, if not all, of the functionality of Access Connections.

[bill bolton]

It offers most, if not all, of the functionality of Access Connections.

In fact, it offers a bit of the functionality of Access Connections.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[USSS]

^^^
Point taken. I probably should have said, "It offers the same basic functionality as Access Connections." And Intel's GUI is certainly not as elegant.

[niccolo]

Mike or others,

If I got to network connections and check the box to "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings," Windows only keeps control for a few minutes and then Access Connections kicks in again.

As for SERVICES.MSC, oddly there is no Access Connections Main Services or AC Profile Manager Service listed for me, and nothing else listed that appears to be Access Connections, e.g. with IBM, Thinkpad, or Lenovo up front and something referring to Access Connections.

Any other suggestions for how to disable Access Connections? I'd prefer not to have to uninstall it, there must be some way to disable it, no?

[sbjoe]

I went through this recently with the new to me T60p. Just couldn't connect reliably using AC to a new AT&T account. I wound up uninstalling AC and - with some prompting - went into Services.msc to Wireless Zero Configuration properties to make sure that automatic connection & "Restart the Service" is stipulated after all failures. I still had to re-enable Windows management several times to get it to reconnect reliably after shutdown, but either persistence finally paid dividends or I finally got something right that I'd been persistently missing as it's been connecting seamlessly for several weeks now. There's a recent update to AC at lenovo downloads if you find you just can't live without it, but I've been satisfied enough without that I dumped it from my T42p as well.

[Mike Blake]

Mike or others,
If I go to network connections and check the box to "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings," Windows only keeps control for a few minutes and then Access Connections kicks in again.

As for SERVICES.MSC, oddly there is no Access Connections Main Services or AC Profile Manager Service listed for me, and nothing else listed that appears to be Access Connections, e.g. with IBM, Thinkpad, or Lenovo up front and something referring to Access Connections.

Any other suggestions for how to disable Access Connections? I'd prefer not to have to uninstall it, there must be some way to disable it, no?

I've found another component of Access Connections, an .exe file, that loads through the Registry: QCWLICON.EXE. I had to uncheck it using the MSCONFIG utility's Startup tab. There are a few other apps in its folder, /program files/thinkpad/connectutilities, that also might be running, mostly like that one, starting with QC.

MSCONFIG is not recommended for disabling services, but if it's something in the Registry it's probably safer than REGEDIT.

[Mike Blake]

I'm back so soon because something else occurred to me. From the murky depths of memory, I recall a thread on this forum useful to me a few years ago when I was still using my T20, that may help in disabling AC.

Search your hard drive for files named KILLAC.exe .

The old thread told me how IBM included a DOS utility by that name which will stop Access Connections, and back then I made a desktop shortcut to it. One user put it in his Startup folder. Checking this T42, it's there in a number of folders probably reflecting updates to the software over the years.

It's worth a shot if the other suggestions fail to help; it's at least useful to know about.