Q: iChat stopped working about 2 weeks ago

Hi,

Interesting.

@mac.com names first came with the .Mac service.

Trial and Lapsed accounts would still work as valid AIM Screen names.

This fact was "used" by Apple during the MobileMe days to register so Called "iChat Names" that gave you the @mac.com ending without it being and valid email account.

@mac.com names are not subject to the iCloud issued @me.com or @icloud.com names that require iChat 6 or Messages to be used as these two version log in to Apple to allow AIM to then "read" the password.

iChat 6 and Messages both use Port 443 to Login by default (rather than port 5190)  and also have changed server names to api.oscar.aol.com

This remain unchanged whether you use SSL or not.

In iChat 3 through 5 the server is listed as login.oscar.aol.com with a leading "s" added automatically when using SSL

It could be that the older server name is either not doing SSL logins at the moment or is not doing the more common non SSL  (it was  long time before the AIM for PC app actually did SSL itself).

I would start by logging out (actually turning Off the "Enable this Account" box) and then changing the SSL setting.

If you are still using port 5190 to login I would change to 443.

If either of those do not work then try the more recent server name.

I have several @mac.com names that I have gained over the years that are not linked to any iCloud "Conversion"

They log in fine in Messages and I have also checked my MacBook Pro and iChat 5 in Snow Leopard and they log in thare as well.

In iChat 5 I am using port 443 and non SSL (this server has been prone to more dropping of connections than the plain server).  I am also logged in to login.oscar.aol.com

My plain AIM name is also logged in not using SSL and port 443 to the same server.

9:24 PM      Friday; May 31, 2013

  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi,

for the   Points

The port should change permanently if you have made sure iChat  (as well as the AIM server) thinks you are not using the account.

i.e not only not have to be not logged in by failing to do so but the app has to be set to not attempting to either.

It is possible that for some reason the User Logged in to that particular machine does not have the correct permissions to Write to the .plist involved.

Navigate to the Users Home Folder/Library/Preferences - or in the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Folder enter ~/Library/Preferences in the dialogue box.

Once in the Preferences folder find com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist

Highlight it and then do a Get Info (CMD and i Keys together - see File Menu).

In the Info Panel that appears scroll to the bottom.

The User's Shortname should appear in the list.

They should have Read And Write abilities (Permissions)

Also click the cogwheel type icon below the List

This should have a statement about making the shortname the Owner and it should be greyed out as it has already been done if the User Owns the file as well.

If they don't Own the file then check others that start com.apple.ichat to see that they Own those.

If they don't have Read and Write Permissions then change them so they do.

If everything appears to be correct check the Ownership and Permissions on the Preferences Folder itself.

Messages is iChat+

That is to say everything that iChat can is possible in Messages and it has the iMessages account to use as well.

However the new interface - from a large tabbed Chat window with access icons to the Contacts List, Buddies and such can be a bit confusing at first.

Buddy Lists for AIM based, Jabber based and Yahoo plus of course the Bonjour Account are not on show in the first instant and are also displayed as a Combined list by default.

AIM and Jabber Buddy list still do Video chat.

An iMessages conversation that is going on has  Video icon that then invokes FaceTime

A Buddy List Video chat can still do all the iChat Theatre stuff by dragging files over the Chat window (Although the same actions are removed from the menus).

An AIM account can still do SMS to US Based phones  (If the computer is set to be "in" the US - it's s Region setting in System Preferences > Language and Text).

Video effects and backdrops are still there.

7:38 PM      Saturday; June 1, 2013

  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Understood.

10:42 PM      Tuesday; June 4, 2013

  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously