How do I turn off the Verizon WWAN activation message?

[tstroll]

Hi,

I am the happy new owner of a T60 ThinkPad (I believe 2623 7DU). About half the time I start up, I get a dialog box on the desktop asking me to subscribe to the Verizon Wireless WAN service. I don't want to subscribe, and the dialog box does not offer a helpful "don't ask me again" button. Nor have I been able to find any function on the computer that would discontinue this message. Does anyone know how to stop the dialog box from generating at startup? (Also, if I can turn it off but later change my mind and decide I want the service, can I conserve the subscription invitation somewhere on the computer without having it bother me on startup?) Thanks.

[Madriver]

anybody have an answer for this yet ? I would like to get the verizon pop up killed on my T60 as well. any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ken Fox]

I can't remember exactly what I did with my X60 to get rid of this, however I remember that I used msconfig (RUN->(type in MSCONFIG), then unchecked the box for the Verizon signup application (forget what it was called). When you reboot you will have to deal with the annoying dialog box that you check to indicate you don't want the selective startup mode, to get it to go away.

I believe you can also uninstall the application through Control Panel->Add and Remove Programs.

[Madriver]

thanks ken ill give that a try, i had already deleted everything i could find that was associated with it but didn't go msconfig yet

[tstroll]

I'm the person who originally posted this question. After no one replied on this site, I called LeNovo technical support and a technician walked me through the fix. I don't recall the precise steps, but I do believe it involved editing one of the plain-text system batch files like CONFIG.SYS.

I suggest calling LeNovo service to be guided through the procedure. Modifying those system files runs significant risks; an editing mistake could cause problems.

[Padhead]

Do either of you guys wants to sell your Verizon WWAN card? Sounds like you are not using it, and I am looking for one.

[Madriver]

sorry padhead for not getting back to ya sooner but im going to leave it in just in case i ever need it but i called lenovo and they gave me the biggest run around . said it was a software issue and i had to pay to fix it, after agruing for a while and not getting a manager on the line i hung up. they told me to call verizon customer service at lenovo/ibm sucks and i bought two loaded T60's at the same time and they couldnt get the wan activate pop up from coming up. hmmm guess ill try something else when my office needs new laptops

ok for the fix i used ken fox's fix and it worked fine, when it asks about changing the start up configuration after reboot just hit don't show again and its gone with no more annoying pop up for the activation. i found it also in the regedit but i didnt know which one, one said reminder but i was afraid to kill it. but kens way worked

[erik]

on my X61 i simply uninstalled the verizon software.

[tstroll]

I had the same experience as Madriver at first. I called LeNovo service and a clueless rep fumbled around and finally told me to call Verizon service. Verizon had no idea what I was calling about. Ken's fix (see above), editing the CONFIG.SYS or similar system file to uncheck the WWAN box, is what works. Be sure to follow all the steps Ken mentions. In my case, I called LeNovo again until I could find a rep who could walk me through the direct-editing fix. Before then, by the way, I had tried using add/remove programs to get rid of the annoyance. It doesn't work as far as I can tell. I think you have to edit CONFIG.SYS or the similar system file directly. Good luck!

I see that the moderator posted a post minutes before me saying that on the X61 you can simply get rid of the Verizon software. (See above.) In this post, I'm referring only to my approximately year-old T60.

[mgo]

I had the same experience as Madriver at first. I called LeNovo service and a clueless rep fumbled around and finally told me to call Verizon service. Verizon had no idea what I was calling about. Ken's fix (see above), editing the CONFIG.SYS or similar system file to uncheck the WWAN box, is what works. Be sure to follow all the steps Ken mentions. In my case, I called LeNovo again until I could find a rep who could walk me through the direct-editing fix. Before then, by the way, I had tried using add/remove programs to get rid of the annoyance. It doesn't work as far as I can tell. I think you have to edit CONFIG.SYS or the similar system file directly. Good luck!

I see that the moderator posted a post minutes before me saying that on the X61 you can simply get rid of the Verizon software. (See above.) In this post, I'm referring only to my approximately year-old T60.

I really dislike companies that add things to my system but then also conspire with the computer maker to "pretend" that they don't know how to remove it. I believe this is the case with Lenovo and Verizon. They are both evil for that.

Get "Autoruns" (freeware) from here so you can see what is running on your machine. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysi ... 63902.aspx

Also get "Process Explorer" from the same author. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysi ... 96653.aspx
Both are freeware, and by using those programs you can put a stop to the virus-like persistent of this type of unwanted company behavior.

I used them to stop the Verizon thing, and the stupid Quicken Bill Minder thing which was also horribly annoying. Shame on you , Lonovo for allowing this sort of Verizon NAG WARE on our machines!