Delete and Reinstall AOL for MAC OS X

I have been unable to find out how to delete and reinstall AOL for MAC OS X. No one at AOL online help has any confidence. Can anyone explain how to delete without losing personal filing cabinet? Thank you .John

Posted on Sep 23, 2005 9:10 AM

80 replies

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 27, 2005 8:57 AM in response to john charnley

John,

As I really don't know where you now have all of the original 6 filing cabinets, could you give me an update to their present locations?

With a complete path?

Which filing cabinets are
1. HD > Users > Shared > AOL > HERE
2. HD > Users > Shared > AOL > Data > HERE
3. HD > Data > HERE
4. HD > Desktop Folder > Data > HERE
5. Desktop > HERE

Here is your original list of locations:

#1 HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > Masterclassmh's Filing Cabinet (25.9.05)

#2 HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > DATA > Starcott's Filing Cabinet (3.6.04)

#3 HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > Starcott's Filing Cabinet (25.9.05)

# 4HD > DATA > Starcott's Filing Cabinet (3.6.04)

#5 HD > DESKTOP FOLDER > DATA > Starcott's Filing Cabinet (19.1.04)

#6 DESKTOP > Starcott's Filing Cabinet (23.9.05)

ali b

Sep 27, 2005 2:14 PM in response to john charnley

Ali

The present situation is

1 (a) HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > starcotts filing cabinet (todays date)

1 (b) HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > masterclassmhs filing cabinet (todays date)

2. HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > DATA > no filing cabinet here

3. HD > no data folder hence no filing cabinet here

4. HD > desktop folder > data > starcotts filing cabinet (19.1.04)

5. Desktop > starcotts filing cabinet ( created19.1.04 and modified 26.9.05)

Also Desktop > Folder (which I named cabinet) > starcotts filing cabinet (3.6.04)

In the Trash (which did not appear on find) :-
(a) starcotts filing cabinet created 23.9.05 and modified 26.9.05
(b) starcotts filing cabinet copy created 23.9.05 and modified 23.9.05

John

Sep 28, 2005 1:22 AM in response to john charnley

ali

The full titles are as follows:-

There are 5 called 'starcott's filing cabinet'

There is one called 'masterclassmh's filing cabinet'

There are no dates in the titles. I added these dates in the hope it would be of help to you.

John

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 28, 2005 7:48 AM in response to john charnley

EDITED

John,

The dates have been very helpful! I'm just dotting my " i "s & crossing my " t "s!

To simplify moving the filing cabinets around, we're going to temporarily rename them, and put them all in one location.

This one:
Also Desktop > Folder (which I named cabinet) > Starcotts Filing Cabinet (3.6.04),
will not be renamed.

After the others have their new names, I want you to move them all into that same desktop folder, named "cabinet".

DO NOT change this "Starcott's Filing Cabinet". Only add to the end.
You have not used capitals, but I'm assuming that the file names are capitalized.
Please advise if this is incorrect.

This one:
1 (b) HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > Masterclassmhs Filing Cabinet (todays date)
will not be renamed, and DO NOT move it!

1 (a) HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL > Starcotts Filing Cabinet (todays date)
Rename: Starcotts Filing Cabinet DW

4. HD > desktop folder > data > Starcotts Filing Cabinet (19.1.04)
Rename: Starcotts Filing Cabinet 1/19/01

5. Desktop > Starcotts Filing Cabinet ( created19.1.04 and modified 26.9.05)
Rename: Rename: Starcotts Filing Cabinet 1/19/04 #2

Now, if they all have a different name, move them into the Desktop folder "cabinet".

Then move:
Starcotts Filing Cabinet (3.6.04), which is just named "Starcott's Filing Cabinet" to:

HD > Users > Shared > AOL > HERE

What is left in this "data" folder:
4. HD > desktop folder > data > Starcotts Filing Cabinet (19.1.04)?

If it is empty, put it in the trash.
If you have any other empty folders, that you created, still on the desktop, put them in the trash as well.

Leave these in the Trash, for now.
In the Trash (which did not appear on find) :-
(a) Starcotts Filing Cabinet created 23.9.05 and modified 26.9.05
(b) Starcotts Filing Cabinet copy created 23.9.05 and modified 23.9.05

Now load AOL, sign on, and see if you have your old Emails back.
Have you signed on with this Screen Name: Masterclassmh?
Are there old Emails in that filing cabinet?

ali b

Sep 28, 2005 5:37 PM in response to john charnley

Ali

Have worked my way through your instructions.

