AOL 6.0 issue

[blazer2boy]

I recently installed Aol 6.0 on my computer. Now when I try to login on MSN
AOL login boots up. Is there a way to set it so that I can use MSN or AOL? If I had known that the new version would take control of my ability to use a different ISP I would have installed AOL 5.0.

[BigBlue66]

Hi Blazer,

Yes, there is a way to shut off AOL. Right-click the AOL icon in the lower right-hand corner of your screen, or taskbar. There should be a line that reads something like "Auto Load AOL" or something like that. If there is no line item, then click on properties, which should show you the option of auto loading aol. Turn the option off and you should be good to go.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66

[sea69]

Hi

Personally , if i were in ur area- and position. I would seriously consider changing your ISP from 'Ao(smel)L' to any other one u can get.

While running a 'search' in ur Area (Sandwich- is a real place.hehe http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif )- I found that u have several other options, and see no reason u should be in aol-hell. One choice is HERE (http://yp.infospace.com/info.iemain/busdetails?busdet=1&?type=a&QI=12465549&QID=0&CO=2&QD=yp2ad&BR=0&QB=a1571600&32141) , there also seem to be DSL choices in ur area. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Why would u want to pay 23+ $$ a month to a service that is sooooo invasive, that has pop-up ad's on PAID accounts ( u can get that and more for FREE from Ad-monger's like netzero. etc)

Your email can only be plain text, no special or graphically pleasurable creations can be viewed by aol mail users. You can have problems using other browsers, instead of the ADD-BIAS aol-LIMITED browser (sux)

need I go on ?? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

get rid of aol... final solution...

**trust me- there is nothing u will miss from them. AIM( aol instant mess) can still be used with ANY other ISP, if u want the sound byte for "You have Mail".. and think u will miss it I can send it to u...lmao.. hehe

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-05-2001).]

[sea69]

?

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"
**Anything posted by me is only based on my own personal experience, and is niether endorsed or necessarily supported by ANYone else." http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-05-2001).]

[blazer2boy]

BigBlue and Sea thanks for the info. I will just disable it for now.
We will look into ISP you gave me the link for Sea.

Sea you mentioned DSL I have been looking for this service for the Past 3 months with no luck. Did you find a DSL service for the Sandwich area. (yes Sandwich is a real place:rolleyes http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif If so could you post the link so I can check it out. Want to be as fast as we can be.

Thanks

Blazer

[bassman]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif WOW!!! Did you get the point Blaze? I sure hope you SEA things his way from now on. HEE HEE. AOL has it's good points as well though. If you have a family it has features that can't be had on a lot of other servers. Mutipul login names, child safe features, a whole world of services without having to stumble around on the web... Sea has a good point about cost, but like myself, you may not mind the cost for some of those features. Enjoy. Frank

------------------
I will give up my Windows 95 disk when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it.

[sea69]

ummmmmmmm...........


there are MANY safegaurds for children available.

They want you to think that they are making things "convienient" " without stumbling around the web" ???? for u, when in reality, they are sending you only to places that they convieneintly have financial interest in or outright own!!

This is not an 'advantage' it is a detriment. (if u ever got out of aol-world' u would see what that means.) It LIMITS you to a carefully selected assortment of paid advertising for products that are aol affiliated/owned. To me paying for this is ludicrous. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

so try the 'real' (www) unfettered by bias, and then make a valid comparison for yourself. Many places (unfortunately) do not have alot of ISP options, but for the ones that do...... AOL has 25 million people 'brianwashed' into believing that their way is the way to 'experience' the internet.. this has left many an intelligent person (uninformed)and unaware of thier options.

**BlazerB- use the search link I posted to find dsl/other service in your area or try here (http://www.dslreports.com/) .. or here's a thought (lol) do an aol search and see what u come up with.. hehe http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

**Anything posted by me is only based on my own personal experience, and is niether endorsed or necessarily supported by ANYone else." http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-05-2001).]

[bassman]

Obviously I have touched your open festering wound, sorry. I am not sticking up for AOL, nor am I speaking with lack of experiance. I have had accounts with numerous local and national ISP's. I simpely gave my opinion of the sevices I am aware of. As far as going onto the web, I have used Netscape and IE without any problems. I have been to and used sevices of many sites not affiliated with AOL. If world domination is what bothers you then be very aware of "Billy" lookin in your files. Dont want to have an issue with ya SEA, you have been a great help to me so far. Sorry and Thanks

------------------
I will give up my Windows 95 disk when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it.

