All,

using sc.exe has done the trick!

i used

set nocount on

select distinct 'sc \\'+b.srvname+' config awhost32 start= disabled'

from sysservers b inner join database..syssubscriptions a on a.srvid = b.srvid

order by 1

this created...

all 1200 servers are sql servers. i have the requisite permissons to make the change.  the service is related to how we access the boxes.  i cant uninstall the old...

Unfortunately the vendor happens to be us as well.

Management dont see the risk because they dont want to see the risk with its associated cost/risk.