AOL broadband conection problems

saxy1

I have been using aol silver fine until last night, went to log-on and couldnt get a connection, have now spoken to tech support in India 5 times, they told me to remove aol from my PC and re-install, tried this twice, no success.
Tried to reinstall the modem also, dont know what else to do. They have now said my pc files may be corrupted and I will have to take my PC to be repaired How can this happen when all was working ok and I havent changed anything? Can anyone help?

richyrichuk

hi yes i can see your problem, and its a big problem YOUR USING AOL! AOL is so so bad, and the software just destroys your pc in time....u can dialup using windows rather than the AOL software they supply.

here is a walkthrough.

1. Make sure you are disconnected from AOL via their software.

2. Start -> Connect To -> Show All Connections.

3. Double-Click "New Connection Wizard".

4. Hit "Next".

5. Make sure "Connect to the internet is selected" and hit "Next" again.

6. Select "Set up my connection manually" and hit "Next".

7. Select "Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password" and hit "Next".

8. In the "ISP Name" box enter something to describe it to you. SOmething like "AOL Broadband" will do you.

9. Enter your User Name in the box - Something like "KeSmi747@aol.com" then enter the password you use to connect to AOL in each of the boxes below. Hit "Next".

*** IMPORTANT - you must get your username right and the standard format is the first two letters of your first name, the first three letters of your last name, then three random numbers, not forgetting that you also need to include "@aol.com". The example above is what Kevin Smith's AOL username might be. ***

10. Hit "Finish".

At this point you can stop and simply connect to AOL by going Start -> Connect To -> AOL Broadband, but I recommend taking the next few steps and having your connection always on.

11. In the box that comes up hit "Properties". (This box can also be brought up by going Start -> Connect To -> AOL Broadband)

12. Goto the "Options" tab and increase the "Redial attempts" to 100, then change the "Time between redial attempts" to 1 second.

13. On this same screen uncheck the box labelled "Promt for name and password, certificate, etc." Hit "OK".

14. Open Start -> Connect To -> then left-click and drag "AOL Broadband" to your desktop to create a shortcut.

15. Right-Click the new shortcut and select "Cut".

16. Right-Click the Start button and select "Open".

17. Open "Programs" then "Start Up".

18. Right-Click in the blank space and select "Paste".

That's it - now when you log into windows your AOL connection will automatically connect itself and stay conencted.

And if you found this file useful, spread it to others and help them out.

courtesy of http://www.cyberiapc.com - King Kill

saves me writing it out...

saxy1

Richy - thanks, will give this to my hubby to try when I get home, I have had about enough of it, the PC will go out of the window soon lol!! As for AOL, only have a few weeks to go till the end of my contract and then they are history!! Can you recommend anyone? currently looking at plusnet or waitrose.Cheers Saxy x

richyrichuk

virgin media are good if u can get cable

http://www.virginmedia.com/

but also check http://www.thinkbroadband.com/search/package/basic.html

try and taylor ur BB for u.

then post back if u have found a ISP u think u suitable and give u more advice if needed.

lyns_2

my conection went down on the same day with aol reported it to them on sunday as my phone line went the day after . The end the indian call centre tried to tell me i needed to get someone in to put the isp address back on my pc. when i told them that my other pc was doing the same they put me through to a tecnical adviser in the uk who ran a line check and it turned out that aol had to get bt to fix the exchange line. That was last night and im now back online.So try and get them to put you through or press 2 and 2 again when you phone and that should if you have called before with a issue

Inactive

saxy1 wrote: »

Can you recommend anyone? currently looking at plusnet or waitrose.Cheers Saxy x

I left Plusnet last November, they were diabolical, also I read something not too good about Waitrose's supplier a while back.

Take a look at ThinkBroadband for customer feedbacks on all ISP's.

computerwoman

plusnet....bt....
bt bought plusnet....
bt is the problem not your ISP's...I have had this with my SIL and she is with talktalk...same problem's but once I got fed up with all the runaround and asked them for a mac code they soon put it back on within seconds I might add...so I don't think it is your ISP's that are at fault I think it's bt trying to drum up some new customer's...just my thought...:D

Inactive

computerwoman wrote: »

plusnet....bt....
bt bought plusnet....
bt is the problem not your ISP's..

Nice theory, sadly not true, I left Plusnet and went to a reliable ISP, my speed went up immediately, my connection stayed on rock solid ever since, all via a BT line.;)

PZH

richyrichuk wrote: »

hi yes i can see your problem, and its a big problem YOUR USING AOL! AOL is so so bad, and the software just destroys your pc in time....u can dialup using windows rather than the AOL software they supply.

I have been with AOL for several years now and seen a lot of bad press about them. I do think this is unfair in a lot of cases - especially if you split AOL as an ISP and the AOL software into two separate arguments.

I do agree that the main problem is their own software insofar that it is very hard to get rid of ( makes multiple entries throughout the registry ), is very hard on system resouces and is mostly useless. I refuse to have the software on the PC and use a router to connect to them.

However, as for AOL as an ISP, the service is extremely good. The only interaction I had with them was when my service dropped completely for a week. Initially they wanted to get me to reinstall the software untill I pointed out that I didn't actually use it. They did then suggest that I call BT and see if the problem was line related. I refused point blank and pointed out to them that my contract was with AOL and that they do all the running around. They then escalated me to the second line responce team ( American rather than Indian - don't want that to sound racist, because it is not - but the Indian call centre tends to run through a set script of the bloody obvious and totally useless ). Within days BT had called me to make an appointment to visit my house. As it turned out, BT had actually managed to screw my connection at the exchange ??!! and made good their error.

However, I called AOL and asked to speak to one of their supervisors about the lack of service for a week. The very nice lady at the other end tried in vain to tell me it was a BT issue, but I kept reminding her that my contract was with AOL and as such they had failed in their duty to provide broadband. They eventually reduced my monthly payments by £5, with the first month free and also sent me a wireless router free of charge as compensation.

I think the other mistake people make is choosing the "UPTO 8Mb" option and expecting 8Mb - this is totally missleading and it is pot luck what speed you will actually get - anywhere between 512k and 6Mb. I use the 2Mb service - that way I know what speed they are contracted to and guaranteed to get.

The other benefit is that is is totally unmetered ( i.e. no download limits, no disconnection after an hour, etc )

Anyway - sorry for the rant, but there are worse ISP's out there. Do a search on any of them and you will find negative points on them all and people swearing they will never use them again....

You pay your money and take your chances....