[sea69]

call the local ISP we have already found for u, they should know what/who/etc is avail in ur area.. (thats a try) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

**Anything posted by me is only based on my own personal experience, and is niether endorsed or necessarily supported by ANYone else." http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-05-2001).]

[sea69]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif hehehe, there is no 'issue' here with anyone (person) or their expression of their own opinions and or experience..lol

We just have differing opinions on this. In no way was I saying u personally were 'wrong' in liking aol, I was attempting to inform only, that there are not commonly know (or discussed) issues, regarding this.

My 'attack'...was not on u.. but on the topic.
sorry http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

**Billy who??

*** tell me I dont know how to get a topic rolling.. lmao'..(seriously no offense intended) if I'm starting to piss people off, maybe I wil 'demote' myself.....

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

**Anything posted by me is only based on my own personal experience, and is niether endorsed or necessarily supported by ANYone else." http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-05-2001).]

[blazer2boy]

Thanks for the DSL providers link Sea.

Called the Service Provider you gave me and currently DSL not offered in our neck of the woods yet. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

So I'll have to wait on that. I will be checking into changing to a more local ISP provider. Also looking into satellite connection.

Thanks for all your help.

Blazer http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[BigBlue66]

Hey,

Say what you will about AOL. I used to think the same way a few years back, but believe it or not, they have actually straightened up their act.

I have tried the free net services, and quite frankly, I think they suck. I don't need the aggravation.

Maybe Blazer doesn't use the net enough to justify the cost of DSL. I know I don't, at least at home I don't.

I have no problems with AOL and I would rather dish out a few bucks a month to have assured access with rare occurrences of problems. You can also turn off the ads, which is something you can't do with freebies. Their ads take up at least a third of the screen sometimes. Free, my ass.

Maybe it's time for Charles or Pete to run a poll on AOL users and let's just see how many of them are dissatisfied. Hey, about it boys?

I have seen a lot of dissatisfied postings from AOL 6.0 users who tried to download and install the program. Invariably, there were problems with the download and so the program is giving them all sorts of heck. A clean install from a CD is the way to go. I went that way and have no problems whatsoever.

Of course, all the above is IMHO. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66

[blazer2boy]

Hi BigBlue

We are on the Internet at least 4/5 hours a day. The worst thing is getting a connection at home to AOL. Seems that it has to dial the number at least 50 times+ to get a connection sometimes. I also agree with you on alot of the Freebies, they are BAD and that is with a Capital B.


Please note that although Sea made the suggestion on DSL I've been looking for DSL or Cable connections for the past several months. Unfortunately DSL and cable are not available in the area I live in yet.

I think the AOL service works. I'm happy with it. But I just want to get something faster, weather it be with AOL or another service provider, so that my game playing will not be so Bad. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

Cheers to all the posts in this topic http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

And others yet to come.

Blazer http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by blazer2boy (edited 02-05-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey Blazer,

Report your connectivity problems to AOL. They don't know which locations are having problems unless someone notifies them.

Awhile back, I was having the same types of problems as you. I checked my phone lines, modem, etc. and when everything checked out OK, I alerted AOL to my problems.

They have since added more servers, etc. in my area so that I can get online every time I try.

I think it's worth a shot, while you look for something faster.

Cheers,

BB 66

[bassman]

Hey Blaze. As Blue said, "Let AOL know there is a prob. I was haveing horrible connection problems just recently and after checking EVERYTHING twice and three times, I had the phone company come out and check the line from pole to house. They said they found no problem but since then I have not had a single disconnect. I live in what they call Telecom valley and I cannot get DSL or Cable. My only other options are wireless DSL, T1, or SAT. All of which are way more money than I want to spend right now. So don't feel to bad about your limited options. That will change soon. As for Sat. Most require a land line for upload. I know of one service out now that offers two way connection and it is real expensive. Can't think of the name right now, maybe some of the others here know. Good luck.


Sea69..... That Billy would be Gates. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
I will give up my Windows 95 disk when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it.

