Flamers need not reply - AOL 6.0 Q

[daverme]

Here's the deal: I have an ABIT BX133-RAID board with a P-III 800EB processor and 256MB of noname RAM. Using either WinME or Win98SE, AOL 6.0 does some wierd things with either a USRobotics 56K Performance Pro Faxmodem or a Zoltrix SmartSpirit 56K modem (both internal). In particular, if I dial into AOL then sign off then re-dial, it tells me the COMM port is busy and it can't initialize the modem. After waiting through a dozen downloads of upgrades, AOL 4.0 works fine in the same config with either modem. Also, AOL 6.0 works fine in both my daughter's machine and my wife's machine, both of which have older BX chipset boards. Has anyone had a similar experience and/or know of a solution?

Dave

[Dputiger]

As I recall, AOL 6.0 installs drivers on your system for Virtual Private Networking AND enables File/Print sharing without your consent. I'd stay away from it like the plague, as these two options make your machine vastly easier to hack.

Head back to 5.0.

[Over Clocked]

I don't think your allowed to be a member of this forum if you use AOL. Naw I'm just joking (NO I'M NOT).

[JimG]

Daverme
If I were you, I'd go back to 5.0. That's what I have set up on my parent's computer, as well as mine. Version 6.0 does some wierd stuff . . . most of it without you knowing. Check the network properties, make sure all the settings look right.
Overclocked
That's too bad, I use AOL.

[BFlurie]

Daverme, did you use AOL's Auto-detect for the modem? Might try removing your modem using the "Setup" button on the AOL sign-on screen & have it redetect it. If that doesn't help, try manually going down the list it presents & see if there's something that's a better match.
There are known problems on some systems w/connecting w/AOL6 -- like it won't connect until the second attempt. If yours is a (software) PCI modem, that adds more possible problems.

P.S. Might try the help forums -- you have to copy & paste this into your AOL address bar -- it won't work in the IE address bar.

aol://5863:126/mBLA:246725

[This message has been edited by BFlurie (edited 01-29-2001).]

[Over Clocked]

You go to admit it... AOL SUCKS. My family is actually using compuserve (run by AOL) b/c of one of those $400 rebate scams and it is slow, causes problems, takes over your system, made for people that don't know how to use computers and is still hard to use (It is AOL with Compuserve written at the top). I've atleast got it running through erols (A real ISP) so it is a decent speed and doesn't automatically disconnect. ISPs like erols, earthlink are geared towards IT people whereas AOL and Compuserve is made for people that don't know anything about computers.

[Kruppt]

Here are two links to information that could be helpful to you.

http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/25.htm

http://www.winmag.com/columns/insider/2000/41.htm#aol60




[This message has been edited by Kruppt (edited 01-29-2001).]

[daverme]

Thanks for the input all; some good suggestions here.