AOl 9 and Broadband

[Nancie K.]

I know most hate AOL and I do too to some degree but not
enough yet to end my years of the same email addy which
too many people have! SO I pose the following iritating
problem with the hope that someone else has been
afflicted by something AOL has incorporated into their
precious software....

I recently had an IT friend installed a cable modem for
my computer, he updated a lot of things and upgraded me
from Win2k to XP Pro, added AdWare, Zone Alarm and Cookie
Cop. THEN we decided to upgrade from AOL 7 to AOL 9... we
solved the adapter problem/device conflict with AdWare
but AOL 9 still seems to have a bug up its butt. I
continually get a GPF error message that states: "AOL has
detected an error with your connection to the internet.
Please exit the AOL software, restart the computer and
then sign on again." Now of course I emailed AOL Tech
Help and they told me everything we already thought of by
now! (like duh!) So I'm at my wits end. I can get into my
email but can not 'see' any images embedded within emails
nor can I access the internet thru AOL's browser window
(yes I usually access it outside thru IE but since I'm
having this problem it concerns me because so many of
their own links can not be accessed with out AOL). Like
wise I cannot access any of the sub menu's to even
contact AOL thru their own software (I actually had to go
to aol.com to tech help). Is it a memory problem? I doubt
it.. I have plenty. JAva script problem? I've tried
everything clicked on and clicked off...

If anyone has found the cure for this nasty hiccup please
be kind enough to share your findings! Thanks so much...

Nancie K.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Uninstall AOL and access the net natively through XP unless you need the
software for access. If you have a broadband connection as you say, then
you shouldn't need the AOL software. I've had MSN, Earthlink, Verizon
Avenue and back to Earthlink (with Verizon Avenue and Earthlink the second
time around as broadband connections) and I've connected to all of them
without the need for their software. Your broadband connection is being
provided by someone else, AOL is only providing the front end, you should
only need your user ID and password. If you don't know how to set this up,
ask your IT friend.

Then, if you need to contact AOL about anything, simply go to their home
page, log in, yes, you'll need to do that even though you are online, and go
to their member area, you are bound to find menus that will help and you
shouldn't crash because you won't be using their software.

Not sure what version of XP you are using but if it's SP1a, there is no Java
Virtual Machine included because of a law suit between Sun and Microsoft but
you can download the Java component from www.sun.com. Before doing so, get
rid of the AOL software, make sure you setup is stable and functioning
properly, then download and install.