I was getting really frustrated by many complaints from AOL users and decided to call AOL in an effort to get more clarity. After speaking with some amazingly poor customer service folks, I was finally forwarded a disgruntled tech guy that explained the problem to me. Essentially, AOL uses a piece of software called "netcache". The idea behind this software is to store certain aspects of websites you visit alot locally on your computer so that AOL doesn't have to continually download this code. As an example, after a while the "manage attachments" ****on might dissapear from the HAMB simply because AOL thinks you have seen that image enough... The result is that AOL saves on bandwidth costs and you suffer from performance issues mostly on the sites that you visit quite often. ****s for me, ****s for you, great for AOL... But... there is a solution that disgruntled tech guy was willing to share. Follow the steps found here and pay special attention to "run an AOL autofix" and "clear cache, rebuild adapter". Once all of these steps are taken, you should be fine for a while... However, expect to do these things every now and then... A Better solution? Use a real browser like internet explorer or firefox after you have logged on to AOL. An Even Better Solution? Spend less money and get a better connection, buy getting rid of AOL all together. AOL really is a terrible service targeting folks that don't know any better.
You might want to sticky this for a while . . . it's good info. I've had AOL since 1994 . . . not for the net connection, but mainly for continuity. I met my wife online back in November 1995 . . . . we've been (had been?) married for ten years this past May. AOL's going free if you bring your own access (IE: High speed) . . . don't know that this will help much. A lot of places are going to be trying to do different things like AOL is . . . AOL just got good at doing it. Unless something with Net neutrality law is p***ed, other things like this might start taking place. Comcast blocking Time Warner sites? Who knows. I know there's already been do***ented cases where VOIP stuff has been interferred with. Strange new world out there guys.
I was able to trace the loss of my last two systems directly to AOL (because my wife likes the e-mail) slow learner I guess
Amen to that!!! But good luck cancelling with AOL if they have your credit card number. They will continue to bill you after you cancel. Happened to me, my dad, several people I work with and many others I dont know. Several cl*** action lawsuits have been filed in various states. My mother works at a bank and she said if the customer says dont allow AOL to charge my account the 23.95. The bank does block that charge. But then AOL re-submits the charge as 23.94 or 23.96 and since the bank has no specific orders to block that charge, it goes thru. Customers have had to close their accounts and reopen new ones with new numbers to get this to stop happening. I guess what I am saying is if you cancel AOL get a confirmation number, date, time, employee name, etc and be prepared to threaten them with legal action the FIRST time they mess up. Good Luck.
AOL ****s donkey balls... If you DO cancel AOL, make sure you do it before the end of their billing period, they bill in advance and will charge you for an extra month... Then do it again the next day... they know if they screw up, they get to bill you for an extra month. When I set up my new computer, I used the free trial to download some drivers I needed and forgot to cancel, they charged for an extra month. then there was a "glitch" and they had to do it again and I had to argue with them, even though they had the intial cancel call on record, to take off the second extra month. *******s! I'm sure Ryan doesn't want to turn this into a AOL rant post, just check back a time or two when you cancel to make sure you really are cancelled.
I just followed the links and it made a world of diffirence on my aol account at work. Like Ryan said mozzilla is way faster. Shane T.
Hummm ... NOW! I know why my "techie" friend - who helped me set up my system - "steered" me away from AOL! I have been using "Netscape" (and IE sometimes) for years, for FREE; and NO problems!!
You may have heard this before: http://www.consumerist.com/consumer...-posted-reader-tries-to-cancel-aol-180392.php It's a complete phone call recorded of a guy trying to cancel his AOL account, and the AOL representative won't let him. It's unbelievable.
Thanks Ryan. Mines better. Not great but better. AOL must be having some major brain farts ( more than usual ). It sounds like eveyone started having problems in the last week or two.
