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Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: wlcnyc who wrote (40666)	4/14/2004 9:52:46 PM
From: thecow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110652

Motive SmartBridge/mpbtn.exe System tray icon for the Virtual Assistant from AT&T Broadband, used to communicate internet problems via the network rather than telephone. Available via desktop shortcut or Start -> Programs - not required sysinfo.org From Answersthatwork: Motive SmartBridge background task which appears as an Online Support icon in the System Tray. We believe it to be part of the Motive Broadband Manager stable of products from Motive Communications, although we are not 100% certain yet. Some descriptions of Motive Broadband Manager from the Motive website on 20‑Feb‑2004 : “Self-management software that automates the residential subscriber service and support experience” – “Performs automated troubleshooting and problem resolution” – “Proactively detects problems and guides subscribers through the resolution process.” – “Offers an escalation mechanism and process for resolving problems that require help from service providers. When self‑configuration or self-repair cannot resolve the issue, Motive Broadband Manager automatically escalates a support request electronically to the provider's customer service center, providing the information gathered during the self-service experience as a starting point to speed problem resolution.”. In our experience Motive Smartbridge is installed by the installation CD provided by a number of broadband ISPs, most notably, at the time of writing, Verizon, Adelphia. Recommendation : We simply cannot understand why ISPs insist on installing software like this on users PCs without thorough, thorough, thorough, and also....., thorough testing ! Frequent “Kernel32 invalid page faults” on boot-up is the most common complaint. But that’s not all : we have seen PC hangs and spontaneous reboots also being caused by this task. Add to this that this task regularly communicates information back to the ISP without, in most cases, the user ever having been informed clearly and unambiguously about what is being communicated, and you have a task which we recommend unequivocally that you eliminate. As we state consistently in these pages, ISPs have the technology to monitor the quality of their service to you the customer without any software from them running on your PC. They possess a range of diagnostic hardware and tests which can help them pinpoint problems with remarkable accuracy, so do not ever believe any statement which infers that you need software like Motive Smartbridge running for your ISP to be able to support you ! We have frequent contacts with our own ISP and the range of tests they can perform, and their ability to home in on the exact problem, is absolutely stunning. You have two choices : the quick and easy solution if you do not want to “mess around” too much with your PC is simply to disable this task on the Startups tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter – this has the advantage of allowing you to re-enable the task should you experience a problem with your broadband connection and your ISP insist on you having this task running before they can provide you with support. Alternatively, if you are technically advanced, in addition to disabling this task you could decide to de-install anything “Motive” or which has your ISP’s name and something akin to “support” in the “Add\Remove Programs” icon in the Control Panel.