View Full Version : AOL is rubbish!
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 12:25 PM
Folks, looking for some help from some of the computer boffins.
Normally fairly able to sort out problems myself but got me stumped with this one.
I dont pay the bill for it so I dont get to choose what ISP we have. We are with AOL at the minute. We are running version 9 on broadband connection. We have a Netgear router connected to the PC and I run a laptop via wireless.
For some reason, we keep losing the internet connection. The aol software says it is the firewall but I have disabled the firewall's and it's still happening. One minute we are connected, then we arent. I've checked all the cables and they seem to be running fine and my laptop still stays connected to the wlan when it happens.....any ideas?
not that its much help...
one of the first things i was taught was "avoid AOL"...
its a rule i've stuck by,
good luck with your problem tho MBK
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 12:29 PM
yeah, i no but like I say, I dont pay the bill for it so I have no say in it.....although I'm always having the fix the damn thing COS ITS POO
sandman
30-03-09, 12:47 PM
i once had AOL at my parents and yes it kept dropping out the connection. Once i got through to a AOL boffin he kept saying he did not think that the wireless router which was a netgear one was compatible with there modem (this was of course a load of tosh so i hung up)
I wiped clean all of the software and re installed AOL and it worked fine
2 months later i wiped it all again and installed tiscalli broadband
which is much better
We had AOL for a few years and didn't have too many problems but around a year ago it became totally pants, dropping out all the time.
We are now with 02.
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 12:50 PM
Aye, well we have had wireless broadband for nearly 2 years with no problems until now....
fizzwheel
30-03-09, 12:53 PM
Talk to the person who is paying the bill and get your ISP changed.
AOL really are sh*te...
TheNinj1
30-03-09, 12:53 PM
Do you live in the countryside or city?
And what's your connection speed?
I think you might be being "pushed out" by other people using the same connection line. And accidently disconnected.
Suggest to the bill payer to get virgin fibre optic broadband at 10Mb or if they want to be awesome, get a massive 50Mb! They're very reliable, and great for interneting/gaming/streaming.
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 12:54 PM
countryside....miles from anywhere interesting. not sure what connection speed is.
Commonly referred to as Almost OnLine around here.... :D
TheNinj1
30-03-09, 12:57 PM
Countryside means old wires, and old bt equipment/connection boxes etc.
usually anyway
So complain, get an engineer out on the lines, and tell them to upgrade their stuff!
keith_d
30-03-09, 01:09 PM
If you're using ADSL, check that the BT engineers haven't taken liberties with your line.
Sometimes in remote parts there aren't enough lines so they make arrangements to share one. You might find that the line is dropping every time your neighbour makes a phone call, for example.
In theory the AOL engineers should check for this kind of thing when they install your modem, but their targets are to do with number of users connected, not signal quality and reliably.
Just a thought,
Keith.
sandman
30-03-09, 04:01 PM
I have now remembered what caused the problems it was a stupid update which they installed on there program.
Like i said delete it all off and reinstall it and when ever it asks for the update click no and always no.
maviczap
30-03-09, 04:38 PM
Try this, on the little aol triangle in the right hand corner, right click. Pop up window appears, click on 'one click fixes'
Then click on 'rebuild AOL adapter'. Normally when I've had problems like yours, then this helps. Sometimes the files get corrupted.
You can also try some of the other one click fixes, otherwise you might have to speak to their call centre in India and try and understand the instructions!
My AOL becomes unstable after a while, when I've used some of the one click fixes, it's cured most of them.
My speedtouch router is easier to reconnect to the internet if it drops off, than my old Netgear. But I'm sure its guys messing about at the exhange, that causes my internet connection to drop off.
jamesterror
30-03-09, 04:43 PM
See if Virgin are available where you are, top dollar for speeds.
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 07:25 PM
AARGH! Aol is POO! it keeps doing it tonight. Tried some of the above ideas but if it doesnt stop doing it i may throw the computer out of the window....
MR UKI (1)
30-03-09, 07:28 PM
AARGH! Aol is POO! it keeps doing it tonight. Tried some of the above ideas but if it doesnt stop doing it i may throw the computer out of the window....
+ 1 million. My AOL is always doing that, spents weeks on phone to India during the 12 month contract. Luckily in process of switching now the 12 months is up :D
Folks, looking for some help from some of the computer boffins.
Normally fairly able to sort out problems myself but got me stumped with this one.
I dont pay the bill for it so I dont get to choose what ISP we have. We are with AOL at the minute. We are running version 9 on broadband connection. We have a Netgear router connected to the PC and I run a laptop via wireless.
For some reason, we keep losing the internet connection. The aol software says it is the firewall but I have disabled the firewall's and it's still happening. One minute we are connected, then we arent. I've checked all the cables and they seem to be running fine and my laptop still stays connected to the wlan when it happens.....any ideas?
If you are using a router then there isnt really any need to use any AOL software on your computer. The router can be configured to connect to AOL, it should have the user account and password setup so that it can connect itself.
