Windows Me and AOL

[Victor]

My online experience is very unstable and I strongly
suspect that it's related to my Windows Me operating
system. As a result, I'm considering upgrading to Windows
XP but I'm not sure if the problem is indeed due to my
current operating system. I only have problems when I'm
online: I get knocked off, links don't work, infinite
loops, freezes, etc. As a result I often have to restart
my computer and then everything's okay until the next
time. I've spoken to AOL about the problem but I don't
think the problem is with them. My understanding is that
Windows Me is prone to problems; this has more or less
been confirmed to me by AOL and Dell. I even had to
download a patch to Windows Me just to be able to connect
to websites!! Can someone help me out here? Could it be
that Windows Me is just not so compatible with AOL? Should
I try a different ISP perhaps?

thanks

 

[purplehaz]

Upgrading can't hurt, but in my experience, if the computer uses aol and
there is internet problems, aol software and servers always play a part in
it. I never like winME, but I'd dump aol before I dumped ME. AOL likes to
dig deep into the os and take over control, breaking things as it tries and
getting rid of all of it 100% is almost impossible unless you format. Having
said that, it sounds to me that your probs might be a bad connection, noise
in the phone lines, or your modem drivers. If you want to goto xp, go for
it, but either way try updating your modem drivers first and see if that
helps. If you stay with me and updating drivers doesn't help a format clean
install may help. If you try another isp and the same things happen, have
the phone company check the lines in your house.

 

[Steve C. Ray]

If it was me I would go to a different ISP. Before you think hard about
going to XP you need to check your computer for compatibility. Look here:

Windows XP Upgrade Advisor
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307726

HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or
Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;316639

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Actually, the instability you describe is pretty much typical of
AOL. AOL "support" personnel, of course, blame everyone and
everything else, including the phases of the moon, for most of their
problems. You should most definitely try using a real ISP, instead of
AOL.

Of course, WinMe isn't any prize, either, from what I've read.
(I've never had the opportunity to see or use that particular OS,
myself.) WinXP would definitely be an improvement, provided your
machine is WinXP-compatible.

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[John Ski]

Subject: Re: Windows Me and AOL

From: "Bruce Chambers" (e-mail address removed)
Date: 2/19/2004 9:36 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>

Greetings --

Actually, the instability you describe is pretty much typical of
AOL.

Bruce,

Vague unsupported generalities such as this are unbecoming to an MS-MVP. I've
had AOL since virtually day one and actually like it. Based on the posts in
here many many people have problems with various ISPs, MSIE, and Outlook
Express which are at least as frustrating as those with AOL. Most of the time
AOL works even though it runs on top of the worlds best selling virus, Windows.
I've had a few problems, of course, but mostly when I'm beta testing a new
version. Ever had a system crash while you were beta testing? If you've ever
worked with beta software, I'm guessing the answer would be yes. The vast
majority of the problems discussed here irrespective of the program involved
are due to "pilot error." Please guys, give the same courtesy and help to an
AOLer as you do to anyone who comes here with a problem. If your only response
is going to be something like, "Get a real ISP", "Getting rid of AOHell will
solve your problem" or the equivalent, save your fingers. It's a waste of your
time and the posters.
And, BTW, all support personnel blame everything else they can think of except
their product for whatever problem one is having, and, again based on posts
here, MS is a big offender in that regard.
I do note that after the stereotypical AOL tirade you DID make an effort to
give the OP some things to try. Thanks for that.

Cheers,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

 

[purplehaz]

Bruce,

Vague unsupported generalities such as this are unbecoming to an
MS-MVP. I've had AOL since virtually day one and actually like it.
Based on the posts in here many many people have problems with
various ISPs, MSIE, and Outlook Express which are at least as
frustrating as those with AOL. Most of the time AOL works even though
it runs on top of the worlds best selling virus, Windows. I've had a
few problems, of course, but mostly when I'm beta testing a new
version. Ever had a system crash while you were beta testing? If
you've ever worked with beta software, I'm guessing the answer would
be yes. The vast majority of the problems discussed here irrespective
of the program involved are due to "pilot error." Please guys, give
the same courtesy and help to an AOLer as you do to anyone who comes
here with a problem. If your only response is going to be something
like, "Get a real ISP", "Getting rid of AOHell will solve your
problem" or the equivalent, save your fingers. It's a waste of your
time and the posters.
And, BTW, all support personnel blame everything else they can think
of except their product for whatever problem one is having, and,
again based on posts here, MS is a big offender in that regard.
I do note that after the stereotypical AOL tirade you DID make an
effort to give the OP some things to try. Thanks for that.

