No, it's not that it causes problems. AOL was designed as a
highly proprietary piece of software. In other words, it does
not use XP's native functionality - but overlays it's own on top
of it. So it's very embedded in the system.
You didn't mention what type of ISP service you'll be using to
replace AOL. Whatever it is, you'll want to get as much of AOL
off the PC as is possible. Leaving it in place may cause issues
with future ISP software. Actually, it's really unnecessary to
use any ISP's software, other than Dialers. I also try to get PCs
setup using Outlook Express for mail, Internet Explorer for Web
browsing. Using an ISP's proprietary software prevents users
from learning XP basic operations. They (ISPs) claim it's to
make it easy to use email/web - but I suspect it's to keep a user
from eventually changing ISPs as you'll be doing leaving AOL.
As an aside - Leaving AOL isn't easy. Their phone agents will
offer free service and anything else they can think of. Be sure to
get a confirmation # and watch your credit card/Bank drafts that
billing stops with the month you cancel.
Once you've cancelled just go to Add/Remove programs and
remove AOL/AIM and Real Player (Unless you still want to use it).
Just thought I'd kick in the resemblence....Their moronic commercials
actually are very coincidentel, almost as if they're speaking about
themselves........Anyway, just a little side humor. ;0)
Definition of a Virus:
A virus is a program whose purpose is to reproduce itself through means
of a computer without the knowledge of the user(s). Viruses are
generally always malicious in nature, and can do anything from annoy
users to destroy files. Viruses are not spontaneous creations of
computers; they are written by people, for all the same reasons that
people would want to annoy others in more traditional manners.
The main purpose of a computer virus (like a biological one) is to
duplicate itself. The results of this duplication tend to far outweigh
the results of other damage it may cause. The duplication of viruses
usually occurs through sending e-mail, which can clog networks to the
point of crashes. Even if the virus has no other attack methods, it's
using computer cycles that otherwise would not have been used, and
without your permission.