[blazer2boy]

Yea found that out last week. I thought that it was a Modem problem and
posted it. Pete posted that I should call my ISP so I did. They could not find anything wrong on my end. So I'm waiting to see if this will clear up soon. AOL said that they would have to call the Phone company for something.

But in the meantime I can make a long distance call and get connected first ring, if I want a 200+ phone bill. So I'll do the continous dialing until it connects.


Have a great day http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Blazer

[This message has been edited by blazer2boy (edited 02-05-2001).]

[sea69]

was looking for another site for u, but cant seem to paste it in here http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

**Anything posted by me is only based on my own personal experience, and is niether endorsed or necessarily supported by ANYone else."




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-05-2001).]

[sea69]

an interesting quote of an opinion posted by another forum member here:

"...I learned quickly that AOL was only for people new to the net and that it was way too restrictive for any other level of user...out the door it went."

bassvax: 12th posting from the top (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000002.html)

or "quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything with AOL is either a virus, a screwed up part or, your operating system, it is never an AOL problem. "

14th post from the bottom up http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

I couldn't resist..lol http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-07-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Well, I just gotta say it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Anybody who has AOL and thinks that this is limit of the internet, should just go hide in the corner.

Sea, you're not giving people enough credit here; AOL users I mean. Sure, it's a great service for people new to the wonderful world of the net, but as most people figure out, you can sign on to AOL, use a search engine other than theirs, and/or go any number of places that are not AOL affiliated.

However, if there are people that think the way you say they do Sea, then they are just plain ....... and should ditch AOL and sign up with bluelight.com. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

IMHO.

Cheers,

BB 66


[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 02-07-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

For what it's worth Dept: Eight (yep 8) out of 10 computers that come for repairs related to Virus's or connect problems are using AOL....6.0 was a boone for my business when it first came out!

------------------
Wore out my Ctrl/Alt/Del keys with Win ME

[sea69]

hehe BB_66 http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I know that there r people (many) that know what they r doing and choose aol.
all kidding aside, I just was pointing out to those that may not know there is an entire world out there that has nothing to do w/ aol.

so please, I meant no harm to u that have made an informed choice and r happy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

"99% of people surveyed, stated they were smarter than everyone else they knew"




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-07-2001).]

[blazer2boy]

Just wanted to update everyone.

Last night I called AOL as I could not connect after 150 tries.
Does a modem wear out. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

While talking to AOL they told me the servers in my area are down as they were working on them. GREAT news. He also said to give them 24 hours and the connection problem will get better.

It Pays to Complain.

Must have been enough users complaining about service.

So in the mean time I have also called my phone company. They tried to check the line over the computer. They could not get a reading on it so
they are having it checked into.

So now I'll wait for the weekend to see if there is any kind of improvement.

Bassman I also looked into the Sat.out here and figured I would be spending 30+ dollars more and still have a phone bill for the connection. Just have to wait for Cable or DSL to get to this area hopefully this year.

Cheers http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Blazer http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[sea69]

good BlazerB, keep us posted http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
"Remember u r 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-07-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

Tip here for the AOhelL users. I dislike AOL as much as many people, since I have had to deal with the problems caused same as randy has. AOL makes many changes to the registry same as Netscape, which are not undone if it is uninstalled, and sometimes I've even had to format and reinstall Windows to solve all the problems.

However...

If you use AOL either by choice or due to inexperience, and don't want to be limited to the AOL side of the web, simply log onto AOL, shrink the AOL window and open Internet Explorer from the desktop or the Quick Launch bar. You're using AOL as an ISP, but IE for the browser and it is not limited by anything AOL can do. Then you can go virtually anywhere on the net you wish, without any AOL restrictions.

Don't tell your kids this... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bassman]

I have not found the name of the company that has two way Sat. communication, but check out some of the links from this page. http://satphone.com/ Look at LEO internet. Some good stuff comming our way, especialy Teledesic. Yes it is another Bill Gates venture, But with vision like that I can't complain to much.Good luck

------------------
I will give up my Windows 95 disk when they pry my cold dead fingers from around it.

[mjc]

The two-way satellite internet is StarBand (http://starband.com/) it's about $60 - $99 /per month (can be had at Radio Shack or Dish Network)

------------------
mjc
To ME or NOT to ME....