Delete and Reinstall AOL for MAC OS X

Dear Ali and friend,

Good News! We are delighted to report that all the present and previous filing cabinets are restored. We had difficulty with one previous pfc which had to be transferred as separate parts, as they would not transfer together. We have therefore stored them in the same 'old pfc' folder as separate 'sent' and 'incoming' mail folders.
Thank you so much for your patient support and help. Please thank your friend for her kind assistance. We are so glad your time and efforts in this behalf have not been in vain.

Now, as to our AOL problems, which are increasingly problematic due to AOL unexpectedly quitting when trying to access mail, and having to restart each time it performs in this way, we have come to understand that we have to update our Netscape, for internet banking purposes, to 8.0. We are currently running Netscape 6.0, and are wondering if this may have a bearing on the problem with AOL functions?
We are going to try and download the Netscape 8.0, though we do not know yet what to do with the download. When it says 'GO TO'we have not yet fathomed what we should put in the box. Only Appleworks is highlighted and we do not know what application to put it in.

Can you please give us your views on the problems we are having with AOL?

Thank you, yet again, for persevering with our problems.

John and Elaine

Dear Ali,

In the SHARED > AOL are the following items:

StarCott’s Filing Cabinet
StarCott’s Feedbag
StarCott’s Favourites
StarCott’s Contacts
Session Diagnostics
Masterclassmh’s Filing Cabinet
Masterclassmh’s Feedbag
Masterclassmh’s Favourites
Masterclassmh’s Contacts
Disconnect Log
Data 23/9/05 8.28.12 pm
Buddy Icon Cache
BART Cache
Art Database
Address Book
Access Numbers
Xpcs Registry.dat
Sounds
Main Database
Home
Error Log
DOD Database
Dictionaries

Still trying to download Netscape 7 (Version 8 is for PC's), but it constantly quits midway. We have been advised by AOL to find a site which is constantly changing information output to keep the line open while downloading from another site. We have not tried this, yet. to know whether it is possible to do that, or that it will prevent the sudden cut off we have with AOL unexpectedly quitting.

Any advice you can give is much appreciated.

John and Elaine

ali b

Were unable to access the bank with Safari, but the good news is that we managed to download Netscape 7. This took over an hour but AOL stayed active without interruption. Now we can gain access to the bank if we open this version of Netscape.

Connections to AOL are still somewhat tentative and erratic.

We are hoping to go over to broadband but need to have some confidence that we will be able to stay online especially when changing screen names.

What files may need cleaning up?

John and Elaine

ali

We have gone through all that steps you listed re phone numbers.
All the AOL access numbers available begin with a freephone code of 0800 or 0808, followed by 123 4567.
At no stage is any prefix used during any dial up.

John and Elaine

Ali

We have followed your instructions. For area code we select United Kingdom.

However when we went back online and then tried to change screen names, AOL immediately crashed yet again.

What should we do with the ‘home’ file which went into the TRASH?

It may be worth noting that on the AOL “welcome” page there is a small portion of the page where there is an overlap/superimposition of the text.

We do not have any trouble getting online, it is staying online that is so much of a problem. The most tedious times are when we are cut off without knowing it has happened. We have to keep checking by picking up the telephone.

Then only by re-starting the computer are we able to get back online,

John and Elaine

Dear Ali,

We do have another 'Home' icon, so will empty the trash.

We still have a System Folder on the desktop, which you asked us to put there. Can we now restore it to the HD? The System Folder showing on the HD does not have much in it.

The area that was showing superimposition was over the word 'Advertisement' positioned at top right of AOL WELCOME window.

We have to restart as the connection to AOL is constantly hindered by a repeat message about connection failure followed by 'AOL APPLICATION HAS UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT'. Every time we try to go on line, the same message about connection failure comes up, as follows:

‘Connection Warning! Unable to communicate with modem. Please check modem securely connected.....’ We are given the choice of continue or cancel. Clicking continue brings back the same connection warning almost every time.

The only way to get back on line is to click cancel and restart the compute and proceed as normal. This notice about APPLICATION UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT also happens when we try to access our e-mails as soon as we get on line. To avoid the connection from failing we find it necessary to go to some other website first and come back to our e-mails after.

The telephone and the internet line are one. This is why we have considered having broadband. '

The have only ever loaded AOL via one of their CD's. The present version is labelled AOL versions 8.0 and 7.0 for windows, AOL 5.0 for Mac classic, AOL for Mac OSX.

