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General => Computers / Internet => Topic started by: Garden Manager on November 10, 2008, 16:01:52
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I have been running AOL 9.0 for months/years without much in the way of problems. Recently the '9' browser has become temperamental at best and i discovered a newer version called AOL 9.1. After a particularly frustrating session i downloaded and installed the new browser. To summarise it would not work, refusing point blank to load and present a sign on screen. Instead it kept telling me to reboot my computer.
I then uninstalled 9.1 hoping to revert back to 9.0. Now 9.0 would not work, so removed all AOL software from the PC and did a clean install of 9.0. Guess what? Still nothing. The older software was now telling me to reboot every time i tried to open it. As a last resort i once again uninstalled 9.0 and downloaded 9.1 again. Still no good (didn't really expect it to).
Feeling very frustrated i used Firefox to access the AOL message boards for help (more reliable than 'Live Help'). I found this totally changed to my last visit and could not find what I wanted at all. Just before the message boards stopped working! ARRRGGGHHH!!!! At this point I came here for help. I am hoping someone can offer some advice please.
Whilst i am not totally without the internet (I have use of Firefox), I use the AOL software to access Emails, and the vast majority of my favorite places/bookmarked websites are on AOL so it is a nuisance more than anything not to have the AOL Browser.
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Have you tried installing 10.1?
Sinbad
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My advice is to abandon AOL altogether, use Firefox or any other browser, and escape the clutches of AOL forever. They are just appalling! My Dad finally escaped from them and has a *much* better internet experience now.
Their software seems to have tentacles everywhere in your PC, it's actually quite hard to eliminate. Do you have a techie friend who can help you get rid of it? Use some other software to download your mail: Outlook, Eudora, etc - or there's a list here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-mail_clients
AOL will make it seem as though there are no alternatives, but this is not the case. That's just one of the reasons that they are EVIL!! :-d
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It took me ages to get my migration code from AOL !!!!
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It took me ages to get my migration code from AOL !!!!
I'm still waiting after 2 weeks.
Who did you go with instead of AOL..?
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My advice is to abandon AOL altogether, use Firefox or any other browser, and escape the clutches of AOL forever. They are just appalling! My Dad finally escaped from them and has a *much* better internet experience now.
Their software seems to have tentacles everywhere in your PC, it's actually quite hard to eliminate. Do you have a techie friend who can help you get rid of it? Use some other software to download your mail: Outlook, Eudora, etc - or there's a list here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-mail_clients
AOL will make it seem as though there are no alternatives, but this is not the case. That's just one of the reasons that they are EVIL!! :-d
Thanks for your reply.
I am/was quite happy with AOL and used it for most things internet including email, for which AOL is my main provider (don't have any other email accounts). As a result i cannot use outlook express or outlook to view and send emails. The only way i can view my emails at the moment is through AOL web mail (on the AOL Website).
As far as ISPs go I may be stuck with AOL for the moment. I am not the main account holder or bill payer and the person who is both of these will not consider changing. That said if i found a decent alternative, providing the same level of access at the same price or cheaper but is more reliable than AOL, then I think they might be persuaded. Any recommendations?
AOL 10.1? Is it any good? Any chance it will actually work when 9 and 9.1 no longer seem to on my PC?
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Ive been with tiscali for 5 yrs now with very few problems in that time, i pay no line rental get free local and national phone calls and 8mb download speeds. works with all browsers i use firefox and google chrome and access my emils from any pc using their web base mail client.
I can only go on the service that i have received but all ISPs have their plus and minus points but not paying BT line rental is a big plus to me £120 in my pocket not BTs
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'The only way i can view my emails at the moment is through AOL web mail (on the AOL Website).'
Another of the ways in which they are evil!
I get my broadband from Virgin, and have very few problems. They have good customer service for the most part. There are occasional brief outages, but pretty rare, and I think the same applies with any service. I work online so I have plenty of online hours, on which to base my experience.
You can get an email address elsewhere, and junk your AOL one - my Dad did, and he didn't seem to have any problems with people not being able to contact him. I always advise people to get an email address independent of their internet provider, so that then you aren't tied to them if you see a better deal.
You need POP or IMAP mail if you want to download it to an email programme on your computer (what they call, for some reason, an email 'client') - like Outlook or Eudora. You can then organise your mail much, much better, and read existing mail (and compose new mail) without having to go online.