Have you changed anything else around the house? Make sure that every telephone connection has a splitter (data/phone adapter).
the_lone_wolf
30-03-09, 07:34 PM
Been with AOL for about 5 years now, 2Mbps for £9.99pm (best connection speed I can get on this backward isle) - only had one issue with the connection and it was sorted over the phone in about an hour
I stay with them because they let me rape their line using bittorrent and don't seem to care, 50-100GB per month since I joined
Never install the software though, heap of poo that stuff is...
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 07:35 PM
Flymo, it has been set up by my own fair hand for over a yaer now and has worked perfectly until about a week ago when it intermittently loses connection.
I do not run the aol software on my laptop as it clogs it up but the PCstill uses it. The router is set to connect automatically, and is doing so, but for some reason is now losnig connection all the time
And yes, splitters are used!"
uninstall it and then reinstall it.
check the driver updates on your pc and make sure it is upto date.
firewalls and AOL dont match
... yes sadly I used to work for AOL :( in my defence I was a poor student at the time and had no choice.
maviczap
30-03-09, 07:38 PM
Sounds like you need to change the Dilithium crystals then :(
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 07:43 PM
Sounds like you need to change the Dilithium crystals then :(
Did you just make that up??
Did you just make that up??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilithium_(Star_Trek) ;)
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 07:48 PM
Me too young for star trek!
Really going to throw the comp out of computer....although not the laptop becasue its mine....and it was dear....
Flymo, it has been set up by my own fair hand for over a yaer now and has worked perfectly until about a week ago when it intermittently loses connection.
I do not run the aol software on my laptop as it clogs it up but the PCstill uses it. The router is set to connect automatically, and is doing so, but for some reason is now losnig connection all the time
And yes, splitters are used!"
Sounds like the provider then...
Give them a call and complain.
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 07:58 PM
B*gger phoning them...I shall go to their offices....and kiick them in the head......or not
B*gger phoning them...I shall go to their offices....and kiick them in the head......or not
:-)
Out of interest, does the connection drop for both computers to the same extent.
Milky Bar Kid
30-03-09, 08:03 PM
yep. When mine goes, the Pc goes. Doesn't seem to be a problem with router as laptop stays connected to WLAN.
Complain to AOL, in you're angry scary accent, shout at the person..
Got me up to '2mbs' apparantly..
Suggest the virgin package to you' folks, how it gives you better value for money ect..
Thats what i did with mines :)
maviczap
30-03-09, 08:30 PM
Did you just make that up??
You youngsters :rabbit: :chef: :jocolor:
Nearly fell off me chair laughin
Sorry to derail your thread
Use the Tricorter on it next, that'll diagnose the problem real quick ;)
uninstall it and then reinstall it.
check the driver updates on your pc and make sure it is upto date.
firewalls and AOL dont match
... yes sadly I used to work for AOL :( in my defence I was a poor student at the time and had no choice.
:shock:
Somehow, even with that very good excuse, I shall have to remove some of the respect I had for you.
Me too young for star trek!
Really going to throw the comp out of computer....although not the laptop becasue its mine....and it was dear....
Unfortunately you are not too young for Star Trek.
So, it's just the computer that doesn't work? Does the laptop have AOL installed by any chance? Do you use any of the AOL features at all?
Milky Bar Kid
31-03-09, 12:46 AM
:shock:
So, it's just the computer that doesn't work? Does the laptop have AOL installed by any chance? Do you use any of the AOL features at all?
Both computers work fine but for some reason I keep losing connection with the internet. The WLAN stays connected fine. The desktop has AOL software but I refuse to put it on my laptop as it clogs them up soooooo much.
Both computers work fine but for some reason I keep losing connection with the internet. The WLAN stays connected fine. The desktop has AOL software but I refuse to put it on my laptop as it clogs them up soooooo much.
Good call on the AOL software, but I don't believe software is to blame.
It can either be the router itself or the line not being very good. Before you start spending money I'd send some e-mail to either BT or AOL and ask them to check the line for you. If the problem is still going then I'd start looking at either a new router or a new ISP (probably both).
ThEGr33k
01-04-09, 12:20 AM
BT are one of the good ones. For connection, the stock router sucks a bit... Put a good exhaust on and its great! (replace it with something... I dont know much about routers though, sorry :()
MBK, bless the geeks above, they don't seem to of twigged.
What NetGear router is it you have? I reckon it's loosing ADSL sync & that's causing the connection to drop frequently.
Look underneath your router & it'll tell you the model number, post that back in the thread & I'll walk you through how to enable the extra logging functionality hidden away from most folks, and that should point you in the right direction. :)
:shock:
Somehow, even with that very good excuse, I shall have to remove some of the respect I had for you.
..Respect.......... HAHAHHAHAHAHA:smt046
Dave20046
01-04-09, 10:30 AM
Milky bar kid I've got a AOL bandwidth expander I could send you when I get home tonight. Has some really good results, see the speed jump a whole meg before.
hi , i had the very same problem with aol , it turned out to be aol placing restrictions on the line and at busy periods which ment it would cut off . when you phone them it gets even worse cause thier english is a no go might need a translator by your side for that .but in the end we left them as it got to the point where we could only go on the internet an hour at a time ,thier network seems to go down alot too .
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