AOL ACCOUNTS

[pa1916]

WARNING if you have a AOL broadband account and you are out of contract don't downgrade or upgrade

as you will find you that you will not be able to leave as they say you have signed up for a furthur year

and the only way out is to buy your contract out. :ranting:

[nellie2]

Thanks for letting us know, but doesn't it tell you that in the small print?

[andsome]

Some years ago, my son used to like to try different I.S.P's now and then when he was on dial up. He arranged to give me his old computer as soon as his new one was delivered. Just prior to passing it on to me he installed AOL. Knowing that I would install NTL cable dial up, he uninstalled AOL before passing it on to me. There was no way that we could get back on line. The NTL helpline tried everything, and advised in the end that we reinstall Windows. Soon after this I attended four Internet classes at night school. On the first evening we were all handed a leaflet warning us of what they called, 'The upgrade of death'. It was a warning NOT to install AOL as there was a very good chance that we would never be able to be rid of it again without a reinstall. Some months after that, Radio Four ran a lunch time phone in programme about complaints with AOL. The phone lines were inundated with complaints. This is why I would NOT touch them with a barge pole.

I am sure that some members will say how happy they are with AOL, well good luck to them, that company is not for me.

[-pops-]

I feel the same about AOL and I often wonder why they make it so difficult to remove the software - that alone would discourage me from ever downloading it.

As the world's largest ISP you would think they might appreciate a bit of competition rather than trying to make themselves a monopoly - hated by many people.

I have removed AOL from loads of machines belonging to ex-AOL users who hated the ISP for all sorts of reasons. I could only remove it by a re-install which didn't please many.

All in all, I view AOL in the same way as a virus - something on your computer that can cause great disruption to your normal working and is impossible to remove.

[andsome]

I know that I am not alone. The shop that built my computer have had the same problem with other customers computers. The thing that annoyed me most, was the fact that I could not get on line with anyone after my son tried to remove AOL. He is not a novice with computers, he trained as a systems analyst.

[Sir T Fireball]

I have an AOL broadband account, but do not have any of their software loaded. It just isn't required anymore. I use a modem router, plug it in and away I go. It is generally accepted that their software is extremely invasive, but one mustn't overlook the fact that they are one of the few to offer FREE customer support (never needed it in the last 5 years) and unlimited downloads etc...Their prices are fairly competetive too :)

[djohn]

You now have to pay for support phone calls to AOL. I was with them for over 3 years on dial-up, never had a single problem. On changing to Broadband I did start to have problems but 4 months into my 12 month contract, they released me without any penalty whatsoever. I agree that their software can be invasive, but no more so than Zonealarm for instance and far easier to remove than the latter.

During the last 18 months or so that I was with AOL, I did a lot of BETA testing for them and often had 5 or 6 versions of their software on my machine along with various other small applications that were in the testing stage. Each one would work independently of the other and I never noticed any conflict with having different versions on at the same time.

Its true that AOL is difficult to remove completely but even so takes no more than 15 to 20 minutes of work. For the vast majority of people, one can remove AOL to the extent that it can't be seen on their computer or interfere with its working in less than 10 minutes. Its only if you want to remove every last trace of AOL that you need to enter the registry to clear out the remaining 30 or so file ext. that are in there.

[-pops-]

I agree that their software can be invasive, but no more so than Zonealarm for instance and far easier to remove than the latter.

Hmmmmm..... I would never let Zonealarm near a machine of mine either.

[Sir T Fireball]

You now have to pay for support phone calls to AOL.

Just as well I have never needed them then :lol:

Thanks for the heads up ;)

[CurlyWhirly]

Well my personal experience of AOL is different to some members above.

I have been with AOL for nearly 5 years and have rarely had a problem with them regarding their internet connection or speed which I am happy with.

The only problem I have had with them is their SPAM filter but that was resolved long ago.

I must say I disagree with the view that AOL is almost impossible to remove without a re-installation of Windows as I have uninstalled the old version of AOL when a newer version comes along.

For example when AOL 9 was released, I uninstalled AOL 8 completely, rebooted and then run a registry cleaner afterwards with no problems when installing the new version.

It is a shame that the AOL helpline is no longer free but as I hardly ever use it, it doesn't bother me!

[andsome]

Well my personal experience of AOL is different to some members above.

I have been with AOL for nearly 5 years and have rarely had a problem with them regarding their internet connection or speed which I am happy with.

The only problem I have had with them is their SPAM filter but that was resolved long ago.

I must say I disagree with the view that AOL is almost impossible to remove without a re-installation of Windows as I have uninstalled the old version of AOL when a newer version comes along.

For example when AOL 9 was released, I uninstalled AOL 8 completely, rebooted and then run a registry cleaner afterwards with no problems when installing the new version.

It is a shame that the AOL helpline is no longer free but as I hardly ever use it, it doesn't bother me!

BUT!!!, have you uninstalled AOL and then tried to install another ISP?

[CurlyWhirly]

BUT!!!, have you uninstalled AOL and then tried to install another ISP?

Erm... no as so far I have had no reason to change ISP's!

If the worse came to the worse I would just restore a 'virgin' Drive Image 7 backup as I have 2 copies, one of the latest backup (usually a few weeks old) and a version of when I first installed XP a few years ago.

Not a big deal for me either way :rolleyes:

[CurlyWhirly]

Here is another reason why I can't fault AOL's broadband connection.

A couple of hours ago I had the rare occurence of my ADSL modem losing sync with the exchange which meant that my modem's DSL light went out and my modem went into 'training mode' where it is attempting to sync with the exchange (as it normally does when I first boot the PC up).

Even though this happened I didn't lose my connection and get kicked off the network but what happens is that my internet connection 'hangs' until the modem syncs again (which normally takes around 30 seconds and during this time I can't do anything with my connection) and then everything returns to normal.

It never used to be like that though as I used to, occasionally, suffer a disconnection but since downloading an AOL PPPoE connectivity service update I no longer get this disconnection problem.

Going back on topic, I agree that AOL are being a bit sneaky by forcing you into another 12 month contract just because you want to change your broadband package but at the end of the day it may be better asking if there are any 'catches' before you actually go ahead with changing your broadband package.