[glenmere]

I can't seem to get help from AOL with my problem. Maybe someone else has had this problems with AOL that them might offer a solution.

I installed a new edition of Norton Anti-virus on my Gateway desktop. I tried to make a connection with my AOL ver 9.0 and the modem kept dropping and I wasn't able to connect with them. I uninstalled the Norton AV and my AOL still wouldn't connect. I then uninstalled my edition of AOL 9.0 and reinstalled it. Still no connection. Then I uninstalled the 9.0 and installed the older ver 8.0. This time I could make a connection but I can only access my email and it won't connect to the web at all. I've about had it - can anyone offer a suggestion. Thanks

[ScottGem]

Run the AOL System Information utility. Its in the AOL folder and also accessible from the AOL tray icon. Go to the Utilities tab and purge your cache and delete the AOL adapter.

Reboot your machine and try again.

[Wendy225]

Well your 2 major problems and or issues are you use Aol and you use Norton,

Norton has been known to cause issues as it's a huge resource hungry program that in tests of programs of similar type has been passed up by other programs, also, AOL is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

WHy not scrap Aol and get a $10 internet connection that does the same thing, and get rid of Norton, if its Anti Virus protection you need, try Anti Vir, or AVast or AVg, all 3 free ones, better than Norton,

What is it about Aol you need or like that you keep it, if you need help, getting other programs to replace what Aol does, let me know, I can help, no need to pay those high Aol fees and not get support.
:cool:

[ScottGem]

AOL is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

Wendy,
You seem to like to make defamatory remarks about companies without providing support for those remarks. This is just another example of that.

While I agree that AOL is not for everyone and that there are alternatives, the comment above is without foundation.

Millions of people are very happy with AOL. They prefer the sense of community and security that doesn't exist with other places.

Yes, many of AOL's features can be duplicated elsewhere. Like you I would be happy to show anyone alternatives if they are interested. But there are also some valid reasons for people who want to continue to use AOL.

[Wendy225]

Scott you seem to have a problem defending the big companies, do you work for one, I use to know a guy that defended the Auto companies to the hilt, until they close down half their plants and nearly put his town out of business, from all the people they put out of work and lives they destroyed.

Norton in nearly any online reviews or test site you visit, has been beaten in tests done on the Anti Virus products, and also in a couple of major Computer mags, they have done no better than 4 th place in the reveiws and testing.

I have known, many, people over the years online an in person, that had Aol and had nothing but problems and got rid of it, personally it cost me my job, as someone hacked into my Aol account and got personal info at my jobs workplace, and applied for credit cards on my bosses credit using my email, he fired me without a chance for defending myself.

All Aol could say or do, was cancel my account as they said I was spamming thousands of emails at a time, well after hiring an attorney and an investigator, they found someond hacked in, to my AOL account, and then only then did Aol admit the problem was not my fault, then after their own security manager told me personally that Aol was extremely lacking in the security area and had many times refused him money to attempt to stop the problems, like spamming of which they could totally control if they wanted, people constantly hacking into others accounts, stealing their accounts, and in the end, Aols answer to problems with your account is to cut you off and not bother to investigate, as it's easier to lose customers rather than spend a ton of money revamping a new security system, that's one reason they spend a fortune on advertising for new customers because they lose more than any other company.

I would 5 percent of the many AOL users I have ever known, is happy with it and want or seek an alternative.

I don't like a company I can say so, and I can give examples personally or from friends or family and people I know, I don't just get a chip on my shoulder about a company, because they are big, or small, or ugly or whatever, I test their products and give hard honest answers, and you have yet to acknowledge that, all I hear from you Scott is, it could be illegal, or please don't to that without basis, stop defending the big companies, they take enough of our money as it is, without people, like you defending them, especially when they don't deserve it.

[thebriggsdude]

I do have to agree, norton is not worth the money. AOL is well I tried it, and it wasn't good, not only was it bad, it was plain down crap. But if your stuck with AOL, if they have tech support try that. Or try a different isp, and get rid of AOL all together.

