I’ve been a loyal AOL user for almost 9 years now. We’ve had our ups and downs. But this last week it is driving me crazy. I’ve been using AOL. 6.0 for about a year now. On Sunday it just started acting weird; logging me off, loading SLOOOOOOOOOOW, not loading at all, or freezing.
It did the same thing last year and is the reason I upgraded to 6.0 from 5.0. That seemed to work.
So I decided to upgrade to 8.0… Problems got worse.
I couldn’t even get my modem to connect until after several tries.
Now possibly it’s my computer, but I haven’t had any problems running other programs.
I’ve defragged, ran disk clean up, dumped my cache and cookies.
Could it be that 8.0 is just so graphics intensive that my nearly 4 year old Compaq computer can’t handle it?
Besides dropping AOL (which I’m about 48 hours from doing). Any ideas?
When you say that it doesn’t connect, are you using a dial-up connection? If so (even if not so) how far does it get? Does it get to the point where it checks your name and password or does it stall before that? How are you connected now? If you are connected from that same computer (using something other then AOL, go to AOL and change your connection method from Dial Up to LAN or TCP/IP and hit sign on (while you are connected with another program) and see if that works.
If all else fails you could try compleatly uninstalling the entire program and doing a clean install.
When I do try to log on it can freeze up at any point between first dialing and that “Welcome”… well actually alot of times it freezes right after that or it takes FOREVER to load the main screen. So that I think it frooze but it is just slow.
I tried uninstalling and re-installing from scratch…I noticed a marginal improvement.
That marginal improvement was probably due to the deletion of all the artwork AOL loads.
If you haven’t changed anything on your computer, then the normal cause for this is with AOL’s local node. Try dialing in using a different access number, if there is one. In any event, call tech support (don’t laugh) and tell them to file a Node Report (have the number you dial into handy.)
It could be other things, as well (such as TSRs, hardware problems, or phone company problems) but that tends to be the most common cause.
I don’t know if it’s just me but I do notice things change when a new version comes out. About a month ago they took one of the local phone numbers away which made logging on my dial-up connection harder than it’s been for a long time. Also Internet Explorer is connecting only 50% of the time to web sites.
Personally I think it’s some kind of scam to get you to upgrade.
Try this. While your system is signing on to AOL, click your Start button, then go Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Monitor. Then click Edit/Add Item/Dialup Adapter. Select Bytes Received/Second and add it. Repeat and add Bytes Sent/Second. Now System Monitor will show you graphically what your modem is doing. Assuming that you have, say, a 56K modem, your bytes received should be in the neighborhood of 5K. If it’s significantly lower than that, say 2K or 3K, or if it varies wildly as the startup screen loads, there’s a problem with your connection – somewhere. Also, you bytes sent should be very low – well under 1K most of the time. If it’s consistently higher, your system may be sending data somewhere without your knowledge – MAJOR problem. If your bytes received is good (high) and bytes sent is good (low), the problem is probably AOL’s shitty software.
One more vote here for calling AOL tech support. When we first signed up, we had all kinds of gonzo connection problems, and the tech support guy was really nice about it, walked me through installing a whole bunch more access numbers and the problems went away.
Also, they give you a Case Number, so if you have to call back, you don’t have to start from scratch with a new tech support person.
Also, where are you? Consider the possibility that it’s neither AOL nor your computer. Maybe look at your local telephone provider, are they having personality problems?
Anyway, AOL is working fine for us here in Central Illinois. We’re using AOL 7.0, haven’t upgraded to 8.0 as there doesn’t seem to be anything we really need on 8.0.
i use onetel in the uk
i think they are australian, dude.
but they get little probs and clear up
i stay with them because the monthly tariff is low and i am not a heavy user or broadband
i hear here (not a conundrum) in uk AOL is s**t
most people i know are with BT or freeserve
this is a small island but it makes your choices easy!
That’s exactly the same problem I had this morning. I’m using AOL 7.0 (we haven’t got 8.0 here in the UK just yet), and this problem happens about once a year. Upon calling the helpline, they gave me an easy fix:
START menu → Programs → AOL → AOL System Information → UTILITIES tab → click Clear Browser Cache… done!
I’m not sure if the US version works in entirely the same way, but you might want to check just in case. If so, this will probably solve your freezing and sluggish loading problems.
FWIW, other than that I’ve never had any trouble with AOL, and it always ticks along nicely. Put me down as one of those annoying people who actually thinks it’s great
As SoulFrost pointed out, there are a lot of possible things that can go wrong over the course of trying to make a connection. I second the recommendation of calling tech support.
Just one quick question–what other programs are you running?