Re using capitals, this is how the names are written :
StarCotts Filing Cabinet

In the data folder
4. HD > desktop folder > data > StarCotts Filing Cabinet (19.1.04) containing the folLowing
access numbers
address book
art database
StarCotts Filing Cabinet (modified 19.1.04)
window size
I was unable to change the name of StarCotts Filing Cabinet (dated 19.1.05) to StarCotts Filing Cabinet 1/19/04 without first moving it onto the desktop. Only then could I rename it.

Using find as a guide, this is the present situation:-

HD > Users > Shared > AOL > Masterclassmhs Filing Cabinet
HD > Users > Shared > AOL > StarCotts Filing Cabinet (modified 3.6.04)
HD > Desktop Folder (Named 'Desktop OS 9') > Data > StarCotts Filing Cabinet (created and modified 19.1.04)
Desktop Folder (Named 'Desktop OS 9/10') > Data > StarCotts Filing Cabinet (created and modified 19.1.04)

[These 2 folders: Desktop OS 9 and Desktop OS 9/10 are identical. Is it safe to trash one of them?]

Desktop > Cabinet > StarCotts Filing Cabinet 1.19.04
Desktop > Cabinet > StarCotts Filing Cabinet 1.19.04 No 2
Desktop > Cabinet > StarCotts Filing Cabinet DW

I have just signed on again. In StarCotts Filing Cabinet, the emails list has not changed. The most recent ones have not yet re-appeared. On the Masterclassmhs Filing Cabinet, the only emails appearing are those from the last few days.

My apologies for the delay in getting back to you and thank you again for your perseverence with my problem.

John

Sep 29, 2005 5:24 PM in response to Gulliver

WOW after watching John & Ali struggle with this AOL problem it appears AOL deletion isn't easy. My 75 year old father wants out of AOL vey badly but can't find the uninstall AOL secret. When he trys to kill AOL, the next boot brings it back to life. How can you change to a new isp while using AOL, then make the new provider your default isp, then drive a steak through AOL'S heart forever. The pain that John is going through could not be endured by my father. Thank for your expertise.

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 30, 2005 4:15 PM in response to john charnley

John,

You wrote
"...
[These 2 folders: Desktop OS 9 and Desktop OS 9/10 are identical. Is it safe to trash one of them?]..."

NO! Not right now. Isn't one of them actually titled "Desktop (Mac OS 9)"?

Can you change your start up disk in:
System Preferences > Startup Disk > to Mac OS 9.x.x on Macintosh HD?

Are you still able to load AOL v5 through "Classic"?

As long as each filing cabinet has a different name now, you should be able to move them in and out of wherever they presently reside.

One at a time, try each of the various filing cabinets, by placing them in

HD > Users > Shared > AOL > HERE

Take the "Starcott's Filing Cabinet" that is now there, and move it to the "Cabinet" folder that is on the Desktop. Change it's name to Starcott's Filing Cabinet A

Then start testing the other "Starcott's Filing Cabinet" files, one at a time, by placing in
HD > Users > Shared > AOL > HERE

After you have placed one in that location, change the name back to Starcott's Filing Cabinet. Reload AOL, sign on, and see if your old emails are back.

Try each one of the filing cabinets until you find one that may have the emails.
Before you move each one that doesn't have the mail, back out to the "Cabinet" folder, change the name to Starcott's Filing Cabinet B, and then C, and D, etc. Do you understand what I mean?

You should end up with something like
Starcott's Filing Cabinet A
Starcott's Filing Cabinet B
Starcott's Filing Cabinet C
Starcott's Filing Cabinet D
Starcott's Filing Cabinet E

If there are any in the trash try those as well.

