Free WiFi is everywhere these days (especially WiFi in Portland). Yet, there are still some times when I need to pay for access. This weekend I had no network nor printer and needed both. So, I zipped off to my local Fedex Kinkos.
The setup appeared very easy. It had been a couple years since I had plugged in at Kinkos and they’ve improved their system. All it takes is a network cable and a USB port. Just about every laptop, Windows and Mac, can plug-in right out of the box. This doesn’t require any software, drivers, or anything else to get going.
Unfortunately, when I plugged everything in, I received this awful window:
It looked like this when it first opened and it would have looked like this if I waited all day. It has five checkboxes, none of which are checked or checkable. The labels next to each checkbox say things like “Checking network card,” as if it is actively working on a solution. The only clickable option on this screen is the Quit button.
Since I’m a little more informed technically than the average Kinkos customer, I did some tests to tell I couldn’t see the Internet. I took a deep breath and inserted my credit card into the slot on the table. Nothing changed, but a minute or so later I was able to do most of what I wanted.
My point here is that being simple is not the only thing needed to make technology easy to use. Kinkos had two cables, which was all it took to connect me to their network. That’s great. But the instructions were sparse and misleading. Their software was technically complete, but it basically just needs better copy.
How funny, I was at a Kinko’s yesterday too and got to try out the LapNet for the first time. It did seem a bit awkward to me as well. One of the things that bugged me was that I didn’t need the Internet access, just to print some stuff, but I still had to pay to connect. Then to top it off, you have to pay $1 a page for color printing. They’ve got a stranglehold on people in desparate need of printing.
Hey, actually, if you were using an intel based mac, i think that might be the problem. the lapnet normally checks boxes away and then brings up a prompt to insert card, and also has a lil box that comes up and lets you turn off the net connection so you dont have to use it the entire time, if you just want to print.
could you write me an email, letting me know if you DO have an intel based mac laptop? cause if I can just put my card in and wait a few mins before it starts, thatd be great. I have been needing to print things there for awhile and thought it wasnt compatible w/ the new intel macs. thanks!
I used lapnet, and discovered that it uses viral techniques to install itself! I am also more technical than your average bear, and was surprised that the lapnet screen now shows itself at every startup, and that it’s not in Add/Remove Programs. I called Entrec technical support (905 882 2500) and they told me there is no way to remove LapNet without specialized hardware! I don’t believe them, so am about to hack with Process Explorer and an external boot CD…
DO NOT use LapNet unless you expect to be at Kinkos regularly, or unless you don’t mind an extra error message at every boot!
Like others, I am annoyed by Lapnet appearing everytime I reboot. If anyone has a way to disable or remove Lapnet, Please email it to me at [email protected]. Thank you.
I visited kinkos yesterday for wifi/printing and their lapnet service caused the windows blue screen of death 2 times! I then simply used their tmobile wifi but there was no way to print wireless!
Hey guys, whenever you use Lapnet services at Kinko’s, you need to make sure that you uninstall the software before you leave the store, the software will store your original settings and after uninstall you should be back to normal.
Jacob and Entrec love to blame all of the problems created by Kinko’s and Lapnet on the users not unistalling properly, what BS! I don’t care if you unplug and walk away, there should be an uninstall feature for the software. This is nothing more than a commercial virus. There should be a folder on your C drive labeled Lapnet, but once you delete it, your wireless card will be disabled, so you have to go to hardware settings and enable. Entrec claims to have updated the software on 04/21/08 but I would never, under any circumstances, plug my laptop in at Kinko’s, EVER.
I didn’t get the software uninstalled but I did get the program to stop launching. If you go to c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu\programs\startup there will be a file called LapLink.exe. Simply delete that file and at least the process will never start.
This after I too called Entrac and they told me my only choice was to go back to Kinkos.
Like many others, I made the mistake of going to Kinkos and had to install LapLink to be able to print from my notebook. And like many others, I’ve had a devil of a time getting it off my notebook. I finally followed Kevin’s suggestion and deleted it from the startup folder.
This is unacceptable.
I’m on hold right now with Fedex Kinkos customer service to ask them how to remove the virus they they had me install. What is truly interesting is that the very pleasant customer service representative was quite familiar with the “How do I get this thing off of my computer?” problem.
I guess I’m just going to have to find myself another “branch office.”
