Article in today’s Washington Post about how AOL 5.0 screws up access to other ISP’s, e-mail, etc. There are an awfully lot of angry folks out there now. Very glad I spotted this – I had a 5.0 CD for 250 free hours and was gonna try it. I’d been told by many people that AOL sucks, but I figured what the heck, it’s free. It’s now in the trash. If you want to read this article, it’s today’s Washington Post Business Section (Washingtonpost.com --I don’t know how to put a URL link in here - sorry).
Gotta love this strategy. Yah, AOL 5.0 has a “bug” that prevents any other networking from happening while it is installed. No other ISP, no local networks. Since I almost guarantee that they tested it on computers attached to an internal network, does anyone really think this was an accident?
http://www.madpoet.com
Computers have let mankind make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns.
When I installed AOL 5.0 I didn’t have any problems with my ISP, I had problems with AOL over TCP/IP so I went back to 4.0.
I have friends on AOL 5.0 that don’t have any problems accessing AOL via TCP/IP through their ISP. Also, I have 2 machines on our 35 people network that run 5.0 through our T-1 connection with no problem.
In addition, we have several laptops that don’t have any problems running both.
Personally, I see the report as being bogus. But those are my experiences.
I have a T1 connection in my dormroom, and I use AOL 5.0 to check my mail on my old account, but I haven’t had any problems using Microsoft Networking. I can still access other computers in my dorm with no problem.
“I hear the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” -T.S. Eliot
I do tech support for an ISP sometimes, and I’ve seen it a lot. Enough that I thought it was universal. I assure you (as far as someone whom you’ve proof of existence on can assure anything) that this bug exists. Perhaps it’s not as widespread as I thought.
http://www.madpoet.com
Computers have let mankind make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns.
I believe it.
I’ve been trying to find another service for for several months (because aol blows), but freei, netzero, ATT, and msn have all crashed before completing install. Repetedly.
I don’t want to ditch aol until I have an alternative. Is there a workaround?
Sycorax, it may be free but its not really cause after you cancel they keep on charging your credit card again & again…
I have used 5.0 for quite some time and have had no problems with any other ISPs.
I also run a standalone version of Netscape, which AOL doesn’t want you to do, either.
your humble TubaDiva