Messages - "error with your AIM account"

Question

Messages - "error with your AIM account"

I have a new MBP (running 10.9.4) that was "restored" from a Time Machine backup from my old MBP running 10.6.8. I've had problems getting the iChat side of Messages up and running. I am using Messages 8.0; created a new AOL account to use with iChat, have re-added my Buddies. I can see some of them when they are online, but can’t ring them up via iChat. Another Buddy is always listed as “offline” though I’ve called him and he has iChat running in the background and his status is “available.” I’m really at a lost at what’s going on. All Buddies are AOL accounts.

Now I've deleted my iChat preferences and attempting to add my Buddies again, but now I'm getting the message "There was an error with your AIM account. The server refused this request"

Need some help to figure this one out! I was fine using 10.6.8 and iChat...

Thanks!

Paul

Posted on Jul 13, 2014 4:19 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 15, 2014 8:51 AM in response to Paul Korntheuer

Update - I went down to an Apple Genius Bar and walked away without a clear solution, except to install OSX 10.9.4 and try iChat again. Which did not work.

I believe the problem hath arose from going from 10.6.8 to a new MBP running 10.9.4 via a Time Machine Backup - though keeping in mind that everything was fine under 10.6.8 on the old MBP.

Adding to the mystery - Buddies that show as Available - when I try and ring them up via iChat, my video window opens, their video opens on their end stating that I'm trying to call them, but when they click "Accept" - nothing happens. It doesn't connect.

Next trouble-shooting ideas?

Thanks!

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Answer 2

Jul 15, 2014 12:39 PM in response to Paul Korntheuer

Update to the update - I ran Disk Utility - Repair permissions - did not fix the problem.

Also note - when someone tries to ring me up via iChat - my camera light comes on, but no video window, so no way to "Accept" their call.

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Answer 3

Jul 15, 2014 12:50 PM in response to Paul Korntheuer

Hi,

I am not sure I really follow all that you have said.

If I have understood it correctly I see two potential problems.

1) As of the 30th June AIM will no longer accept @mac.com and @me.com names on versions of iChat before the very first in Lion (iChat 6).

The later versions of iChat 6 in updated OS X 10.7.x are OK.

OS X: Using me.com or mac.com IDs with AIM in iChat requires OS X v10.7.2 or later

2) Installing an earlier version of the OS on a Later machine also will not work.

It used to be that when you bought a Mac it came with a set of dedicated Install Disks. These had a stripped down version of the OS that had only the Software used to run that particular model. (An Update set of Disks and now the App Store method installs all the Drivers and Extensions for all the types of Screen and internal devices like the DVD/CD drive and so on.)

At a very basic Level something like OS X 10.6.x will not have the drives for any of the Retina Screens.

However the overall issues are much deeper than that.

As OS X 10.6.8 does not have Messages and I have lost what you mean by saying the iChat bit worked then did not.

Some clarity about what you mean by "restored" is needed.

Restore usually means the OS in Reinstalled without touching the Users folders or third party Apps that have been installed.

8:50 pm Tuesday; July 15, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

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Answer 4

Jul 15, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thank you Ralph for replying. You are the person that I had hoped would!

I have created a new AOL.com account (replacing my old @mac.com) and am using that for AIM.

I bought a new Retina 15-inch, Late 2013 MBP and used a Time Machine Backup to place all my files and settings on the new MBP. Sorry if my terminology is not correct - it is tough thinking through the process and steps I've taken, to convey to others. What we are dealing with is a new MBP, running 10.9.4, but prefs, files et al from a Time Machine Backup from my old MBP that was running 10.6.8.

Other steps I've taken - I trashed the iChats prefs in the library/preferences folder. No change.

Thanks for your help!

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Answer 5

Jul 15, 2014 1:40 PM in response to Paul Korntheuer

hi,

That sounds like you have migrated just the User Accounts across to the new computer.

There implications for the Messages app and the AIM logins for this.

The New machine should be able to login to AIM using the @mac.com ID as well as the new AIM name (the OS X 10.9.x is not subject to the OS X: Using me.com or mac.com IDs with AIM in iChat requires OS X v10.7.2 or later changes)

That's not to say that it doesn't make sense to create a new AOL/AIM name and move th Buddy List to the new ID so that will work on the old computer.

(It's a good idea to change the ID as then it will work in OS X 10.6.x -- added as the above is a bit of colloquial English and includes a double negative)

So...

You have accessed ~/Library/Preferences and removed the com.app.ichat.plist and the com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist ?

Can you go to Messages > Preferences > Accounts and the AIM logins and then the Server Setting tab(s) ?

The Server name should be api.oscar.aol.com

SSL should be ON

In this version the port should also be 443

In the Account info tab are you allowing multiple Logins on both computers ?

Can you login with the old ID ?

This is in fact the easiest way to move the Buddy List as you make the app separate Buddy List and drag Buddies from one to the other.

9:40 pm Tuesday; July 15, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

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Answer 6

Jul 15, 2014 3:46 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

To make matters worse, I can’t log into my @mac.com in Messages - “password incorrect” - even though I confirmed what my password is via KeyChain (show password). No clue as to why that is and how to fix it.

The new AOL.com will not work on my old MBP running 10.6.8 - it always comes back with a server too busy message.

I cannot spot the com.app.ichat.plist and com.apple.iChat.plist in my preferences folder - no longer there. (??)

Account settings for AOL.com are set to the various server settings you’ve listed above.

Signed, Paul (the Walrus). ; )

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Answer 7

Jul 16, 2014 11:33 AM in response to Paul Korntheuer

Hi,

You are sure you are looking in ~/Library/Preferences (i.e. your Home Folder/Library...)

Does the new AOL ID work on the new computer ?

If not try it without the @aol.com part (just the username part)

Can you log in either name here https://settings.aim.com/ ?

7:33 pm Wednesday; July 16, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

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Answer 8

Jul 16, 2014 11:50 AM in response to Paul Korntheuer

Getting closer... maybe. Under Accounts, for User Name, I had "myname"@aol.com. Removing @aol.com got us closer - though now we're having network errors that may be configs here at the Apple Store. Not sure...

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Answer 9

Jul 16, 2014 12:27 PM in response to Paul Korntheuer

Hi,

IF you are at an Apple Store several of the Macs on Display maybe set up for iChat or Messages (they certainly used to be).

This should mean that the network there should allow the app to work.

8:27 pm Wednesday; July 16, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

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Answer 10

Jul 16, 2014 1:05 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Holy crap... this'll drive me to the brink... I mean drink... freakin' problem solved - just by removing the @aol.com from the User Name field in Accounts. Wow! Really?

Ralph - FYI - I suspected it was the Apple Store network configuration that was causing the network error and indeed it was. As soon as I was home, iChat worked fine. Apple to Apple products within the store may work fine, but not outside users.

As always, Ralph, you are a wonder resource and incredible human being for all the time and dedication you spend helping users with iChat. On behalf of all iChat / Messages users, we thank you.

Paul

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Answer 11

Jul 16, 2014 1:06 PM in response to Paul Korntheuer

😊 You are welcome.

for the Points.

9:06 pm Wednesday; July 16, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Reply