AOL 9: Big Problems!!!

[TheFrozenRed]

Guys, I need some help. Both my girlfriend and best friend have recently downloaded AOL 9.0, and both own approximately the same computer; a 500mhz, 128 meg RAM Dell PC with a 6 gig hard drive. After downloading AOL 9, BOTH have begun to have problems, most noticeably severe slow down in the computer's operations that leads to stalling and crashing and, most oddly, a line of green hash marks at the top of the screen. (My best friend received a "Low on system resources" notice, which just means that there are too many programs open in the background or not enough RAM)

Now, I've never used AOL 9.0. But, seeing as how they're both having the SAME problems, I think that it stems from AOL 9.0 being designed to take advantage of newer systems' resources. What I mean is, I don't think that their computers can handle AOL 9.0.

Is anyone out there having the same problems? Or can anyone offer me some insight before I recommend that they both upgrade their RAM to 512 megs? Please help!

[Plaster]

It's probably the AOL software. It's been extremely bloated since version 4.

You say they should upgrade to at least 512MB of RAM and I agree. That more than likely won't solve the out of resources error though. That's a limitation of the Win9x OS's and no amount of RAM will make it go away entirely.

Personally I'd tell them to swith to Netzero or Earthlink. $10/month opposed to AOL's $25. Nowhere near the bloat factor either. Assuming of course they're using dialup.

[crossedup]

Its an AOL thing, every time i put together a computer and do a clean install its flying along. I then take it to my dads house and he insists on installing AOL on it if hes going to use it. Right after he does there is always a noticable speed differance.

Have removed it in msconfig and everything. AOL installs so much more than just AOL anymore its closer to being spyware..

Finally got him using peoplepc, i believe its called. He likes it so much he pays the $10 month fee to them and the $25 to AOL and just doesnt use the AOL account. Be glad the day he can get BB, he deserves it.

You can upgrade thier RAM for some improvement, if its 98se or ME going over 256 really wont help any. Windows sees it but really wont use it. There is registy hacks and msconfig suggestions for this problem but they really dont seem to make a differance.

Talk em into something else. :D

[Johnny Fist]

I think the last version of AOL to run smoothly on a dinosaur of a system like that was 5.0. Use this opportunity to get them to upgrade, not just the ram, but to a whole new computer.

[TheFrozenRed]

Thanks for the insight, everybody. There's no way I can get either of them to switch, as they both have subscriptions and that was never an option.

However, I am glad to see that I had diagnosed the problem correctly. Thanks for confirming my finds.

[ReefDogg]

AOL9 is 2 fricken picky! If your not using XP bag it and go back to AOL8. My friends had the same problem, they uninstalled and went back to 8 and no problemas.

BTW, I can't see why anyone would use AOL! I hate it!

[Rat]

I aquire an OLD Apex laptop the other day....it still had AOL 2.5 on it. Fired it up with a friends' account and Boom it worked!!! 75mhz cpu w/8 mb ram. The last time I used AOL myself was AOL5.... needed a P300 and 256 RAM minimun to keep it from slowing to a crawl. AOL is total **** IMO, overpriced, overbloated and simply a system crasher. I think soon they will come out with their own OS by the way they are going. Your best bet is to reformat both systems and get NetZero, Juno or any thing other than AOL.
(Or I can send you a copy of AOL2.5 LOL)


Rat