Motive SmartBridge
The Motive SmartBridge background task is installed with Verizon Online’s software which is included with their residential DSL service. It has an autoupdate prompt which runs at startup. I disabled it on my computer simply because I don’t know exactly what it does. Since I don’t have a use for it and anything running uses up some memory, I’ll keep it that way. Read the comments to learn about removing verizon online support center.
Shirly (#40) – The correct command is msconfig, not misconfig.
Just another greatful reader saying thanks.
Running WIN XP, after reading the above, I uninstalled (from Add/Remove Programs) Verizon Support Center, The Motive Smart Bridge update notification is gone.
I’ve tested my email on Outlook and it’s running fine.
I uninstalled Verizon Online and Verizon Online Support Center.
See also this definitive assessment of Motive:
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_m.htm
and scroll down to motivesb.exe
The opening of the box to let me know there was an upgrade for something I didn’t intall knowingly was slightly ominous. Google to the rescue! That’s how I found you. Thank you for starting this train of thought. Thank you, Blue Stater, for going a step further to help by adding the resource of all times(to someone like me)may you both be blessed a thousandfold.
Thank you Elliot. Love You :o)
Thanks for the information on the Motive Smartbridge Update prompt. It was creepy seeing that appear each time I started my computer since I didn’t know who or what Motive Smartbrige was! I followed your instructions and it is gone.
Wow… Good info here! Came up at the top of my Google search list. Guess Google knows what it’s doing (sometimes anyway). Thanks for posting all this, Elliot.
Hi Elliot, I’ve had Verizon dsl for about a year with no problems. Three weeks ago I went to download McAfee, a free service with MSN Premium. It was taking so long to complete that I cancelled before it was finished. Next time I turned on my PC it won’t go any further then the Windows ME ad page then froze up. I had to have the PC serviced. They cleaned out my harddrive and all my programs were deleted and Windows XP Pro was installed instead of ME. I used the PC one day, took all day and hours of phone calls to Verizon to get on the internet. Next time I got on, Motive Smartbridge popped up and I clicked yes to download. That was it…my computer crashed again. I had to have it repaired again. Has anyone else had this problem? Verizon doesn’t have the answer! Thanks, Anna
Thank you Elliot,for the easy to follow instructions to remove the Motive SmartBridge AutoUpdate pop up. Thanks also for explaining what is was and where it was coming from. I have windows XP Professional and after following your instructions everything is running great, no more pop ups now when I start up my computer. Best wishes for a “MERRY CHRISTMAS”….Jack Watson
Hi, all. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Any advice/answers re. questions 44 and 45? Thanks!
Found a simple solution.
1. Go to Start/then run and type msconfig and hit enter.
2. Click the 4th tabon the new window labeled startup
3. Schroll down to Motive Smartbridge and disable check.
4. Hit apply key and enter
Reboot and put your config system program back to normal.
This should fix the problem.
4.
Fred: Definitely look at the “Task List” on this site: http://www.answersthatwork.com/ I considered buying their Ultimate Troubleshooter. Sounds like you have a massive number of background tasks running on your PC. The Ultimate Troubleshooter appears to address thjis issue specifically. (I have no affiliation with the site or product, except I found their Task List helpful).
Whoops, post 62 above was intended to Jason’s attention, not Fred, thanks
Your blog just became a favorite place! Not only did I get rid of SB but the annouying MSNBC welcome screen. Thanks.
Found thi sblog when I went looking for what Motive Smartbridge was and why it was driving me crazy. However, when I type in msconfig, I get a message that it doesn’t exist…where do I go from here?
Thanks, Blue Stater. Happy new year.
Thanks for the Great BLOG and to Google for getting me here. I simply uninstalled the online support center. How ironic that Verizon would send me an email a few days earlier about not inviting spyware into the home for the holidays. what a joke. Thanks again.
Elliot – I bow to you! I am a VERY novice technical person who has been so frustrated with all the stuff I have to decline/close at start up. In a few minutes, your instructions helped me clean it all up. Thank you for your clear, easy instructions. FYI: the Verizon Updates files is vzSFPwin.
Like everyone before me…great blog and good riddance to that pop up on start-up! Thanks EL!
Thanks so much! My husband and I had no idea what Motive Smart Bridge was! It was popping up more on our laptop wich we run wireless…. I ignorantly let it update and now we’re S L O W…. I really don’t like Verizon slipping in spyware! My Norton update hates it so I found you Via MSN search. I’ll need to disable it from the poor little lap top…. we thought maybe it was part of the wireless… yes you can all say it together… IDIOTS! Thanks so much!!!
oh sould have mentioned that the laptop is officially his while mine is desktop via ethernet I run Norton system works and just udated to 2005 with Personal Firewall Who hates MSB. He runs ZoneAlam… but I confess I turn if off sometimes cuz it’s allways interupting… Bad Carrie! I know… Think I’m getting Norton for his machine… goddess only know what I’ve let in!
thanks for your help here. I kept getting the same messages and didn’t know if it was legit or some type of spy/ad ware..
Interesting!! I just called Verizon support and they claim NO ONE has ever called with this question before. They said there was no way to disable it without uninstalling everything. I followed your instructions, the pop-up message is gone, and I’m moving faster now. Thank you!!
Thanks a lot! Now, I don’t have to click “No” everytime to that annoying Morive popup :D
Thanks for all the comments on this annoying (and possibly dangerous) problem with Motive Smart Bridge. Contacting Verizon technical support is totally useless. They obviously have had many calls with this problem. They have instructed their supprot staff to deny that this was installed with Verizon DSL; they even try to direct you to Microsoft to solve the problem, saying it is theirs (Microsoft).
Even when escalating the problem to a supervisor, and even to the (and I use this title losely) Customer Advocacy division in Martinsburg WV., I found no solution. Brandy of this division denied ever hearing of the problem, (according to her I was the first to report it on 2/15/05). She refuse to help find a solution nor could she direct me to a site or number about Motive SB. Some help huh?!
I see that Verizon Online is starting to use the same deceptive practices the Verizon Wireless has used for years that resulted in several class actions suits.
Paul B.