Shutdown takes forever

Message

dgnash · #1 Post by **dgnash** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:01 am

On an almost brand new Z61m Thinkpad, Windows XP takes at least 6 minutes to shut down, with the message "this program is not responding" being displayed for the programs AcWLIconWnd and AcTrayWnd. What is going on here?
I contacted Lenovo and the only thing they suggest is to re-install the operating system, which is not the sort advice I want to hear. Can anyone suggest what can be done? I have another non-IBM laptop running the same software, and it works fine.

Ken Fox · #2 Post by **Ken Fox** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:12 am

dgnash wrote:On an almost brand new Z61m Thinkpad, Windows XP takes at least 6 minutes to shut down, with the message "this program is not responding" being displayed for the programs AcWLIconWnd and AcTrayWnd. What is going on here?
I contacted Lenovo and the only thing they suggest is to re-install the operating system, which is not the sort advice I want to hear. Can anyone suggest what can be done? I have another non-IBM laptop running the same software, and it works fine.

Both of those files that are hanging your system are part of "Thinkvantage Access Connections," a buggy program that attempts to provide additional functionality on top of the native Windows wireless network management program.

If you need to change wireless networks multiple times each day then perhaps you will want to try to get it to work, but if you only have several wireless networks you log onto, well then it probably is like [censored] on a bull -- not much use and more trouble than it is worth.

If you don't need it, go into control panel, add and remove programs, then find "Access Connections" or "Thinkvantage Access Connections," and uninstall it. You may have to reboot a time or two but once you are rid of this bloatware, you will probably have solved your problem, once and for all.

If you feel you need Access Connections, then use the search function here at thinkpads.com and you will pull up lots of threads dealing with this sort of problem and some suggested fixes. But the easiest solution, if you don't need it, is to uninstall it. The native Windows wireless program has been improved since it was released and is functional enough for most users.

NS · #3 Post by NS » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:27 am

dgnash wrote: <snip>.....with the message "this program is not responding" being displayed for the programs AcWLIconWnd and AcTrayWnd.

Those red words stands for "access connection". The 1st thing i always never fail to do when i received my thinkpad is to remove that access connection. It irritates me a lot.

dgnash wrote:I contacted Lenovo and the only thing they suggest is to re-install the operating system, which is not the sort advice I want to hear. <snip>

Some of the people there will always state the same advise: reformat the thinkpad. They just want to get over with your problem fast and settle your complain call. Lucky you are smart enough to join this forum.

Do as Ken Fox has suggested: remove the Access Connection software. Allow the wireless microsoft software to run on it's own.

*I have been using microsoft wireless utility and removed Access Connection and everything has been working fine ever since then...*

Welcome to thinkpads.com support community for all thinkpad fans all over the globe

ms · #4 Post by ms » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:02 pm

You can also run XPANTISPY and activate the "Fast Shutdown" which will kill running processes immideatly if they are not closed within 5 secs during shutdown.

#5 Post by **tomh009** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:10 pm

Ken Fox wrote:If you need to change wireless networks multiple times each day then perhaps you will want to try to get (Access Connections) to work, but if you only have several wireless networks you log onto, well then it probably is like [censored] on a bull -- not much use and more trouble than it is worth.

I agree with Ken ... I know a number of people on these forums swear by Access Connections, and it does allow you to exert more control over what you connect to. But it can be troublesome at times -- and I find that usability is much better with the standard Windows wireless networking as well.

dgnash · #6 Post by **dgnash** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:25 pm

Thank you to Ken Fox and all who replied. Having removed the access connections program, the problem has also been removed!

vital-analitix · #7 Post by **vital-analitix** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:44 am

Get from Microsoft the "User Profile Hive Cleanup" service and install that.

Regards
Marinus

Steerpike · #8 Post by **Steerpike** » Fri May 25, 2007 4:17 pm

I just started getting the dreaded 'AcWLIconWnd.exe' error on shutdown of my T60 under XP Pro SP2.

I agree with all the posters who say I should uninstall Access Connections - I hate it - but some of my new Lenovo's are now arriving with Bluetooth, and Access Connections seems to be the manager for that. If I uninstall AC, can I install some native or standalone Bluetooth manager? Or am I incorrect in assuming I need AC to use Bluetooth? My personal laptop does not have bluetooth, but many of my user's do have it and some can't live without bluetooth. Thanks!

314 · #9 Post by **314** » Fri May 25, 2007 5:54 pm

dgnash wrote:I contacted Lenovo and the only thing they suggest is to re-install the operating system, which is not the sort advice I want to hear.

I cannot read this without posting my complete agreement to this statement. It has come to the point that Lenovo has myriad bugs in their driver support with nearly all of their non-gold support being based upon that one initial drive image working on that one factory install with nothing else running. I guess they are preparing for the post-software-support era (which should start any day).

Steerpike · #10 Post by **Steerpike** » Sat May 26, 2007 12:59 am

I called Lenovo support recently about some problems we were having docking and undocking. They were clueless, of course. Having read on these forums about a grounding problem with docking stations that Lenovo were supposedly fixing, I asked if there were any 'known issues' with docking stations and the woman proceeded to insist there was no such thing as a 'known problem'. It was quite amusing, really - I went at it from several angles, but she was unyielding - 'no such thing as a known problem, sir' she told me.

I was thrilled, at first, that I got through to a support center in Atlanta, and without a long wait. But I have yet to hear anything of value after several calls about several issues. Their remedy for everything is to fully upgrade to the latest version (fair enough, I get the concept), and if that doesn't fix it, they want me to uninstall anything that is not standard issue. They make no attempt to actually 'think through' or understand what might be going on. Oh well, thank goodness we have a self-help community here!

If anyone has any thoughts about the "Access Connections" issue I posted earlier today, I'd be grateful to hear them! I just want to make sure I can get Bluetooth working without it.

#11 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:38 pm

I have a T42 with bluetooth. I also use Access Connections. However I do not use Access Connections for anything to do with bluetooth. I would be somewhat surprised if Access Connections is required for bluetooth on any of the ThinkPads. I did have a problem getting the Widcom bluetooth drivers to install properly, but once I found the solution, all works well. See the following thread for my experience getting the drivers installed.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=40672