While this is mostly just a minor annoyance, I agree with Kevin that they should just add the simple remove software procedure and everything would be acceptable.
My experience at Kinkos was first to be warned by the sale rep not to try the laptop connection because so many had problems. But being presented with a challenge, I attempted anyway. I spent an hour trying to get it to a working printer. Finally gave up and use one of their own attached machines.
Very strange since this type of service, i.e. walk up and connect, is very simple to implement.
I’m another one… Went to kinko’s for an emergency printing exercise… In my case, Kinkos staff tried to talk me into using the network since they had problems printing a PDF 11×17 I had created. So, I plugged in and saw the outrageous prices to print and decided to try PDF again (against their suggestions) and guess what. PDF was fine… Then; I get to work the next day and LapNet is launching… I deleted the exe as suggested above; but a remove program is certainly required.
Similar yet different problem. I did opt to have the software uninstalled while at the store – and that worked. however, since then, I suddenly cannot get my wireless connection to find any wireless networks out there even when I know they are available and I can connect with another laptop in the same spot and the same time. Any ideas of what to try?
Thanks for the tips on getting Lapnet to stop running every time I power up my laptop. What a pain in the a$$. I ran out of power at kinko’s, forgot my power cord, so I wasn’t able to uninstall at the store. I figured Lapnet would just disappear after the connection was broken. This popup had been driving me nuts.
Thanks again.
I am a reasonably techy and can not believe that Kinko’s does this. They should go out of business or face a class action suit. Basically, when you use Kinkos, a program called Lapnet is installed. It disables your wireless network and your printer settings and enables it own. If everything works smoothely and you completely follow the directions, it reverses the process when you log out. The problem occurs when you log out incorrectly or you shut down or encounter an error message, lose battery power, etc. Then it leaves your settings disabled and the software running.
I went to a large Fedex Kinkos and no one was helpful (in more than the technical sense) but they did give me the employees tech hotline (1-800-546-5674) which I called. They though I was an employee and kept saying “make the customer do this so they won’t blame you.” Anyway, I could gone on but here’s my info….
I went to c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu\programs\startup and deleted a file called LapLink.exe which at least the process keeps the process from starting. But upon rebooting, it still didn’t let me get wireless, so next step for a PC.
Right click on MY COMPUTER icon, select MANAGE, Choose DEVICE MANAGER, Click the next to NETWORK ADAPTERS if it is there so that it will show you the list of network adapters. Your wireless card should be shown with a red X to its left (may be hard to tell it is an X). Right click on that item and choose enable. Your wireless should now work. You may need to right click on the wireless icon on the task bar and refresh the list, but that is the easy part.
My reco – NEVER use your PC at a Kinkos.
Interesting and disturbing reading above. I too am a victim of the “just need to print a page” and advised to “just plug in and print” only to be left with this lapnet program that you can’t uninstall by traditional methods. I found the application, finally, listed under the startup file but was leary of just doing a delete in case it effected any other files or settings. I see my concerns were valid. I did a search of all file/folders and found another file: LAPNETWIZARD.EXE-073461A6.pf. Any one have suggestions on what this is and/or whether to delete it as well? THANKS!
It’s funny how it is always Kinko’s (er … um … Office’s) fault when there is this problem that it does to your computer, when we as geek’s know it is really and usually user fault.
I am a Technology Specialist for a major metropolitan area of Office stores and am responsible for the computer & network infrastructure of my six stores ….
A lot of customers, when finished will just yank and go instead of going through a proper log-off process. If you yank and go it could cause problems with your network connection for future connections, if especially you connect behind a firewall at work and/or you are running a Windows box.
Other times, customers will quickly go through the log off process and not read what they are clicking. (kinda like the EULA thing we all don’t read). One of the things you say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to is whether you would like a shortcut placed for future use.
As far as pricing goes whether or not you want the internet is a question I get often. I tell the customer that you are paying to get on our network and the use of it. It would cost too much money and therefore charge the customer more if we separated the installers just so that a customer can print without internet access. It’s called ‘business’. Office has a very tight network & firewall setup so that customers cannot access or breach the separate severs from public access to confidential access.