I have to disagree. In my experience aol and spyware are the two top problem
causer of pc that I fix in my business. If aol didn't exist I'd probably go
belly up. AOL's poorly written software combined with their outdated
technology and combined with the fact that most aol users are newbies =
trouble. IMHO, aol does absolutly nothing to teach users how the real
internet works. I have aol users all the time that do not know how to use
html email or even Internet explorer. They also don't realize, and you may
not as well, that when you are on aol you *are not* on the internet. You are
simply connected to aols proxy servers that mirror the real websites. You
are only on aol network, not the www. This of course means you don't see
updated pages 100% of the time. AOL is not an ISP. They are an ICP, an
internet content provider. For there outrageous dialup fee they serve you
copies of real websites. They provide copies of internet content. And I love
there "new" technology, a pop up blocker and firewall. These things have
been available for years now and for free. And have you ever tried to remove
aol, speaking from a tech support point of view, it almost impossible to get
rid of aol 100% without formatting. It digs in deep to the os and messes
with things that it does not need to. You'll also notice that Time Warner
isn't even using AOL in their name anymore. I believe they want to
disassociate themselves with aol as much as possible after they found out
how crappy their software was. Road Runner blows aol away, even high speed
aol. But after saying all this, just remeber, this is my opinion. AOL does
work good for some and its nice for the kids also.

 

[John Ski]

I have to disagree. In my experience aol and spyware are the two top problem

causer of pc that I fix in my business. If aol didn't exist I'd probably go
belly up.

P.H.,

My issue isn't with anyone's opinion of AOL. I consider yours equally as
valuable as mine. What gets under my skin is the knee jerk vicious responses to
a simple question by an AOL user. I believe that my reasons for sticking with
AOL(which I won't bore you with here) are valid. Of course I understand its
limitations, e.g. not REALLY being connected to the internet, crappy email
client, jada, jada, jada. This NG is supposed to be here to help people, and I
hope not just those who use S/W that you like.

For there outrageous dialup fee...

And BTW the cable modem deal I have thru Brighthouse(formerly Time-Warner)
ain't all that bad, 2.5 Mbps and AOL for US$54.95 a month.
Thanks for your reasoned response and if you'll try to cut the AOLers some
slack, I'll put my soapbox back in the closet with the obsolete PC parts.

Regards,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

 

[purplehaz]

P.H.,

My issue isn't with anyone's opinion of AOL. I consider yours
equally as valuable as mine. What gets under my skin is the knee jerk
vicious responses to a simple question by an AOL user. I believe that
my reasons for sticking with AOL(which I won't bore you with here)
are valid. Of course I understand its limitations, e.g. not REALLY
being connected to the internet, crappy email client, jada, jada,
jada. This NG is supposed to be here to help people, and I hope not
just those who use S/W that you like.


And BTW the cable modem deal I have thru Brighthouse(formerly
Time-Warner) ain't all that bad, 2.5 Mbps and AOL for US$54.95 a
month.
Thanks for your reasoned response and if you'll try to cut the AOLers
some slack, I'll put my soapbox back in the closet with the obsolete
PC parts.

Regards,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

Hey, I agree. If someone wants to use aol that's their choice and if they
need help no one should just say, get rid of aol. That's no help at all. If
you saw my first response I did try to help(along with my aol speech) ).
BTW - I get road runner(time warner cable) broadband here. 3mb down(they
just upped the cap) and 384k up for $39.99. Not a bad deal.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

My "vague unsupported generalities" are the results of years of
first-hand experience. This is a lesson I learned the hard way (on a
personal level) with AOL 2 on Win3.1. I see no need to publicly
document the amount of time and effort I've spent over the subsequent
years supporting other PCs with AOL. From what I've observed and
experienced to date, I've no reason to change my original opinion. I
don't really care if you find my expression of that opinion
"unbecoming."

I consider the recommendation to get rid of AOL as a perfectly
viable technical solution to problems with AOL. Technical advice,
like medical advice, isn't always necessarily what the customer wants
to hear, but it is very often what he/she _needs_ to hear.

Remember, AOL is not an ISP. It's an on-line content provider
that ignores international Internetworking standards in favor of its
own proprietary products, and has, for example, _deliberately_ made
its connection software incompatible with both WinXP's built-in
firewall and WinXP's Internet Connection Sharing feature. AOL's
proprietary connection applet is deliberately designed to preclude the
setting/adjusting any of its properties, to include enabling/disabling
WinXP's ICF and ICS.

If AOL meets _your_ needs, fine. It's most certainly your choice.
But I'll _never_ recommend its use to anyone. Nor will I ever refrain
from recommending its removal.

As for vague, unsupported generalities, isn't your phrase
"...worlds best selling virus, Windows" rather a bit like the kettle
calling the pot black?


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[John Ski]

As for vague, unsupported generalities, isn't your phrase

"...worlds best selling virus, Windows" rather a bit like the kettle
calling the pot black?

Apparently a sense of humor isn't one of your strong points. That remark was
one the humor of which should have been obvious. I've also been using and
helping others use Windows since its earliest appearance on 6 floppies. I love
WinXP, but many people have difficulties with it. Yet I don't see you or
anyone else in here recommending they get rid of Windows. I'm just asking that
everyone give AOL users a little more of the courteous help they give XP users
having trouble connecting with other ISPs(yeah, I know, it's not an ISP). Most
often an AOL user is met instead with a barrage of invective like, "Dump that
Crap and get a real ISP" These people didn't ask for your opinion on their S/W
choice. They asked for your help with a problem. If you don't have constructive
help to supply, why would you waste your valuable time posting some usless
missive like "you're having a problem because AOHell sucks"?

Regards,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***