# Can I download AIM, not just a program that downloads AIM? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656 "2005-12-21T18:31:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/1 "2005-12-21T18:31:49Z")
The thing you download from [AIM.com](http://AIM.com) isn’t really the AOL Instant Messenger, but a program that downloads and installs AIM. I’m trying to download stuff on my cable connection and burn it to a CD, to install on machine with just a dial-up connection. I’d like do all my downloading on the cable modem machine, for obvious reasons. Is there a way for me to download the latest entire AIM installer like the old days? Can’t find it on the [AIM.com](http://AIM.com) page. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/2 "2005-12-21T18:34:40Z")
_Raises his hand_ [Yo](http://oldversion.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/3 "2005-12-21T18:35:38Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > The thing you download from [AIM.com](http://AIM.com) isn’t really the AOL Instant Messenger, but a program that downloads and installs AIM. > > I’m trying to download stuff on my cable connection and burn it to a CD, to install on machine with just a dial-up connection. I’d like do all my downloading on the cable modem machine, for obvious reasons. > > Is there a way for me to download the latest entire AIM installer like the old days? Can’t find it on the [AIM.com](http://AIM.com) page. You don’t want it. Just download an old version. The new one is 5% AIM and 95% advertising disguised as creeping featurism. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/4 "2005-12-21T18:45:13Z")
Your best bet is to stick some kind of file monitor and see where the downloader is saving its files. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/5 "2005-12-21T19:17:49Z")
Well, I kinda want it to be up-to-date, but getting the “latest old version” is probably a good solution, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/6 "2005-12-21T19:22:38Z")
Or, if you want, you can download and use [gaim.](http://gaim.sourceforge.net/) Unbloated, open source, and lets you use AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and other IM clients in one piece of software. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/7 "2005-12-21T19:24:13Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Or, if you want, you can download and use [gaim.](http://gaim.sourceforge.net/) > > Unbloated, open source, and lets you use AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and other IM clients in one piece of software. I like [Trillian](http://www.trillian.cc), which does the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-download-aim-not-just-a-program-that-downloads-aim/336656/8 "2005-12-21T19:29:21Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Or, if you want, you can download and use [gaim.](http://gaim.sourceforge.net/) > > Unbloated, open source, and lets you use AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and other IM clients in one piece of software. I actually use gaim, but this is for somebody else’s PC.