AOL versus Windows XP

[Guest]

My new computer is having problems "connecting" with DSL. Everything was fine until two days ago when we had a MAJOR DSL problem in SoCal. Now, when I re-boot computer, it takes almost 1 min for my connection icon to go from red to green. Then, when I try to sign on to AOL I get a window that says a "new connection" is identified. YADA YADA YADA. I click "remind me later". (This window never showed up until two days ago. And, if I click OK, my computer searches forever but NEVER finds wether I'm on Phone, DSL, or Cable) I can get to my financial web sites but, when I try to log in, I can't get to "Log in Pages".

 

[Jym]

Well ....... I think you are asking for problems using AOL and a dsl
connection at the same time. Use the XP PPPOE connection and the dsl will
work fine. Jym

My new computer is having problems "connecting" with DSL. Everything was

fine until two days ago when we had a MAJOR DSL problem in SoCal. Now, when
I re-boot computer, it takes almost 1 min for my connection icon to go from
red to green. Then, when I try to sign on to AOL I get a window that says a
"new connection" is identified. YADA YADA YADA. I click "remind me
later". (This window never showed up until two days ago. And, if I click
OK, my computer searches forever but NEVER finds wether I'm on Phone, DSL,
or Cable) I can get to my financial web sites but, when I try to log in, I
can't get to "Log in Pages".

 

[Zilbandy]

Why are so many down on AOL? I've had it for years and years and it's
doing ok with my cable modem, although, I do hate the fact that it
tries to take over everything on your system... you just have to spank
it every so often.

 

[wayne]

If you are using AOL DSL you need to enter a username and password from AOL
on the DSL router to authenticate.

You cannot use this account any place else as AOL will not allow you to log
on with the same account in 2 places!

You need to create a "dummy" account to have the DSL modem use!

AOL is a pain and I do not recommend it except for people with children due
to the controls!

Wayne

 

[Jym]

One thing is ...... the cost. How much is this costing you ? Taking over
your system is only part of it , it slows down your bootup and most likely
your broadband speed . But each his own. Jym

 

[Zilbandy]

If you are using AOL DSL you need to enter a username and password from AOL
on the DSL router to authenticate.

That may be true. I have cable access through Comcast cable, so I only
need username and password when I actually use AOL.

You cannot use this account any place else as AOL will not allow you to log
on with the same account in 2 places!

Once you are online with AOL, you should be able to do anything with
your connection that you could do with any broadband ISP. Also, if
using broadband, AOL will let you sign on using your other usernames
on the account. That makes it theoretically possible for 7 users on
one account to be logged on simulaneously. With my home network, I'm
online with two AOL screen names quite frequently, plus, I have access
to my Eudora, Agent, WSFTP, as well as my choice of other 'normal'
internet applications. If you use AOL, checkout Keyword: MSL (Multiple
Simultaneous Logon).

You need to create a "dummy" account to have the DSL modem use!

Personally, I wouldn't like using DSL requiring the use of AOL, but
again, I don't have to worry about that as AOL is not my broadband
provider.

AOL is a pain and I do not recommend it except for people with children due
to the controls!

I have to totally concede this point to you. AOL makes it easy, but
certainly not the 'best'.

 

[Zilbandy]

In my case, I have BYOA, which stands for Bring Your Own Access, and
currently that price is 14.95 USD per month, although they do have a
'special' that lets me have it for 9.95 USD per month as long as I
commit to 6 months of service. Having been with them since 1995, that
is not a problem.

Admittedly, I was totally amazed at how many requests AOL wanted for
ZoneAlarm to let it access the internet. After installing the latest
release of AOL9SE, I let everything access the internet, but nothing
to act as a server. After that, a Google search and some experimenting
will let you know what you can turn off and still keep AOL happy.

This computer is only a couple of months old, and is a 3Ghz PentIV
with a gig of ram. MUCH faster than my old Win98SE system, so I really
don't have anything to compare boot speeds to, except my old system.
This one is faster.

According to www.dslreports.com, even while using AOL chatrooms, my
download speeds are typically 2.8 - 3.3 mb/sec, and upload speed is
generally just over 200kb/sec. My cable company claims 3mb/sec down
and 256kb up. Close enough for me.