John and Elaine

Dear Ali,

We went to keyword upgrade and were informed that we had the latest version already installed.

Although we are in a rural location, and squirrels visit us, we are not having difficulties with our telephone line, which is shared by the computer.

However, when we suspect we have been cut off and check the connection by lifting the receiver, and the sounds indicate we are still on line, it seems to trigger the AOL system into immediately quitting after we put the receiver down. The mouse and screen responses indicate AOL connection has failed and, on lifting the telephone receiver again, the cut off is confirmed by the sound of the dialing tone. Then the AOL APPLICATION HAS UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT comes up on the screen to further confirm the situation, as we explained to you.

Regarding the System Folder on desktop and the System Folder appearing on the HD, when visiting the HD this morning to check what was in that ‘System Folder’, it now appears to be showing the same content as the desktop ‘System Folder’. Could opening the desktop version for the first time since it was first put there, yesterday, trigger a transfer of the content of the desktop System Folder into the System Folder on the HD? There were only about four items in the HD ‘System Folder’ yesterday. And, what shall we now do with the System Folder sitting on the desktop? Can it be renamed Previous System Folder and replaced on the HD?

In the HD > Users > Our Home > Library > Preferences, the only item appearing which contains the word ‘internet’ is a ‘com.apple.internetconfig.plist.’ document. None of the files mentioned in your list appears in Preferences. In fact the only file found in Preferences is the AOL file for accessing our printer/scanner/copier

HD > USERS > SHARED > AOL Having removed the 3 items mentioned to the trash, the Disconnect Log file and Session Diagnostics file could not be emptied from the trash because they were “still in use”, even though I was not on line. So I restored them to the SHARED > AOL folder.

When setting up the System Preferences:

Location: ‘Automatic’ and ‘Internal Modem’ were already in place. “Network Port Configurations” showed that internal modem and built in ethernet were checked and internal modem appeared at the top, and was highlighted. I restored ‘internal modem’ on the ‘Show’ box, as per your previous instruction.

On the PPP screen, I unchecked all the options in the first part, and then the Advanced Options:
Send PPP echo packets
Use TCP header compression
NB. I restored all the checks on the PPP when the above changes made no difference to AOL connection problems.

On the TCP/IP screen, there was no reference to IPv4, only IP Address and many different numbers followed by ‘(Provided by PPP server)’. Alongside this, a big box for registering DNS Servers. Configure box was already showing “Using PPP”.

Modem - the “Enable error correction before dialling” and “Wait for dial tone before dialling” were already checked as were the ‘Dialing Tone’ and ‘Sound On’. Country setting: United Kingdom was already selected. And box against ‘Show modem status in menu bar’ was left checked.
Clicked ‘Apply Now’.
We are disappointed to have to report that these further attempts to improve matters has not proved successful. We seemingly still have connection problems, with AOL UNEXPECTEDLY QUITting on us, as before.

Although checks removed from the PPP Options window have subsequently been restored, we have increased the prompt time from 30 to 60 minutes ‘to maintain connection’ and ‘disconnect if idle’ time from 10 minutes to 60 minutes also.

As we were unable to remove the other items mentioned first from System Folder > Preferences (I could not find a System Preferences folder in OSX), which could either not be found and/or trashed, could this have affected the outcome?

Dear Ali,

The System Folder on the Desktop is a folder that was created on 3rd June, 2004. Last Modified 30.10.05. The content is now showing only 3 folders:
Appearance
Apple Menu Items
Application Support

The HD System Folder (called ‘System Folder’) appears in alphabetical order on the Hard Drive. It contains the same 3 folders PLUS all the content which is missing from the Desktop System Folder (including the Preferences folder).

The HD System Folder icon bears a number 9 in the middle. It gives the same creation date of 3rd June, 2004, but was last modified on 31.10.05. This tallies with the sudden changes to the content of the HD System Folder mentioned in my last message.

Strange to say, the System Folder on the Desktop now shows a similarly diminished content to that previously found in the HD System Folder on 30th October, i.e. the 3 folders listed above, only, are appearing in the Desktop System Folder.

As to how the System Folder on the Desktop came to be placed there, it may be that John found it necessary to put it there, bearing in mind that one has an icon with a 9 and the other does not. I also cannot find any instruction from you to put a System Folder on the Desktop, and would apologise for thinking it was so.

I did, however, find the following comment you made relating to the System Folder which John should find on the HD:

‘HD > System Folder (should have a 9 on the folder icon) > Preferences > America Online > HERE’

(The System Folder on the Desktop does not carry the figure 9 in the middle. Does this indicate the System Folder on the Desktop belongs to OSX, and the System Folder carrying the figure 9 now on the Hard Drive belongs to OS 9?)

HD > USERS > HOME > LIBRARY > PREFERENCES
com.aol.aol.plist is showing as a document, as is com.internetconfig.plist. They are not referred to as files on this computer.

I would refer you to your message, No.4, to John:

“Although you may have to reset some of your connection preferences, for other browsers, to ensure there are no AOL prefs lurking about, trash these files, if present:

HD > USERS > HOME > LIBRARY > PREFERENCES >
<com.apple.internetconfig.plist> (File)
<com.apple.internetconnect.plist> (File)
<com.apple.internetpref.plist> (File)

Empty Trash.
"Repair Permissions". At this point, it wouldn't hurt to restart, and "Repair Permissions" again.

After that, reinstall AOL from the new Installer on the Desktop.”

Those same com.apple.....plist (3) files you say should be in HD > USERS > HOME > LIBRARY > PREFERENCES are the ones I could not find when you asked for them to be delete for the second time.

You will also note that at that time you suggested resetting options in System Preferences > Network, and, after loading AOL, to reset any custom AOL Preferences.

However, if John repeats the procedures given in your recent message, we will see if it makes a difference, and report back to you.

Lifting the receiver has not always resulted in our being cut off from AOL, though it frequently confirms that we are either cut off already, or in the process of being. Moreover, that there is a connection malfunction is further confirmed by our inability to reconnect with AOL unless we restart the computer. I emphasise this to assure you that we are not causing AOL to unexpectedly quit.

Regarding the AOL.crash log file, would analysis of the content of that file indicate where the problem lies?

I feel sure that by prayerfully persisting in our efforts, we shall all be rewarded.

Kind regards,

Elaine, John, and ever present Helper

Ali

I have just worked my way through your instructions in message no 65.

When navigating to HD > Users > Your Home > Library > Pref.
There were no FILES starting with com.apple.internet.......
There was a DOCUMENT named com.apple.internetconfig.plist
I did not move this document

I was able to complete the remainder of the instructions without any problems.

John

PS. Ali, this is Elaine. When John performed the same procedures, we made sure AOL was fully QUIT. We were able to eliminate the Disconnect Log file and Session Diagnostics file from the trash, which I could not previously do. Then we proceeded to go on line and put the system through its paces, to try and see if it quit. Several attempts to access mails on both screen names and all went well. Then we tried the telephone while on line and the system collapsed. No response from AOL. Each time this was repeated, the same result. No squirrels, just interrupted line. Then we found the old problem had come back. Signing on brought Connection warning which repeatedly appeared each time we tried to sign on. Then we had to force quit. It was after this that the old AOL HAS UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT when we tried to sign on, and had to resort to restarting the computer.
So we can see that the clean up operation worked and, while we find AOL responding and don't need to lift the telephone to check, we will hopefully have troublefree operation.
PPS. We did not restore the unchecked settings.

Is there any reason to look at why FORCE QUIT caused the system to malfunction i.e. 'AOL UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT', when we tried to sign on again?
Thank you, again, for your patience!

Dear Ali,

Since writing, we have had further problems with our AOL connection. It has UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT on several occasions, especially when trying to access e-mails. Also, when accessing sites, we are losing our connection. Connection warning and timed out messages indicate we have been disconnected. We have not lifted the receiver once to discover why the site is not responding, and eventually the message that AOL is not responding, too busy, or we have a connection problem appear on the screen.

We forgot to mention that the AOL vocal “Welcome” message has not been operating consistently for some weeks. When we last followed your instructions, and all went well initially, the voice message was in evidence. Now, it is hardly ever heard.

We await your instructions regarding the second System Folder on the desktop....

....And does it matter that we no longer have the 3 com.apple....plist. files which were deleted from the HOME > LIBRARY > PREFERENCES folder (Message 4)? Also, we have not restored the checks on the PPP options. Should we?

John and Elaine