As far as pricing is concerned, this is a capitalistic society. We all complain about the price 7-Eleven charges for a gallon of milk but know that it is called ‘convenience’. If you want an employee to do the stuff behind the counter in the same time-frame it may cost more to get it done in the same amount of time. A rush fee based on the fact that we already have a working ‘Production Flow’. Again, it’s called business.
FedEx Office is not an NPO/GPO we are a business that exists to make a profit. It’s called ‘business’.
I picked up the viral-acting Lapnet program at a Kinko’s in Houston last week and have spent a couple of hours trying to get the darned thing off of my computer. It didn’t disable my wireless, but it kept bringing up an annoying screen every time I rebooted, saying that it was trying to launch a Lapnet session. Thanks to the above comments, a number of phone calls to various Kinko’s offices, and the diligence of one Kinko’s fellow who I think took pity on me, I seem to have figured out how to delete it from my computer. (I just hope I don’t find out later that in doing so, I created other problems for myself.) At any rate, here is what I did (I’m running Windows XP): I went to Start/Search/All Files and Folders/All or part of the file name/Lapnet. It found a few things with the Lapnet name and I just deleted all of them right from that screen where their names were showing up. Then I emptied my recycle bin. It seems to have solved the problem and I sure hope it helps others. I also filed a formal complaint with Kinkos, who I don’t think would be using this software if they knew how many people were so incredibly annoyed about it. I am also going to put the phrases I searched on in these comments to help the next person find assistance: “How do I uninstall Lapnet” and “How do I delete Lapnet”. Good luck – hope this helps someone!
Thanks for this thread. I’m reading it from my iPhone because… Deleting the file still left my wifi disabled, and you couldn’t enable it from the network screen, only the hardware manager. Thanks to everybody who took the time to write.
im actually on lapnet now. i tried to hack it first before i inserted my credit card i opened wireshark and watched a dhcp exhange
i was curious wtf the usb was for.. but now i realize its to load the lapnet software… i d/c the usb cable and inserted my cc into the reader and now its holding it for ransom and im wasting time doing this
i am a fan of kinkos my printers at home are not connected and they do print cool stuff at a reasonable price.. i want to play around a little bit more with the lapnet.. one thing i did realize is that it can access dns service without the card.. i didnt test out if i could use other applications
As far as difficulty goes, this isn’t a bad problem. To uninstall lapnet:
1) Do an advanced search for “lapnet”; include all system and hidden folders.
2) Delete all lapnet files that come up.
3) Under the software key in regedit, delete the ‘Entrac’ folder.
4) Reboot
5) Celebrate since you didn’t get the annoying popup.
6) Follow the steps described in previous posts to restore your wireless if it was effected.
7) Thank God since it could have been worse.
Yeah, thank to everyone for writing. It’s hard to believe that posts about LapNet disabling wireless networking go back to 2006. My fix was Device Manager and then enable the exed out networking device.
Against my better judgement I installed Lapnet on my computer — I was in a hurry to get a large color PDF printed. It immediately caused by PC to blue screen. I then stood in line, had the clerk print the file from a USB stick.
I didn’t realize I had this lurking piece of crap spamware on my computer until the next time I booted up. I was further enraged/stunned when I found there was no way to uninstall it. This ranks with the Sony Root Kit as a self-serving destructive parasite. I sent an email to Fed Ex customer support — so far, no answer.
I will not be using FedEx for anything if at all possible.
What a faackin joke. It’s Jan 2010, I have the same damn problem, and they don’t have a simple solution that does not involve going to a store. Faaack this. They won’t give me the number to their internal tech support. So I have to wait for a guy at the store to call their tech support and then he’ll call me back. Pathetic. This is not a new issue for them. Morons.
This issue is costing my company thousands of dollars every week. I work for IT and a large mutli-national company and we have at least 1-2 people call in every week with issues regarding this LAPNET. It is causing people to even not be able to connect to a local wi-fi apart from at fedex.
It takes hours of time from both an IT standpoint and a sales standpoint. This is ridiculous. They still to this day don’t have a solution other then stopping at a FedEx Kinko’s location.
I always get blue screens because of troubles with device drivers, then I reinstall the drivers and a few days latter I have the same error. Any good solutions?
Dore, thank you for your advice. It actually worked! After 5 hours I finally got that off my computer! What a nightmare! I will never do that again!
This is 2012 and it is still a problem here in Northern California.
Registry edits are a pain and errors can leave you with a busted box.
Bad boy!