AOL connection problem (any techies out there?)

[flawed_ethics]

One of my family members has been having problems logging onto AOL since Monday. For starters, it takes three (and always three) connection attempts to log into AOL. It will then load and they can poke around the AOL rooms and get e-mail. Fine.

But when they want to surf the web, their browsers (AOL IE, IE and Netscape) all say they cannot connect to the server. At least Netscape has the decency to say it's a socket connection problem. They had friends who complained of similar problems that went away after getting a new modem. Tried it, installed it, nothing new. Same problems.

Tried different COM port settings, thinking something might be interfering with it. Nope. Played with the ping function in DOS, it responded ok. I can't figure out what's up - it's obviously connecting to something, but why won't it open up a channel to the web? Their accounts allow for internet access (they're not blocked - I checked), and when they called the AOL help lines, they all said to uninstall and reinstall the software. That doesn't work either.

It's got me scratching my head. Are these symptoms of a virus? Has the OS (Win2000) done something it shouldn't have? I'm stumped.

Any advice as to what to do - short of buying a new computer?

 

[BreadMan]

AOL HELP

You can go to AOL help and talk to the tech support live and they will take a look at their system.
hope this helps

 

[Weird Harold]

For starters, it takes three (and always three) connection attempts to log into AOL. It will then load and they can poke around the AOL rooms and get e-mail. Fine.

But when they want to surf the web, their browsers (AOL IE, IE and Netscape) all say they cannot connect to the server. ...

Any advice as to what to do - short of buying a new computer?

AOL is the problem, not any hardware or software problem on your friend's computer -- with the possible exception of a configuration problem with their AOL account.

If they can connect and browse AOL's internal functions, there is nothing wrong with the connection they are getting and the connection to outside servers is controlled by AOL's gateway function.

The solution is to dump AOL and find a local internet provider in the yellow pages that doesn't require special software to control your connection.

The try "three times" problem could be a phone line problem, but is more likely AOL's password authentication routine. It depends on why the connection is failing. Checking the modem log to see if it's actually not connecting, or if it's an "access denied" type of disconnect because the account name or password is not recognised.

 

[ronde]

I use AOL, and have experienced similar problems from time to time. A couple suggestions:

The three- try login may be because of the way AOL finds dial-up numbers. When you run setup, it picks the dialing sequence as they show on AOL's list. Try going to "settings", "AOL access numbers", search for your area, and set the last number to the first dialed. My theory is that most people let setup set the sequence, and that particular server can get overloaded.

Some software seems to play hell with AOL. My MP3 player often locks it up. It appears that Word and Excel do alsl. AOL only has to be booted, not connected, for this to happen. The only sure way to get things reset is to restart. Occasionally, a hard boot is required.

 

[gumby5647]

AOL has and always will blow goats.


it's their problem, your friends comuter....

 

[flawed_ethics]

The three- try login may be because of the way AOL finds dial-up numbers. When you run setup, it picks the dialing sequence as they show on AOL's list. Try going to "settings", "AOL access numbers", search for your area, and set the last number to the first dialed. My theory is that most people let setup set the sequence, and that particular server can get overloaded.

I know it's not the access number sequence - I tried different number combinations and whatnot. Regardless, it would only connect on the third attempt.

Other applications aren't interfering either. When trying to remedy the problem, I only had AOL running (and IE and/or Netscape once connected).

If they can connect and browse AOL's internal functions, there is nothing wrong with the connection they are getting and the connection to outside servers is controlled by AOL's gateway function.

I'd like to think that AOL would have better tech support than the softball answers they were giving to my friends. I understand that they probably get a lot of purely dumb questions.

(Caller: "I can't get my computer to connect!"
AOL Tech Help: "Ok. Did you try connecting when your computer was on?"
Caller: "Uhhh, no...")

Then again, given the horror stories I've read and heard of - I doesn't much surprise me.

I'll suggest that to them, although it might be a tough sell. They're the type that get pretty set in their ways.

Thanks for all the help everyone! Much appreciated!

 

[Tap-Out]

I don't suppose they have a firewall running and have accidently blocked port 80? From what it sound like when you are able to make the connection, but can't browse webpages it almost sounds like something is blocking port 80 (the http port). Try running an ftp program and see if that's able to get through. If an ftp program can't connect anywhere then it very well could be AOL's fault.

 

[flawed_ethics]

I did try that when I was there (an FTP client). Same no-luck response. Screwy.

Besides, can you establish a fire-wall without a network?

But, what's done is done. They're going to get the cable Road Runner connection (Time Warner), so they'll be surfing it in style soon. I'll probably have to go back to help make sure the installation is okay (they seemed somewhat suspicious of it), but I'm sure they'll like it. I'll have to go there more often now...

 

[Weird Harold]

Besides, can you establish a fire-wall without a network?

Yes, you can establish a firewall without a network. Windows is a defacto network in the default setup, needing only a client or peer-to-peer computer connection to be a complete network.

In addition, when you log onto your ISP, you're connecting to a network as far as all of your software is concerned. Without a firewall, connecting to the internet leaves your system open to access from other computers using the networking hooks built into Windows.

 

[flawed_ethics]

Heh - shows what I know. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[fgarvb1]

I have heard rumors of people that had AOL that did not have problems of some kind. I have never met one.

When i first got my computer i had Gateway and AOL.

Gateway was boring and i had to tell AOL to shove it up their asses because i was developing high blood pressure trying to connect/stay connected and such.
And than they insisted on billing me for the free months they just had to give me. I like to have never got those people to cancel my subscription.

I use TXU now... less money, no hassle,24/7 access, support.

I have a nice collection of AOL disk a shotgun and a clay pigeon thrower. I will be tuned up for dove season next year!

 

[ksparks321]

I had the exact same thing happen to my laptop. AOL won't help if you call their tech support, they'll blame it on Microsoft and Internet Explorer and tell you that you have to contact MS to get a fix for IE. However, if you bought your computer from Gateway, Dell, etc., you can't do this because those companies keep the registration for IE and you won't have the registration numbers to give MS tech support. I ended up taking my computer to the Gateway store and they wiped out all the software on my computer and reinstalled everything. It still doesn't quite work right, I think AOL accidentally put something in their software that they shouldn't have.

Hope this helps,
KJ

 

[flawed_ethics]

I think AOL accidentally put something in their software that they shouldn't have

Me thinks it's not accidental. Give them a good reason to release a new, 'better' version in the future. They really don't improve anything, just clean things up a bit.

As for Microsoft, I swear they program a schedule in Windows' code that will cause the OS to be a little off when the next release is due. I've noticed on all of my buddies machines that the OS will be doing fine until a new release is supposed to be coming out. All of a sudden, the OS will hang, crash, run unnecessary routines, etc... Very suspicious. Of course, the new OS will operate fine, until the next release anyway.

Alas, I'm a conspiricy theorist. More fun than reality. But thanks!