# AOL users: Have you had this modem problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968 "2014-06-17T06:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/1 "2014-06-17T06:47:04Z")
Among the computer headaches I’ve had lately is a snag I hit a few weeks ago. I confess I have dialup–I asked AOL about Broadband (finally), and they got cold feet about it. Anyway, When I’ve tried to “initialize” the modem so as to log on, I get an error message “The modem is blocked from connecting.” Simply put, is this a problem with the modem itself or the computer or the telephone line leading in to it, or what? (The modem is external, meaning I can unplug it and replace it.) ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/2 "2014-06-17T07:18:58Z")
Its AOL software doing it, it doesn’t mean a whole lot. Perhaps the software had crashed and left the port locked. Check the device manager to see if the port is still there and not in some funny state. And see the following… [http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/microsite.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=222584](http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/microsite.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=222584) Also, AOL don’t sell broadband anymore, they only sold broadband in the UK anyway ?? or they stopped in the USA long enough ago its all forgotten ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/3 "2014-06-17T09:17:18Z")
winsock problem? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/4 "2014-06-17T10:07:00Z")
AOL. Modem. Winsock. Gad, for a happy moment I was back in the Fidonet TECH echo. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/5 "2014-06-17T10:25:35Z")
I opened this thread expecting it to be a zombie from 2000 and was shocked to find that its OP is only a few hours old. 9/10 for betraying my expectations. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKindWorld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e79b87/32.png) [@HelloKindWorld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKindWorld)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/6 "2014-06-17T11:59:53Z")
Well, I guess I’m not the only one who still has dial-up after all. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/7 "2014-06-17T18:01:49Z")
Well, it’s a matter of finances and the fact that I don’t make the rules around here. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/8 "2014-06-19T07:38:00Z")
Well, I’m becoming more and more convinced that the USB ports on the computer “tower” are to blame; I attempted to reinstall the modem’s driver with its original disc–every time it has failed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/9 "2014-06-19T11:32:58Z")
You don’t have a broadband connection already or you wanted AOL to supply broadband? Years ago, I switched my AOL account to “bring your own access” since I was getting a mighty fine broadband connection dirt cheap. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-users-have-you-had-this-modem-problem/690968/10 "2014-06-19T14:24:57Z")
AOL dial-up MAC user here. I have that problem and sometimes an additional one - when I start AOL it gets into “initialize” and just hangs around there for about 30 minutes or so. I’ve found both problems can usually be “cured” by crashing or restarting a couple times. The last time AOL updated their program, seriously cleaned it up, was like 8 years back so at best what we have is a very outdated program no one is looking to fix. Get used to it or bite the bullet and shell out the bucks it takes for some version of higher speed.