I highly recommend gmail:
http://email.about.com/od/freeemailreviews/tp/free_pop3_email.htm
You do want to make sure that you don't get an address that will expire if you neglect it for a while: you can see the expiry times for different providers here:
http://email.about.com/od/freeemailaccounts/f/login_how_often.htm
I had some yahoo addresses, for example, but they've all expired from lack of use. :-)
I hope this is of help - ask away, if I can help further.
cheers
H
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Just signed up to Google mail. One less thing to rely on AOL for. Lets see how it goes.
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You need POP or IMAP mail if you want to download it to an email programme on your computer (what they call, for some reason, an email 'client') - like Outlook or Eudora. You can then organise your mail much, much better, and read existing mail (and compose new mail) without having to go online.
How do I get POP or IMAP email to use outlook express? AOL is still my ISP and it doesn't appear permit POP type email on its service. I have to access Gmail through my Firefox browser. Thanks.
EDIT: How do i get ANY email account to work on outlook express? I have tried both GMail, Hotmail and AOL webmail and none of them will work.
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Hi GA, Strange as i've upgraded to the new version of AOL9.1 from 9.VR and I dont have any problems sofar,
i've had it on here from when it came out first,
Did you have 9vr software on your computer first before upgrading to 9.1,
Did you contact the AOL tech people and asked for their help, as they helped me, ring them on 08444995555,
have you Vista or Xp on your computer, you don't say,
Aol 10.1 is a trial software, sofar, i think,
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GA, here are some instructions for setting up Outlook Express. It should work whatever your ISP is.
http://www.whiteoakdesign.com/how-to-setup-outlook-express.html
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Hi GA, Strange as i've upgraded to the new version of AOL9.1 from 9.VR and I dont have any problems sofar,
i've had it on here from when it came out first,
Did you have 9vr software on your computer first before upgrading to 9.1,
Did you contact the AOL tech people and asked for their help, as they helped me, ring them on 08444995555,
have you Vista or Xp on your computer, you don't say,
Aol 10.1 is a trial software, sofar, i think,
I have XP not vista. AOL 9.0VR was still installed when i first tried installing 9.1 but have since tried installing 9.1 on its own. No i have not contacted AOL help. I have not found them particularly helpful in the past, particularly when 'phoning (the help chat room is only marginally better).
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Hi GA, I think you have answered your own questions,
your problem may be that you dont have Vista,
AOLs software are now more for Vista,
the 9 is for XP, you may have been lucky to upgrade to 9vr,
but as for 9.1 & 10.1 i don't think so, when i contacted aol tech, i was told that I need to have vista as my OP software,
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I changed to BT and its fine :)
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All the more reason to dump AOL. :)
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Hi GA, I think you have answered your own questions,
your problem may be that you dont have Vista,
AOLs software are now more for Vista,
the 9 is for XP, you may have been lucky to upgrade to 9vr,
but as for 9.1 & 10.1 i don't think so, when i contacted aol tech, i was told that I need to have vista as my OP software,
Thanks. Makes sense now. Flipping Vista! Yet another way of making us upgrade to it. Dont like Vista one bit, the longer i can stay with XP the better.
Now how can i get AOL9.0 back working again? Contact AOL i suppose.
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My guess is that AOL will not be helpful, and by trying to get the old version running, you're flogging a dead horse. They'll be in league with Microsoft, to make you buy new software!
Just dump them and get a new provider. Yes, I am biased - I really, *really* don't like AOL, and I never even used them myself - just saw what a misery they made of my Dad's internet experience, and how vile their business practices are. Entrapment and monopoly!
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GA, agree with Helen wholeheartedly with regard to AOHell. You will be lucky to rid yourself of all the programme but would be wise to change.
Good luck!
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Get things right, ISP's are for Internet Service. The best way for email is to set up your own domain. I did this ten years ago after being messed about several times. I also manage five domains on server space which I rent. My own, a Driving School, a Computer Group, and two for a cycling club. In the last ten years I have had little trouble. 18 months ago I ditched Microsoft Windows and now only use Ubuntu/Linux on line, that avoids the virus problem.
