Can't log in with AIM name.

Hi,

One Option you can do when creating a AIM Screen Name is also create Display Name for it.

Most people use this to Add Upper case Letters and spaces so that it looks more like their "real name".

It seems in some cases it can also be used in some apps as the "login" name.

At first glance it sound more like a typo between what she thinks the name is and what it actually is

I would double check that 3 is not used for e in her name and that 0 and o ( or rather capital O) are not getting transposed.

Normally the messages states that it an either/or situation with the name or the password.

It is unusual to have it specifically say it is the name.

From there I would consider whether the AIM Name should be finished with @AIM.com (Or @aol.com if she has an AOL Account).

Some places will accept the stripped down from of the name but iChat may be more fussy about this.

10:52 PM Friday; December 9, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

I am in the same (also different) quandary with my wife's iChat account. Eventhough she is NOT signed on anywhere, her name appears on my buddy list. I can sign her in using AIM and AOL for MAC but I get the same note as posted above regarding her screen name not being vaild. Nothig has been chnaged and the same name and password get her into AIM and AOL.

Help.....please?

Thanks

Theo

Hi,

This sounds unlike anything I have come across before.

I would try the following.

I am presuming this in a Lion/iChat 6 set up.

1a) Whilst the accoount is not On line then go to the iChat Preferences > Accounts > Server Settings
Change the server name to slogin.oscar.aol.com

If the Port does not change itself then change the port to 5190

1b) Try this with port 443 as well

1c) Try it without the leading s (login.oscar.aol.com)

2) Open Activity Monitor in Applications/Utilities and use that to Force Quit IMAgent (Hit the red Quit Button then confirm Force Quit)

IMAgent should restart but in doing so it should refresh all and every login for iChat and Face Time.

3a) If the above have not worked then remove (Delete = use the minus button) the account from iChat then re-add it.

3b) If that does not remove the account again AND delete com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist before re-adding the aaccount.

To do this you will need to be in the Finder > Go Menu and Hold the ALT key and select the Library that appears.

You can then select the Preferences so you can find the stated .plist

Restart iChat before re-adding the account.

7:11 PM Sunday; December 11, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Thanks as always for the quick response, Ralph.

I have yet to try any of these. She is still on 10.6.8 but we are poised to update her MacBook to Lion. Should I do the upgrade first and see if that remedies the situation - and of not try your suggestions above - or try your suggestions as noted above BEFORE I do the update/upgrade?

Ever appreciative of your wisdom

Theo

Hi Theo,

iChat 6 runs a process when updating to Lion to Ensure all AIM Login accounts are changed to the new API server.

This api.oscar.aol.com can handle both SSL and non SSL logins.

You can manually change back to the older slogin.oscar.aol.com for SSL Logins and login.oscar.aol.com for non SSL if you so wish.

As iChat 6 also loses the use of iChatAgent and logins are handled by IMAgent insterad it should not matter in this case about updating first.

Generally though I would advise to sort an issue before Updating/Upgrading.

7:59 PM Monday; December 12, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Good morning, Ralph

I fastidiously followed our suggestions and tried every permutation but still no luck.

It still tells me that "iChat can't communicate with the AIM account 'xxxxx'" "The screen name entered is not valid. Make sure your iChat account settings are correct." As I mentioned before, she can sign in just fine using AIM and AOL for Mac with the same long standing user name and password,

iChat 5.0.3 on MacBook Intel Duo Core running 10.6.8

Much gnashing of teeth -

Theo

Hi,

In Applications/Utilities open Keychain Access

Once open find the AIM name in the Password section (Lower Left and then details on right.)

Double click the entry.

In the Info Panel that appears use the Access tab.

Does this say All apps are allowed ?

If it it states it is restricted does it list iChat as an Allowed App ?

7:48 PM Tuesday; December 13, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

I am afraid I am still in the same quandary. Oddly enough, it does NOT seem to let me save the port change to 443 - it always reverts back to 5190. I did also look in Keychain. It was listed and I clicked on "allow access" for all. But when I revisited that again this morning the app (iChat, AIM) were not listed under the AIM Password/Access Tab so I re-added them.....but still it will not connect.

Set the port to 443(press return/enter(you might have to tick and untick SSL for 443 to stick)).

Log back in again.

Hi,

Is this a Migration from another Mac ?

Sometimes when you do this you end up not "Owning" your .plists files (where the Preferences are Stored) and sometimes not the Keychain linked to that Mac User Account.

7:37 PM Wednesday; December 14, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

No - this is not a migration scenario. It just appears as though what was once working has now just stopped......

....still no luck with 443 and assorted permutations

Mine just did this too and I'm on 10.6.8 with iChat Version 5.0.3 (745). i restarted my computer about 30 mins ago and now can't log back in with iChat but can with AIM. I'll try the above remedies but I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. I was freaking out for a second... 🙂

Hi Theo,

Are you using Little Snitch ?

If so launch the rules thingy from the Applications page and check the settings for both iChat and iChatAgent.

NOTES.

iChat normally has a message about the Password or the Name being "wrong" if it can reach the server.

As you get a specific message about the name being "wrong" I am not sure iChat is even getting that info back from the Server.

Try deleting ther Password from the iChat Settings and see if you get a reponse asking for the Password.

7:46 PM Thursday; December 15, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

HI,

I can login on my MacBook Pro which is running Snow Leopard/iChat 5

The only issue I have there is that a iOS 5 iCloud created @me.com name will not login in (They only seem to work in iChat 6)

I am using Little Snitch here but I have it set to Check/Confirm at each server part login.

7:51 PM Thursday; December 15, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously