iChat can't communicate with the AIM account error window! please help!

Hi,

Welcome to the  Discussions

Go to iChat > Preferences > Accounts > Sever Settings tab and deselect the SSL option
Sounds like the AIM SSL server is down again )If it goes down iChat has to be manually reset)

If you can now Login then trying Logging Out and reselecting SSL (And then Logging in)



9:12 PM Wednesday; March 2, 2011

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Hi,

You are saying that SSL was already deselected.

When I was talking about "manually" resetting it, I meant deselect then Reselect the option (normally with a Login to AIM server in between)

Were you having issues before with SSL and that is why it is Off (deselected) ?

If the default port (5190) is still listed, whilst Logged Out change it to 443.



8:25 PM Saturday; March 5, 2011

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Hi,

Other things first.

Go to your Home Folder
Then Library > Preferences.

In here find com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist and drag it to the Trash (Delete)
Restart iChat (This will recreate the .plist

Does this help ?



7:56 PM Tuesday; March 8, 2011

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Hello,

I too am having error messages:
AIM Error
An AIM service error occurred
ERROR: Serv. request timeout.

I have 5 computers (pro,mini,20,21.5,24) with 5 @mac.com chat accounts, within (bonjour) network. 2 computers are laptops that leave network and would chat via ...@mac.com. I receive error message at random on any machine, at any time.

Checked server settings and all are set "login.oscar.aol.com, port 5190, SSL is NOT selected. When I attempt to initiate a chat, the dialogue box says "AIM IM with.....@mac.com.

Should I change settings to port 443 and check SSL? Why does my dialogue box say "AIM IM with.....@mac.com ?

Thank you

Hi,

Starting at the bottom.

Apple had all @Mac.com names (When the Service was .Mac) recognised as Valid AIM names.
(iChat 1 and 2 could only use the AIM service)
Since .Mac was changed into MobileMe all @Me.com names are also Valid AIM name.

In point of fact AIM allow you to register an Email Address as a Screen Name.
They also offer the same service that Apple gets to other ISP based on the email account names people have with the participating ISPs.

One Note of Caution:-
The AIM Servers only allow a max of 16 Characters in the Password and can have problems if your @mac.com name has a password that is longer (as Apple allows this).

It may pay to change to port 443 (the SSL is optional really - technically it is more secure but the server at AIM falls over more often than the regular server does).



8:27 PM Thursday; March 10, 2011

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Thank you for you're reply.

I am trying to set up a new @mac.com account for my wife's macbookpro. AOL is asking me for a login.... "ichat can't log into AOL instant messenger because your login id or password is incorrect". I cannot seem to produce AOL login and can't remember ever setting one up. . I can't reach AOL customer service without first giving a login..... Round and round.

Since I am having a problem with AOL login and cannot complete the ichat setup on new macbookpro, would it make sense to delete all 5 @mac.com accounts, trash the com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist, restart ichat and create a "new" account under a @mac.com or @me.co. Would this bypass my AOL issues and solve AIM server failure that you mentioned?

Currently the 5 @mac.com's have different handles, but share the same passwords. Could I use the same handles/ passwords after delete and I create "new" accounts

Thank you.

Hi,

An @Mac.com name is a valid AOL/AIM Screen Name.
Any Issues and the AIM servers will say the AOL/AIM name or password is incorrect.

As I said earlier, there can be issues if when you create an @Mac.com or even a MobileMe account Apple lets you create passwords of up to 20 characters (I think).

The issues is the AIM Server can check the name with Apple but don't parse Passwords that have more then 16 characters (You have to change the Password to 16 characters or less).

There is also another issue.
Creating a Name at the @Mac.com page allows you to use spaces as valid characters (As In ralph johns@mac.com) but again the AIM servers cannot parse these names as Spaces are not Valid at AIM

Use iForgot to check the name. You can also change passwords via this.
Use the On Line option and answer the security questions.

That should confirm whether the account/Screen Name/Apple ID works.

Then go to this page https://settings.aim.com/
Use the Sign In option top right.
Enter your @mac.com name and password (It will read AOL at the next page to do that)
If it works properly then you should be returned to the page I linked you to but it will now have your Screen Name showing above the menu area.

This will confirm that the @Mac.com name is accepted as a AIM Screen Name.

If you are still having issues, go to the iChat Menu > Preferences > Accounts
In the Account Info tab make sure you are logged out (Deselect "Use this Account")
Go to the Server settings tab
Change the port from 5190 to 443 (it may also pay to deselect SSL)
Log back in again.

Deleting com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist may help.
If the issue is an incorrect password you may need to delete the entry from the KeyChain (Use KeyChain Access in the Applications/Utilities folder)

Hope this helps.



9:33 PM Thursday; March 10, 2011

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Ahh that seems to shed some light here. Accounts are all valid and passwords are all within limitations.
Didn't understand the link btwn @mac and AOL, thought they were competing against each other. Will see how things work now.

Does Mobileme work with AOL servers in the same manner?

Very thorough, Thank you

Hi,

MobileMe are valid AIM Screen Names in the same way as @Mac.com names are.



7:07 PM Friday; March 11, 2011

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