Possible to use AOL account without AOL Software?

[BlakeyPoo]

I just reformatted my hard drive last night and I REALLY don't want to have to use AOL software because I have noticed it really "bogs" down my PC.

I have searched for hours trying to find a way to use my AOL account without using AOL software. The only thing I have found is this and it doesn't seem to work. It was wrote for broadband, but it is basically the same for dial-up.

1. Make sure you are disconnected from AOL via their software.

2. Start -> Connect To -> Show All Connections.

3. Double-Click "New Connection Wizard".

4. Hit "Next".

5. Make sure "Connect to the internet is selected" and hit "Next" again.

6. Select "Set up my connection manually" and hit "Next".

7. Select "Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password" and hit "Next".

8. In the "ISP Name" box enter something to describe it to you. SOmething like "AOL Broadband" will do you.

9. Enter your User Name in the box - Something like "KeSmi747@aol.com"; then enter the password you use to connect to AOL in each of the boxes below. Hit "Next".

*** IMPORTANT - you must get your username right and the standard format is the first two letters of your first name, the first three letters of your last name, then three random numbers, not forgetting that you also need to include "@aol.com";. The example above is what Kevin Smith's AOL username might be. ***

10. Hit "Finish".

At this point you can stop and simply connect to AOL by going Start -> Connect To -> AOL Broadband, but I recommend taking the next few steps and having your connection always on.

11. In the box that comes up hit "Properties". (This box can also be brought up by going Start -> Connect To -> AOL Broadband)

12. Goto the "Options" tab and increase the "Redial attempts" to 100, then change the "Time between redial attempts" to 1 second.

13. On this same screen uncheck the box labelled "Promt for name and password, certificate, etc." Hit "OK".

14. Open Start -> Connect To -> then left-click and drag "AOL Broadband" to your desktop to create a shortcut.

15. Right-Click the new shortcut and select "Cut".

16. Right-Click the Start button and select "Open".

17. Open "Programs" then "Start Up".

18. Right-Click in the blank space and select "Paste".


Any idea's people?

[RicheemxX]

AFAIK with dial-up you still need to use the aol dialer in order to connect. However all you need to install is the dialer not the full program set. Its been awhile since I've used aol so I can't run you through the process but last time I did it it was pretty simple

and no the connections to aol from broadband and dial-up aren't the same the authenication is different.

[twistedbrntucker]

Why not just get rid of AOL?

[BlakeyPoo]

Well my parents pay for it. I have SN that they pay for. I'm trying to get AOL from being on my PC.

I've searched so much, but have found nothing. Maybe this could be a project?

I did everything correctly in the new connection wizard. After my modem has dialed I always get an error telling me I have entered a wrong username or password for the domain. Both are correct.

Even if it was Netscape or Netzero I don't see how it would work. I just don't see the logic in it.

[twistedbrntucker]

So you have 56k? I don't see much you can do there since you need their numbers to dial up. Now broadband would be a different story.

[BlakeyPoo]

Yes I use a 56k modem.

I have the dial-up numbers. I have several. I got them from looking on my parents PC.

[RicheemxX]

like i said you can not connect directly to aol through regular dial-up means you have to use the aol dialer. AOL uses its own authentication for their servers forcing you to install at least part of their programming. You don't have to use the full AOL experience but you do ahve to use their dialer. Don't ask why its just how aol is!

edit: I think you still need to install all tha AOL software but instead of launching aol you just log on using the aol dialer then you can use whatever browser you preffer!

1) Launch AOLTray - Usually found in Program Files\America Online 9.0\
2) Right click on the AOL icon in the system tray and select "Start AOL dialer".
3) Enter your Screen name and password if prompted
4) Once the dialer icon appears in the system tray, right click on that and select "dialer Settings".
5) Check Save Passworsd and Automatically sign on.
6) Under Default Dialer, Click AOL Dialer to set that as default.
7) Save settings.
8) Go to Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections
9) Select "Dial whenever a network connection is not present"
10) Click OK.

[BlakeyPoo]

I think it might be possible. After searching around on the AOL CD I have I found the AOL Dialer! Could someone take just a few minutes to look around for themselves and see what I have? The dialer won't open when I double click on it. No big suprise since I haven't installed AOL. But I think somehow if a few certain files were placed in the right places the AOL dialer might work!

As I said before...could someone check this out? Getting only the AOL dialer to work without installing all of the AOL software would be great.

I also found AOL Connect for Linux and Mac computers. Could this somehow be ported to a Windows operating system? That would be perfect.