# Warning: AOL 5.0 unplugs other ISP's! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 1999, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268 "1999-12-24T17:06:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 1999, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/1 "1999-12-24T17:06:00Z")
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](http://Washingtonpost.com) --I don’t know how to put a URL link in here - sorry). ---
**Author:** ![MadPoet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MadPoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPoet)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 1999, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/2 "1999-12-24T17:14:00Z")
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](http://www.madpoet.com) Computers have let mankind make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 1999, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/3 "1999-12-25T06:42:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![LongHrn99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@LongHrn99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongHrn99)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 1999, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/4 "1999-12-24T19:10:00Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![MadPoet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MadPoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPoet)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 1999, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/5 "1999-12-24T19:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Personally, I see the report as being bogus. But those are my experiences. 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](http://www.madpoet.com) Computers have let mankind make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns. ---
**Author:** ![pmh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@pmh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmh)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 1999, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/6 "1999-12-25T00:25:00Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 1999, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/7 "1999-12-25T00:56:00Z")
Sycorax, it may be free but its not really cause after you cancel they keep on charging your credit card again & again… ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 1999, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-aol-5-0-unplugs-other-isps/12268/8 "1999-12-25T09:25:00Z")
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