# ARGH!!!!  Tech Support, Please!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-tech-support-please/33082>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 13, 2000, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-tech-support-please/33082 "2000-09-13T21:38:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2000, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-tech-support-please/33082/1 "2000-09-13T21:38:43Z")

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Okay. So I have this new job. So I download AIM so I can chat like normal. Due to me being on the web group, I get access outside the firewall.

So, I attempt to set up AIM. No dice. Anyone able to help me out at ALL? I know the proxy server, I know the port, but I type it in, hit connect, and nothing happens on SOCKS protocols. And HTTP protocal gets me an error message.

Weird thing is…I can use Yahoo messenger. Works just fine. But not AIM. Any techie types able to help me out? Please? I miss talking to everyone! ☹

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**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2000, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-tech-support-please/33082/2 "2000-09-14T00:45:44Z")

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YM is web based, whereas ICQ and AIM are server based, I believe. I think AIM has an auto-set thing. Have you tried using that? It should search for the available servers.

Then again, I may be totally wrong. If nothing else, consider this a bump. 😉

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**Author:** ![Dylan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e95f7d/32.png) [@Dylan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dylan)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-tech-support-please/33082/3 "2000-09-14T00:49:24Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Falcon \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Weird thing is…I can use Yahoo messenger. Works just fine. \*\*

wooooooooooohoooooo…Falcon can talk to me!!!

all the rest of you losers on AIM have to wait, but she can talk to **me** right now if she wants…hahahahahahahahahaha

::does bizarre happy dance::

um…sorry to hear about AIM…I’m sure you’ll get that fixed Falcon…ahem.

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**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-tech-support-please/33082/4 "2000-09-14T01:36:31Z")

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I think what Democritus is pointing you to is the Auto Configure feature:

1. Start AIM
2. Right click on the running man in the system tray
3. Click on PROPERTIES
4. Go to the CONNECTION tab
5. Click on AUTO CONFIGURE

Understand that this can take quite a while to complete.

Let us know whether that works or not.

G’luck,  
David