personally, I would just disable Access Connections in the services menu. this won't mean that windows will take over, but it will mean that the AC won't turn on. What you are left with is the QCWILCON.EXE, which runs just great.

I wouldn't just unistall the AC, without being connected to the internet via an ethernet cable. Problem with just the unistall is, IF the LAST install of the AC, version 4.0+, if that install installed the wireless drivers, THEN it COULD pull the wireless driver out with it. TRUST ME, this has happened a couple times. There is an AC WITH DRIVERS and and AC WITHOUT DRIVERS. I always do the later, and install drivers only if AC needs them.

But, I have AC installed and turned off, and I simply controll the connection states and access points myself. It is a very simply matter of clicking on the little stair step icon down in the menu bar, and looking for WIFI networks and selecting the one you want. This is NOT AC.