I have an IBM ThinkPad and made the mistake when I first got it to have the Access IBM program contol all of my connections. This results in a very long start up period.

Apparently the program can not be disabled but it can be removed completely. As Windows will not allow me direct access to my connections (because it surrendered control of that to Access), I am hesitant to remove the Access program.

Will it result in my not being able to connect to the Internet at all or will Windows resume control of the connections?

It can be turned on and off; I've done that in the past. I'm currently using the software which came with my belkin wifi card to control connections, but with that one I can also easily switch control back to windows. (problem is my built in wifi chip went bad and crashes/freezes windows constantly, so I uninstalled it and I'm steering clear of the windows software too; I don't trust it).

I don't want to turn the access IBM stuff back on, so I can't find the switch for you. Sorry.

The latter.

The program you're trying to delete goes by a couple of different names depending on how up-to-date your version is. Try this:

Start
Control Panel
Add or Remove Programs
Thinkvantage Access Connections
Press "change / remove"

That will allow me to remove it. If things don't work out when I do, what do I have to do to put it back in?

Also, are you familiar with the way to turn it off without removing it (as Gargoyle mentioned)?

You can then download it from http://www-307.IBM.com/pc/support/si...OME-LENOVO#rdt

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.

Start
Right Click on "My Computer"
Select "Manage"
Bottom of left hand panel, select "Services and Applications"
Top of right hand panel, select "Services"
(probably) second entry on right hand panel is "Access Connections Main Service"
Select it.
Select "Stop the Service"