Ryan, thanks for digging into this. A few months back, I finally had enough of the problems and did switch over to Internet Explorer, no more problems and once I got used to using it, I decided to get ride of my AOL account since I have to go thru BellSouth and they give me email also.
thanks Ryan I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS DUMP SCHEDULE FOR A WHILE .. kinda like emptying your pockets after being at the junk yard ... lotta **** you save for no good reason... BUT IF YOU DON'T GET RID OF FRONT POCKET FULL OF TRIM SCREWS THEY WILL EVENTULLY DRAW BLOOD AND RUIN YOUR POCKETS! I use internet explorer now with broad band when i can ... its so nice not to lose long / quick posts cuz of the connection fluctuation PAPERDOG
When I canceled my AOL, I called my credit card services first and told them I had been trying to cancle AOL for a couple months. The nice lady at the credit card place told me that was taken care of. Then I called AOL. When you talk with them ,keep repeating over and over " Cancle my account, I am not paying another penny. I do not want anything to do with you or any of your services. Terminate my account imediately. My credit card has stopped any future payments to AOL." After repeating it several times and getting a conformation number, a name, and the close account email sent to my non-AOL email, I was done with it. I did watch my credit card for a few months, but nothing else was charged. Worked for me, might work for you. Gene
After weeks of trouble,very slow moving, shutting itself down, can't load pictures etc I just tried internet explorer and all my troubles disapeared. Thanks Ryan and others who helped this puter dummy through it!
I frequent a couple other boards that run the same software as the Hamb, using AOL,and they work just fine.Never a problem that I wouldn't have on any other random site. However,trying to use the HAMB with AOL varies between "No Problem", and "Not a ****ing Chance";depending on which way the wind is blowing.
Ryan: what version of Vbulletin are you running ? They use 3.5.5 on Metalmeet.com and 3.5.4 on Volksrods.com I never have problems viewing or posting on either site.FWIW. And I have the exact same problems on both the HAMB and Jockey Journal. Since AOL is my ISP,and I'm on Dial Up,any other browser is slower. I've tested IE,Netscape,Firefox,and Opera so far. As ****py as AOL is,it's still faster,and that's where all my bookmarks are.
3.5.4. If clearing the AOL cache fixes the issue (which it seems to do), there is no logical way you can say the HAMB is the issue... In my opinion, there is no excuse to use AOL.
Actually, I just had my first "banging head against wall" moment the last couple days with trying to get a new member sorted out on my forum that is using the same version as the HAMB. He would sign in and the forum would show him as logged in (listed in the "who's online" area), but then when he went to post... he would get an error saying he "must be logged in to do this...". He also couldn't do anything with attachments. I logged into his account under his name and it worked perfect from my end. Then I noticed he had AOL and remembered seeing this post here. I forwarded the info to him and just noticed that he posted his first post in the Intro section... I haven't heard from him personally yet about his fix, but I'm thinking this must've done it for him. I had been working on it for a couple days with him trying to figure it out before this. Thanks for the heads up, Ryan.
I like AOL. They mailed out their CD's in these cute little tins that are great for keeping allen wrenches in and the CD's make great mini-frizbee cat toys and coffee mug coasters!
Ryan, Thanks for the tips on AOL. I will try them later. I did down load FireFox and use that when things get too slow on AOL and it works just fine and so much quicker. Keep up the good work. Gary M.
FYI, "Opera" is a great browser to use as well..... Just Google it.... Wasn't there a website a few years back where they collected ONE MILLION of those free AOL CD's and returned them all using return post.... all at once?
I have been a AOL user for about 8 years. It just keeps going further downhill. I would have got rid of it years ago but my wife is fond of it.. She knows the Ins and Outs of it and doesnt want to change. The HAMB doesnt work that well on AOL for sure. I also have alot of trouble with that one site. Ebay! This tip worked for me. I mostly use Internet Explorer to browse the web because it works so much better. Thanks Ryan Now my wife can continue her love affair with Ebay.. Lol I will continue to use Internet explorer myself tho..
The Jalopy Journal
