AOL keeps crashing

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Level 1

11 points

AOL keeps crashing

I recently bought this iMAC with OS X and from the outset have had trouble with AOL crashing and I'm having to Force Quit and log on again to stop the little cursor wheel from spinning. When that happens and I sign on again I often get a pop-up message which read "failed to establish a full connection with AOL..to try again, sign off then sign back on to AOL. If problem continues you may have to restart computer or reinstall AOL software. So, I've trashed AOL and reinstalled it several times both by downloading and from a disc and still have the same frequent problem but only with AOL. The version I have is AOL for Mac OS X version 10.3. AOL online and phone tech support has been no help. Has anyone out there has similar problems with AOL and is there any solution to this??

iMac A1173, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 24, 2006 9:29 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 24, 2006 10:08 PM in response to Duma

Is AOL your ISP used for connecting to the internet?

I believe the current AOL version for OS X is 10.3.7. Is this the version you downloaded and installed?

If AOL is not your ISP, no reason to use the AOL program especially since AOL's primary focus has always been and still appears to be with the AOL Windows version and updates.

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Answer 2

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 25, 2006 12:09 PM in response to Allan Sampson

AOL has been my ISP for years and I carried it over from Windows PC when I got this Mac. I really don't need it to connect to the internet anymore now that I can do so with Safari but it does have some familiar bells and whistles and a long-standing e-mail address so I hesitate to change that for a new address unless it's going to become a chore to use AOL in the OS X operating system. I was just wondering if other AOL users have had the same problem when switching to Mac.

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Answer 3

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 25, 2006 12:15 PM in response to Duma

One more point. The info I have only shows my AOL as 10.3. When I try to update it, I receive a pop-up from AOL which tells me I already have the current version.

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Answer 4

Jun 25, 2006 12:36 PM in response to Duma

If you don't need the AOL program to connect to the internet, you can create and access your AOL email account as an IMAP type account with the Mail.app.

Check AOL Service Assistant.

I'm not sure why you are having so much trouble with the AOL program. I have it installed on my Mac but only use it on occasion for testing purposes and it works without any problems.

Do you have a PPC or Intel Mac?

Using the Finder, go to Applications > AOL.

Select (don't open) the program and if you view the Finder as Columns, in the Finder column to the right should provide the Version or select the application and use Get Info via the Finder menu bar. It should be 10.3.7.

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Answer 5

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 25, 2006 12:54 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Thank you for the information. In going to the Finder column you suggested it still shows only 10.3 (no 7 after the 3) but also something else interesting I turned up in the process. It shows that the AOL program was created on 4/15/03, version 10.3, for Appl Power PC (not OX S). But I also found another interesting thing. Something titled AOL for OX S backup installer is also there and when I clk on that it tells me to "Install" this backup. The plot thickens. Maybe I'm running an old version of AOL and should install this backup. What do you think?

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Answer 6

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 25, 2006 12:57 PM in response to Allan Sampson

More info. I have an iMac model 4,1 with Intel core duo.

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Answer 7

Jun 25, 2006 1:13 PM in response to Duma

I don't believe and seriously doubt AOL has released a Universal version yet that includes PPC and Intel binaries for an Intel Mac.

If not, select the Application via the Finder and use Get Info. There should be a setting to run the application as a PPC binary under Rosetta and confirm this is selected.

This link includes the download (PPC binary) for AOL OS X version 10.3.7.

http://free.aol.com/tryaolfree/cdt.adp?139331

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Answer 8

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 25, 2006 1:28 PM in response to Allan Sampson

I've done what you suggested. There is no info such as you mentioned. Only what I gave you about the Power PC and version 10.3. All other info seems superflous to that and no mention of settings or binaries. I'm going to check out the "AOL for OX S backup installer" and see what happens when I try to install that. I has to be there for some reason.

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Answer 9

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 25, 2006 2:13 PM in response to Duma

Mr. Sampson: I believe you have solved my problem. I downloaded the AOL version from the URL which you provided and it comes up to be 10.3.7 which you have contended from the outset to be the latest AOL for Mac. The info on it shows the application to be for Power PC, however, so I don't know what that means, if anything. But probably more important is that the creation date is in September of 2005 which is two years later than the date on the versions I have been using. For some unknown reason I have apparently been receiving from AOL older versions than the one you led me to. I shall now send the older version to the trash and start using this newer one. Thank you for all your help and wish me luck!

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Answer 10

Jun 25, 2006 2:51 PM in response to Duma

You're welcome.

The info on it shows the application to be for Power PC, however,
so I don't know what that means, if anything.

It means plenty. Up until recently, Apple used PowerPC (PPC) processors for all computers. This architecture was created by the 1991 Apple-IBM-Motorola alliance and was used in all Mac computers from 1994 until this year.

Apple began the switch from PPC processors to Intel processors this year for all computer lines and by the end of this year, all Mac computer lines will be converted to an Intel processor.

All OS X applications were previously written with a PPC binary. In order to run natively on an Intel processor, OS X applications must converted to an Intel binary. Since there are and will be plenty of existing Macs with a PPC processor for a number of years to come, many software companies have converted to and are providing what is called a Universal version for their software which includes both PPC and Intel binaries of the application so it can run natively on either a PPC or Intel Mac.

For applications that haven't been updated to a Universal Binary (to include PPC and Intel binaries with the application install), these remain a PPC binary such as the AOL version for OS X. To make the Intel processor transition easier, Apple includes Rosetta with all Intel Macs which works/runs in the background and allows a PPC binary application to run on an Intel Mac.

http://www.apple.com/rosetta/

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Answer 11

Duma Author

Level 1

11 points

Jun 26, 2006 3:12 PM in response to Allan Sampson

You're welcome.

The info on it shows the application to be for
Power PC, however, so I don't know what that means, if anything.

It means plenty. Up until recently, Apple used
PowerPC (PPC) processors for all computers. This
architecture was created by the 1991.......

Thanks again for the additional information. One more report on my AOL experience as a result of your help. Since dowloading the updated 10.3.7 version it seems to be running much better-faster and so far no crashes. Hope it continues that way. Have also followed your suggestion as to having my AOL e-mail picked up by the Mac Mail which seems to work fine.

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