[ScottGem]

Wendy,
I have worked for both large and small companies in my time. But I'm not defending large companies, what I'm doing is protesting your defamation without basis. I have commented a few times on posts of yours that make claims and say things that have no basis in fact. What I do have a problem with is people just throwing out statements such as you have made without concrete proof.

I agree with you about many Norton products. I have said so many times and I do not recommend Norton NAV, System Works or Internet utilities. You are correct that there are many reviews and authoratative comments about Norton products. In my response I didn't say anything about Norton. My comments were about AOL.

I have also known lots of people who have had problems with AOL. One of my hangouts is an AOL help chat where I have dealt with many problems. The thing is I have known many more people (including myself) who have never had any problem with AOL software and have been happily using AOL for years. As for your claim about someone hacking into your AOL account. I doubt very much that occurred. What I suspect is more likely that you followed a link that downloaded a password stealer. This is not an uncommon occurrence at AOL as it's a major target for phishers. Phishing and hacking are different things.

You do have a right to say what you feel about a company as long as you can back it up with facts. Your original note simply stated that "AOL was a disaster waiting to happen". I can understand you ire against them now that you have explained further. But I still don't feel it justifies that statement since the vast majority of AOL users have never had problems. I would not be surprised that most of the AOLers you have talked to have problems. I would suspect the circles you run in would put you in contact with many more of the people having problems then those happily using it. The fact is that AOL still has a huge market share lead. The main reason why their market share has declined is because of broadband. Their broadband offerings have been very problematic and I have not recommended people get their broadband from AOL.

But just as you have a right to say what you feel, so do I have a right to say what I feel. The qualifier here is that there needs to be backup for what is said. Whenever I make a statement I will offer proof, either with facts or logic for that statement. I have seen you make several defamatory statements without such backup. Also I find it rather hypocritical for you to say "I don't like a company I can say so" and then say to me "stop defending the big companies".

[Marshel]

I am sorry But I have worked for Big companys and small also being a MCSE and Network Admin and ISP Troubleshooting Expert and your quotes are not only idiotic but bias as well your tainted! I personally know for a fact that AOL software is an intrusive software that takes control of your connection and removes control from the user, now mind you there are some people out there who need this because they are in fact computer ignorant. I am going to say what I know to be based on FACTS! AOL Software is Basically a connection manager so the AOL program can do what it will with your connection so its software works also when you attempt to remove the software ( not unlike 99% of every other piece of software it doesn't uninstall everything) but it leaves critical parts that it should remove that basically disable the connection for Broadband and Dial up users unless you know how to go in the system and find them individually and manually remove them, this I know because I've don't technical support and CSR for years and personally spoken to AOL support and they don't most time even know how to remove their own software and they sure can't walk you through and Won't manually removing it. That or I've had the awful luck of getting a tech CSR who doesn't know his *** from a hole in the ground which I doubt since I've attempted to speak to them a dozen times with a customer online from our ISP because I thought the customer was unable to asnwer the proper questions because they didn't know and when I would tell them what to ask the tech support folks te tech support would always divert their attention to something else and say "its a problem with your ISP not us at AOL" well you know what BULL****! I've been there done that and have the T-shirt, the trophy, and the comemorative coin! You can Use AOL without having to use their connection manager and I would recommend this to anyone who is just SET and Determined they HAVE to have AOL , if not better stick with AOL and not leave to another ISP because chances are you will have problems I have seen so many times.

[ScottGem]

I am sorry But I have worked for Big companys and small also being a MCSE and Network Admin and ISP Troubleshooting Expert and your quotes are not only idiotic but bias as well your tainted! I personally know for a fact that AOL software is an intrusive software that takes control of your connection and removes control from the user, now mind you there are some people out there who need this becuase they are in fact computer ignorant. I am going to say what I know to be based on FACTS! AOL Software is BASICLY a connection manager so the AOL program can do what it will with your connection so its software works also when you attempt to remove the software ( not unlike 99% of every other peice of software it doesnt uninstall everything) but it leaves critical parts that it should remove that basicly disable the connection for Broadband and Dial up users unless you know how to go in the system and find them individually and manually remove them, this I know because ive dont technical support and CSR for years and personally spoken to AOL support and they dont most time even know how to remove thier own software and they sure can't walk you through and WONT manually removing it. that or ive had the awful luck of getting a tech CSR who doesnt know his *** from a hole in the ground which I doubt since ive attempted to speak to them a dozen times with a customer online from our ISP becuase I thought the customer was unable to asnwer the proper questions becuase they didnt know and when I would tell them what to ask the tech support folks te tech support would always divert thier attention to somthing else and say "its a problem with your ISP not us at AOL" well you know what BULL****!! ive been there done that and have the T-shirt, the trophy, and the comemorative coin! you can Use AOL without having to use thier connection manager and I would recommend this to anyone who is just SET and Determined they HAVE to have AOL , if not better stick with AOL and not leave to another ISP becuase chances are you will have problems I have seen soo many times.

I don't disagree with a lot of what you have said. You are correct, the AOL client software is a Connection manager along with other things. This is how AOL controls access to its proprietary content. Because of this some people can have problems switching. On the other lots of people switch with no problems.

The one place where I take strong exception is your suggestion to use the AOL without using their client software. That is, in fact, illegal. The only legal way to access their service is through their client.

[EJBECKGT]

Just a little food for thought.

AOL 9.0 Accused of Behaving Like Badware
Update: Anti-malware group says the software deceives users and interferes with computer use.
Robert McMillan, IDG News Service
Monday, August 28, 2006 12:00 PM PDT


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AOL's free Internet client software has earned the company a slap on the wrist from StopBadware.org, a consortium set up to combat malicious software. In a report released today, the group advises users to steer clear of the software because of its "badware behavior."

The report blasts the free version of AOL 9.0 because it "interferes with computer use," and because of the way it meddles with components such as the Internet Explorer browser and the Windows taskbar. The suite is also criticized for engaging in "deceptive installation" and faulted because some components fail to uninstall.

The main problem is that AOL simply doesn't properly inform users of what its software will do to their PCs, said John Palfrey, StopBadware.org's co-director. "We don't think that the disclosure is adequate and there are certain mistakes in the way the software is architected in terms of leaving some programs behind," he said. "When there are large programs, some of which stay around after you've thought you've uninstalled them, they need to be disclosed to the user."

Because AOL has taken steps to address StopBadware.org's concerns, the group has held off on officially rating AOL 9.0 as badware, Palfrey said.

Still, the report is not good news for AOL. Other software that has been the target of StopBadware.org reports includes Kazaa, the Jessica Simpson Screensaver, and the Starware News Toolbar.

Backed by tech companies such as Google, Lenovo Group, and Sun Microsystems, StopBadware.org bills itself as a "Neighborhood Watch" of the Internet. It is run out of two well-respected university departments: Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and University of Oxford's Internet Institute in the U.K.

Monday's report states that AOL is taking steps to address StopBadware.org's concerns, and that the company has confirmed that there is a design flaw in its uninstaller software.

An AOL spokesman said that it is "clearly ridiculous" to categorize his company's software as badware. "No company has done more to fight malware than AOL, and millions of users are protected by our software every day," said AOL's Andrew Weinstein in an email message. "We're reviewing the suggestions made in the report, and we are taking steps to address them, as they mostly involve minor UI issues."

Big Changes
AOL has been struggling through some major changes of late.

It has opened up its once-private network, offering the AOL 9.0 software for free in a bid to attract new users and boost online advertising as its traditional subscribers have fled. The company now has 17.7 million U.S. subscribers, a drop of 3.1 million over the past year.

Last week, three AOL executives, including Chief Technology Officer Maureen Govern left the company in the wake of a scandal over AOL's public disclosure of more than 2 million search queries made by 650,000 AOL users.

AOL has also come under fire for licensing its free antivirus software, called Active Virus Shield, with what anti-adware advocates view as excessive advertising and data gathering provisions.

Since the search disclosure, AOL has taken steps to restore consumer trust, said Chief Executive Officer Jon Miller in a recent e-mail to employees. "There is a tremendous responsibility that goes along with our mission of serving consumers online," he wrote. "We have to earn their trust each and every day and with each and every action we take."

StopBadware.org's reports can be found online.