If none of them reveal your old mail, I'm afraid it's gone for good.

ali b

Oct 2, 2005 7:16 AM in response to john charnley

Good day, Ali,

This is Elaine, John's wife. John has had to hand over to me at this moment in time because of pressure of work. Please bear with me while I outline what we have done.
When we tried to log on to AOL 5.0 it came up with various messages, one about USB connection not found and one other. When trying to start up in Classic, the message "disk 'mt' could not be found' came up and the screen froze.
On restarting in 9.2, the message 'detected problem with Mac HD. Damage to Alternative Volume Header Block (Error 16,065). On attempting to repair the problem, screen froze and mouse light went out.
We have not attempted to effect a repair procedure again and are back on OS X.
There are two points I would like to put to you which may clarify the position further. Both the Desktop folders OS 9 and OS 9/10 are aliases, placed on the desktop originally for easy access.
The DATA folder came to be in our Starcott Filing Cabinet, at present in the OSX Personal Filing Cabinet, was the result of being told by AOL Supervisor to 'post' our OS 9.2 filing cabinet to ourselves to bring it into OS X. We eventually had to seek APPLE Help and were greatly relieved to learn we could access it through Classic. Hence the aliases on the Desktop.
Now, unless we hear to the contrary, I will proceed to fulfil your instructions to John as you described in your last message. Please confirm.
Elaine

Oct 2, 2005 11:58 AM in response to john charnley

Ali,

Followed instructions inserting G4 Cube Restore disk. Booted up - 9.2 desktop.
First Aid revealed: Problem MountCheck found minor errors. These were reportedly repaired successfully. Then the mouse froze before I could repeat. Booted from CD again and repeated First Aid with same results: The same message was repeated, and assertions that the problem had been successfully repaired. Third run of the First Aid untility brought the same message, and repair result.

Duirng the procedures, attention was drawn to following message at top right of screen: Complete functionality of USB devices is not available when started up from this installer CD.

Abandoned further attempt to clear, and moved to OSX.

OSX Disk First Aid revealed no problem found with HD.
Repair Permissions revealed the following message (after `New permissions are 33261):
2005-10-02 17:30:58 The priveleges have been repaired on the selected volume.

After two more runs through repair permissions, the above message kept repeating.

We await your further instructions - and thank you for your kind assistance and patience.

Elaine

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Oct 3, 2005 6:34 AM in response to john charnley

Good Morning Elaine!

Do you have a "Jaguar" install CD # 1, that you can use to run "Disk Repair"?
Or did the cube come preinstalled with Jaguar?

I haven't used OS 9 in quite some time, so I can't remember for sure, but I think the message Complete functionality of USB devices is not available when started up from this installer CD., is referring to a printer, or other peripheral, that may be plugged into a USB port. Nothing to worry about, unless you don't have anything plugged in!

Did the mouse "freeze" on all three runs of "First Aid" from the restore CD?

I don't understand "... Booted up - 9.2 desktop...".
I don't remember having to boot to any desktop, when started up from my original install CD, to run "Disk First Aid".

My memory of running "Disk First Aid"

Insert CD
Restart while holding down "C" key
Open "Utlities" folder from CD contents window
Run "Disk First Aid"
When finished, quit "Disk First Aid"
Restart computer, while holding down mouse to eject CD

Is this what you did?

ali b

Oct 3, 2005 11:19 AM in response to john charnley

Ali,

When starting the computer using a startup disk, the term often employed in UK is booting up from... to describe this overriding procedure. (Slang, perhaps, for a kick start....?)

When I started the computer as you instructed, and using the Software Restore disk (version 9.0.4 v.2.1) , originally provided with the Cube; that disk operated to bring me onto the OS 9.2 desktop.
I proceeded to follow your instructions, finding the layout procedures according to your descriptions, and only on the first completed run of the First Aid utility did the mouse freeze.
This apparently happened while I paused to take notes regarding the actual wording re the problem encountered, and the assertion that the problem had been fixed.
You asked me to repeat the procedure till no problems were appearing in the report: After each attempt (two times more) to eliminate all mention of any problems found, I did not wait to find out if the mouse froze, but continued to the next stage asap! The mouse seemed to behave normally during that period.

The Cube came with OS 9.0.4 installed. The OS 10.2 install disk I used to run Repair Permissions for the OSX was purchased subsequently and our OS has since been upgraded to Jaguar OS 10.2.8, which is a separate disk again.

We are very appreciative of all the help and time given to solve this matter. Thank you.

Elaine.

