Changing to a different ISP after AOL

[stev-rey]

Hi all,

My wife is over her mother's and trying to install Netzero for free access as she has decided she does not want to pay for AOL after her trial access expires.

She is getting RPC server is unavailable error.

I e-mailed her back telling her to try a different access # if this error is thrown back after dialing in.

Then I'm thinking what if she meant getting this error during install?

I remember reading AOL makes drastic changes in the OS.

Does one must uninstall AOL before going to other ISP's?

Anyone run into this?

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It's either that or it's into the woodchipper

[stev-rey]

Thanks Snarkie,

I relayed that to her a while ago, I haven't heard back since.

I'll post back how it went after she gets home. I may even have to drive there tommorrow and roll my sleeves.

Tell me about AOL browser. It does not use IE?

You cannot use other browsers when dialed to AOL?

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It's either that or it's into the woodchipper

[maxximilian]

Hi stev-rey,

It's been awhile for me since my AOL days, but as I recall, the AOL browser is really just Explorer with a new coat of paint. Also all those little AOL quirks that insist on invading areas of your computer and causing trouble like a virus.

When I was using AOL, you had to use their browser to make your connection. You could then minimize the AOL brwoser to the task-bar and run the "real" explorer. The AOL browser had to remain open, though. If you closed it for any reason, the connection would be lost.

Least that was the way it worked for me a couple years ago.

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Hell hath no fury like a computer scorned.

MAXXIMILIAN'S

[jerryctx]

I currently have AOL 6 and MSN installed. Can use either without problems. Have had other ISPs (mostly free ones when they existed) along side AOL.

Strictly speaking you don't have to use AOL's browser. When you log on the screen displayed is not the browser. You can't close that screen (it logs you off) but you can minimize it and use your preferred browser.

The AOL browser is a modified IE, probably IE 5.

Having said all that, AOL 5 and 6 are so buggy that anything is possible. I may just be lucky.



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Jerry CTX
Computer (In)Security

[Dodge]

Actually I am on AOL 6 and love it. It runs great. Just my phone lines suck....

Anyways, Steve if she has AOL 5.0 on her PC then she could have the Versions that would litterally block you from running another internet service. AOL got sued over that. They were trying to force people to use their service by tricking them to beleive that other ISP's wouldn't work on there PC's..

Try upgrading to 6.0 and see if that clears anything up.....

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Lets get stronger not weaker

[stev-rey]

Thanks for all the replies.

Wife told me she was finally able to install once she uninstalled AOL.

All is well

Have a good week.

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It's either that or it's into the woodchipper

[gi1ol]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by stev-rey:
Glad to see problem solved.

To allow two IPS's on a system to coexist-- do not answer YES to-- do you wish to make AOL your default for browsing and newsgroups. I forget the exact wording.
If you have already installed AOL, and you answered YES or aren't sure you can revert back easy.
Open AOL, Go to My AOL, click preferences. A group of icons will be presented. There will be one entitled Associations, it has a W in the middle of it.
Click it once and you'll be asked if you want to make AOL your default or if you no longer want AOL as default...
Depending on the association of AOL and the internet current status, this shall determine the question presented.
No I do not want AOL as default will allow another ISP to coexist.

Side note:
If you upgrade your standalone version of IE to 5.5 sp2 Help/About reflects the upgrade. When you open your self contained AOL IE, then check Help/About you find it too is updated. Although they are separate the files are shared.
I utilize AOL 5.0 and like it fine.
All the best...

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I want a big American Automobile with tail fins.

[b1kra]

I too am an ex AOLer. I got out after 5.5, and yes the browser is a version of IE, and I have heard that there are things that AOL does to OS files.

I uninstalled AOL and then removed anything related from the hdd. I then had a look at the registry and removed any references to AOL also.

I did this on both computers. dialer and all.

I am using a pay ISP (no special software) just set up the dialer manually it works fine. I have both NetZero, and Juno free accounts also both work fine using their proprietary dialers available after their installs.

I am not sure that all the things I did to remove AOL were necessary. I post this as anecdotal information. It could be that I wouldn't have had to do any of them to get other ISP's to work. I am not a computer wiz but what I did hear about AOL dictated my actions.

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Brian
Always something to learn.
Knowledge is power, and knowledge is where you get it