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You are so right about AOL and its software. I am certain that the software slows the computer down and may even make it difficult to open other browsers. On my laptop PC, which still has AOL working on it, i cannot use Firefox without the AOL browser opening up spontaneously and slowing Firefox down. Even on the Desktop PC, the one which AOL no longer works on, just having the software on the system seems to slow Firefox/IE down.
My main obstacle to abandoning AOL software altogether (but not perhaps AOL as an ISP), is the situation with my favorite places (bookmarks). I have built up a large collection of bookmarks on the AOL browser and there appears to be no way of transferring these elsewhere (like you can with other browsers). One way AOL gets you hooked on it i suppose.
Another problem is that you get so familiar with the operations of the AOL browser that it is difficult to get to grips with IE or Firefox. Basically because they are so different from each other. I have been trying to wean my dad off AOL and onto Firefox because the music and video sites he enjoys do not work very well on AOL. This has had limited success, because he is too accustomed to the workings of the AOL browser to switch to IE or Firefox.
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It seems that there are ways to export your favourites:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/59819
As for getting used to a new browser - it will take about an hour... :-D It's all very simple. Can you get someone who is familiar to train you a bit? After that it's just a question of learning new 'muscle memory' so to speak, for where the commands are. It really takes no time at all...
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To save your favs...Open an email, click on the little red heart situated on the email tool bar and transfer your favs into the email. Either send it to a friend or to your GMail account and then when you change ISP's you'll have all your favs saved in that email. Transfer to where ever you bookmark on new ISP and voila.......sorted ;D
Lauren :)
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Oh forgot to mention, if you have tons of favs stored it will also slow your comp down. So have an early spring clean ::)
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The problem Re: browser changing and AOL favorites is not really with me but my dad. He is always cursing AOL and complaining (in strong language sometimes :o) about his laptop running slow on the internet, but WILL NOT change ISP, Browser or even clear out his massive collection of favorites.
I personally can cope with changing. He will not.
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Maybe he's worried he won't be able to complain about the new browser so much... :D
Really though, why does he not want to change? Because he'll have to learn the new system, or because of the hassle of changing over, changing accounts, setting up new settings, etc etc?
AOL have this vile way of persuading people that they ARE the internet... I especially dislike the way they portray themselves as they only 'family safe' way to surf the internet. You can get filtering & childproofing on any ISP, any browser.
My Dad resisted changing for *years*, because of the same worries about exporting things, moving his email into another package, changing email address, etc. In the end it was quite painless!
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Ive been with tiscali for 5 yrs now with very few problems in that time, i pay no line rental get free local and national phone calls and 8mb download speeds. works with all browsers i use firefox and google chrome and access my emils from any pc using their web base mail client.
I can only go on the service that i have received but all ISPs have their plus and minus points but not paying BT line rental is a big plus to me £120 in my pocket not BTs
I have been stidying the various offers for a while. I think you may be mistaken about the line rental. One way or another it has to be paid.
It is probably part of your monthly fee.
AOL have messed me about lately but I have got a free router out of them.
The price each month is £6.99 which includes free telephone calls 24/7 except for 0845, 09 which I found were expensive, the router and a faster broadband which has turned out to be a joke. I have sent them masses of emails as I discovered BT are charging me for calls but I am getting nowhere. BT say it is all down to AOL to get it right which I knew really.
I have decided to go back to my previous telephone provider - very cheap calls, bill about £3 month, free in evening and weekend AND they are always available on a 0800 call. I now use Firefox all the time and just can't believe how much faster it is. My SinL has told me it's impossible to completely get rid of AOL from your computer. In conclusion then, AOL is
my ISP @£6.99 which is cheap.
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Thanks for replies RE: moving aol favorite places. I have now had the chance to try a few things out.
Using Email to transfer favorites might work but due to the numbers of favorites involved is a bit of a non starter. Plus i cannot see how you would get the links from the email to the bookmarks menu in IE or firefox - short of opening up each one and manually bookmarking each one! Sorry but life is far too short for that.
The two options in the 'Answerbag' page were more promising, particularly the Linkagogo site. I sucessfully transfered my own favorites from AOL and into IE and Firefox - quite easy really with only one or two errors/ghost link. I got into difficulty when I tried doing the same with my Dads favorites. They just would not transfer properly, with missing, duplicated or 'scrambled' foldersor links. It just did not seem to copy over as they were in AOL. I am guessing though that the reason why not all the folders transfered was that there are just too many favorite places for linkagogo to cope with. Dads favorites need severe pruning before they can be transfered it appears. There is more chance of a total solar eclipse in the UK than that happening. I myself dare not touch them!!
The other method of using AOLs 'new' IE based web browser (AOL Explorer) to copy favorites is a bit pointless really. Unless you use the bookmarks section of MY AOL on the AOL website or have you favorites already in IE then it will not work. There is no way to get Favorite Places from AOL 9.0 into even AOL Explorer as far as I can tell. If anyone can tell me different then please do.
Any other suggestions/ways to extract Favorite Places from AOL 9.0 and put them into IE or firefox?
Thanks
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If you send your favourites to yourself (or anyone else) as an attachment, you don't then have to deal with them one by one - you import them as a whole file at the other end. Having a gazillion of them won't create problems - it's only text data when it comes down to it, it's actually very small files we're talking about compared to photos, or soundfiles.
I'm afraid I can't talk you through an alternative technique to the one you've already tried - because I don't use AOL and I don't use a PC either! But rest assured, it's a case of exporting/importing a single file, containing all the favourites, in one go, and you really don't have to worry about how many there are, nor do you have to touch them individually.
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If you send your favourites to yourself (or anyone else) as an attachment, you don't then have to deal with them one by one - you import them as a whole file at the other end. Having a gazillion of them won't create problems - it's only text data when it comes down to it, it's actually very small files we're talking about compared to photos, or soundfiles.
I am confused. Are you talking about the Linkagogo method, the AOL Explorer method or the Email method here? If its the Email method then I cant see how you create an attachment with the favorites in it. Please clarify. Unfortunately i dont have access at present to a PC with AOL 9 on it so cannot try things out at the moment.
Thanks
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I am confused. Are you talking about the Linkagogo method, the AOL Explorer method or the Email method here? If its the Email method then I cant see how you create an attachment with the favorites in it. Please clarify.
I'm talking about the email method - but I'm afraid I can't clarify, as I could only explain how to do it on a Mac, and not from AOL, which I don't use. What we need here is an AOL-using (or ex-using) PC user who can talk you through the steps!
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This guy talks about something called ePreserver, which you can download for 25 dollars - worth every penny if it gets you out of AOL's clutches. I'd seen it referred to elsewhere too, it looks like the easiest way to do it:
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_export_my_america_online_aol_address_book_and_email.html
To quote him:
"The problem is, AOL has lots of proprietary data formats and their entire AOL software suite seems custom designed to make it hard for you to switch to another service..."
See why I feel the way I do about AOL? They want your everlasting soul! :D
He gives screenshots of the process with ePreserver, it looks very simple. Has anyone tried it?
You can buy via Paypal.
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This thread should serve as a warning to all who are thinking of using AOL.
The surest way of getting rid is to format the hard drive. Drastic, but cleansing.
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I cannot believe the difference having AOL on a computer makes to its performance. After wrestling with an AOL loaded laptop it was a real pleasure going back to my non AOL Desktop PC. I even had to reinstall Firefox on the laptop because i am sure AOL somehow 'killed' it. They just do not like you using other browsers to their own.
I looked into ePreserver and downloaded a free trial version. it scanned the PC for favorites and emails but you need to pay to complete the transfer. Here i stopped because I was not sure whether it was worth buying at the price. I think being in dollars too put me off a bit as i couldnt tell exactly what i would be paying in sterling. Does look quite a good bit of software though.
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If you click on 'buy' (or whatever it says on the purchase button, I forget) it translates the dollars into pounds - the total comes to about 20 quid, the dollar not being quite so feeble against the pound as it was. (25 dollars = 17 quid approx, plus some sort of transaction fee I think).
If that's what it takes to escape from AOL, I'd say it's 20 quid well spent.
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Agree wholeheartedly with that!!!!!!!!!!
GA, are you now a happy bunny W/O AOHELL??
8)
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Agree wholeheartedly with that!!!!!!!!!!
GA, are you now a happy bunny W/O AOHELL??
8)
Not quite but nearly. Think of my relationship with AOL as a marriage. Whilst i really want a divorce, all i can get at the moment is a separation. Basically AOL is still my ISP but I no longer use any of their software if i can help it. Even then my parents still both use AOL and i have to sort out any problems they have with it, so I still use the software occasionaly. And boy does it stress me out doing so!!