Oct 3, 2005 1:25 PM in response to john charnley

Ali,

There seems to be some confusion. The OSX (10.2 disks 1 and 2) we call CD's. I used the OSX version 10.2 No.1 disk to run through the test for any problems on the HD, as explained in my report:

"OSX Disk First Aid revealed no problem found with HD.
Repair Permissions revealed the following message (after `New permissions are 33261):
2005-10-02 17:30:58 The priveleges have been repaired on the selected volume."

As you see, I tried to repair the HD while in OS 9.2, using the Restore CD, and also the OSX using the 10.2 version, and First Aid found no problem with the HD.

Was there some other procedure you wished me to follow, or was this sufficient?

Elaine

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Oct 4, 2005 12:02 PM in response to john charnley

Hi Elaine, or John!

Before we go any further on this seemingly endless journey, I'd like to wait a bit, to see if I get a response to my SOS, from my "Tech" friend.

But as I stated previously, I am afraid that the older Emails may be gone for good. She is a "Wizard" though, and can maybe find something we have missed.

Storing numerous Emails in PFCs, can be problematic with any Email program. An overstuffed Mailbox can become corrupted. For that reason, I copy any item that I have to save, into a separate folder, somewhere else on my system, and back that up to a CD-RW, occasionally. I have a Folder on my Desktop named "My Stuff", that stores all of my personal files & folders. I have an alias to that in my Dock, so that I can navigate the heirarchal folders & files menu, and open any one of them quickly. I copy & paste the AOL Emails into an AppleWorks document, but any text editor application could be used. Right now it is 15 pages long, but is only 72 kb in size. I have some older ones backed up to CD-RWs.

When, and if, it is determined, that your old mail is unrecoverable, I think you should start from scratch, with a new copy of AOL. For that reason, and also the problematic PFC issue,
I would suggest that you start storing your recent, important Emails, in a different location, and back them up on occasion. Then they will not be lost, with a fresh install, or any other disaster.

Besides, at some point in time, all of the unusable PFCs you have, will need to be eliminated.

Backing up all of your important data, is always prudent.

Let's hope "The Wizard" writes soon!

ali b

Oct 4, 2005 3:28 PM in response to john charnley

Thank you, Ali, for your latest moves to help us. We hope your very tallented friend is happy to apply herself to our problem, and not overstretched already! If she cannot find the time, we will try to retrieve what we can and leave what we cannot in God's hands.
We have written many of the items in appleworks documents before sending them out as e-mails. Our son used his CD writer to record items to Nov.2003. And in July 2004, we had to have a new Hard Drive installed and a CD of the contents of the old HD was made by the computer technician. However, does not the AOL 5.0 need be running to access the e-mails in that particular filing cabinet on the CD?
Those in our filing cabinet now would take some coniderable time to sift and check for duplicates in appleworks documents and take copies where necessary. If at all possible, we would like to try and restore the filing cabinets and the AOL 5.0 to the OS 9.2, as before.
If you can bear with it, that is!? Are we alone with this kind of problem? AOL do not seem to have many reliable experts, so we hope they appreciate this site!
Kind regards,

John and Elaine.

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Oct 12, 2005 11:00 AM in response to john charnley

John & Elaine,

Here are some excerpts from my friends Email:

"Hopefully, in following your advice to switch the collected Filing Cabinet files in, one at a time, they were able to find the correct one (with the more recently-saved emails). If not, with no backup, I'm afraid they're gone for good. )-:"

Where you able to do that?

I asked her "Which PFC should I instruct them to retain?"

Reply:
" Hmm..... Well, the easiest way would probably be to recommend that they switch each of the Filing Cabinet files back in, in turn (after quitting AOL o' course), then relaunch AOL and check under Mail -> Incoming/Saved Mail & Mail -> Mail You've Sent. Whatever (if anything) is sitting in there, they can simply grab, drag, and drop 'em right out onto the desktop (or right into a new folder on the desktop) to save 'em as free-standing email docs. (IOW, they don't have to take the time to actually open and re-save each one; simple draggin'll do it.)
After they've saved 'em, quit AOL , toss that PFC file right into the Trash, then put the next PFC in, relaunch, grab the its contents (if any), then quit & dump it. Rinse & repeat until all existing PFCs have been checked & trashed; then let AOL create a shiny new one."

ali b

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Delete and Reinstall AOL for MAC OS X