AOL Connectivity Services and WinXP

[Guest]

I have WinXP Professional since 3 years and have been using AOL software
since 1999. It does not have any problems. Until I added broadband from
Charter Communications, I wasn't able to connect the broadband at all.

I turn to AOL Tech Support because I wasn't able to open AOL software, they
said to stop ACS then delete the ACS 1.0 file. It won't work. I had found
other way around and was able to uninstall the ACS. I uninstalled all any
softwares with AOL.

I re-installed a clean AOL software and hoping to be able to open AOL
software, it won't work at all. It keep me looping around saying I have to
install the required files in order to connect the service therefore it will
not work. I couldn't get out of this looping mess.

As of right now I uninstalled all of them... My friend said it is possible
that WinXP couldn't read ACS file?

Is there a way I can fix this in order for WinXP Pro to be able to read ACS
file and open that damn AOL service up on the screen?

I'm having this problem for 3 days now and haven't succeed the solution. So
maybe one you might have an answer for me to fix it. I wanted to avoid format
the HDD.

Thanks

 

[NotMe]

I have AOL 8 & 9 installed on many computers.
I use it for a backup ISP when I am traveling; as my cable modem provider
doesn't have national dialup access.
I have it set to connect via TCP/IP through my network.
I've never seen that issue.
When you reinstalled, did it show as successful?
It will normally launch & allow you to sign in as soon as the install is
completed.
Is your Charter communications software setup on your computer and
conflicting with the AOL software?
I set my network up with a router to connect to the cable modem and my
network computers don't need any additional software installed.
If you have an old AOL 8 CD laying around, try installing that as it uses
less of the (silly) AOL proprietary connection stuff.

 

[Guest]

As of now, I'm removing cable modem. It should be successful when
reinstalling 9.0 but no... I don't understand why. I do have 8.0 and tried
it, it works but it will repeat pop up message says to install required files
(obviously ACS files) every time I open 8.0 software. I thought it might work
so I tried to upgrade it to 9.0 and hopes for it to work. No, it doesn't work
at all.

It's something very wrong with my computer that couldn't read ACS file in
order to work.

Any ideas how I can solve this problem?

I don't think Charter's software is interfere anything b/c I have 2
computers... I installed Charter's software in new computer (that has
etherent line) and it works fine and I'm using AOL 9.0. Only problem is that
I couldn't connect using broadband connection via AOL in my new computer.
I'll have Charter tech person come and fix it.

 

[Don Taylor]

As of now, I'm removing cable modem. It should be successful when
reinstalling 9.0 but no... I don't understand why. I do have 8.0
and tried it, it works but it will repeat pop up message says to
install required files (obviously ACS files) every time I open 8.0
software. I thought it might work so I tried to upgrade it to 9.0
and hopes for it to work. No, it doesn't work at all.

It's something very wrong with my computer that couldn't read ACS
file in order to work.

Any ideas how I can solve this problem?

I had one user's computer that refused to recognize there was a dsl
modem attached. She was running a 9.0 but prior to the Security
Edition upgrade of 9.0. The Security Edition added the Port Magic
utility (that is supposed to handle all the configuration of
networking and dsl connections) and apparently did a variety of
other things related to realizing DSL had arrived. I temporarily
put the Security Edition of AOL on a second computer and it seemed
happy to recognize that there was a dsl modem installed. But I
haven't tried changing the first one yet, IIWDFWI, If It Works,
Don't...

So, you might try the 9.0SE if you are willing to make yet one
more install, just to see.

I did spend an hour or two on the phone with AOL support trying
to figure out why it wasn't working. They had me make larger and
larger changes, none of which fixed this, until I finally told them
I was going to quit at that point.

Interestingly, even though the AOL 9 PreSE refused to recognize
that there was a dsl modem attached, the computer was perfectly
happy to open up IE, browse the web, run other net applications.
It was only that AOL refused to recognize that there was a live
connection. So at the moment that is how I'm leaving that machine.
She does dialup when she specifically needs an AOL service and she
uses the web without having the AOL dialup open the rest of the time.

I hope something in this helps. If there is anything else I can try
to help with just let me know.

don
address is valid

 

[Guest]

That was interesting... That's why I removed the broadband connection/modem
out from my Gateway computer now and is trying to restore to the original
configuration so using System Restore didn't succeed. I noticed Port Magic
utility and didn't know what was that.

I don't know if format the HDD will solve it? I know I'd have to re-install
some applications all over again. But, is it worth it? I now wonder if there
is a solution existed without format the HDD?

I've been told to try install AOL 9.0 SE and see what happens. If it doesn't
work... I don't know what to do next...

 

[Don Taylor]

That was interesting... That's why I removed the broadband
connection/modem out from my Gateway computer now and is trying to
restore to the original configuration so using System Restore didn't
succeed. I noticed Port Magic utility and didn't know what was that.

Port Magic is, well was, a retail product you can find with google.
They have discontinued it and replaced it with Network Magic I think.
As far as I know it was first bundled in the 9.0SE version. It won't
tell you what it is going to do to your network card, router, modem,
network, ... but it claims to know enough to handle the configuration
without you needing to manually set all the low level bits.

I don't know if format the HDD will solve it? I know I'd have to
re-install some applications all over again. But, is it worth it?
I now wonder if there is a solution existed without format the HDD?

I try to be fairly cautious in making changes. So I'd try some small
steps, one at a time, to try to diagnose and fix the problem before I
would just torch the drive and start over.

I've been told to try install AOL 9.0 SE and see what happens. If
it doesn't work... I don't know what to do next...

Toss me mail, I don't claim to be a pro but maybe we can figure out
some way to get your problem fixed.

 

[Guest]

Installed AOL 9.0 SE and remains unsuccessful.

Been suggested to fix Dial Up Networking in Add/Remove Programs... don't
have b/c my os is Window XP Pro. they also claimed that Window XP Pro might
have firewall built-in? wtf?

 

[Don Taylor]

Installed AOL 9.0 SE and remains unsuccessful.
Rats!

Been suggested to fix Dial Up Networking in Add/Remove Programs...
don't have b/c my os is Window XP Pro.

That is a little odd, who suggested that and why?
AOL I believe ignores Dial Up Networking and does it's own,
which can be inconvenient, but that is another story.

they also claimed that Window XP Pro might
have firewall built-in? wtf?

You were the one trying to get DSL working, true?
(with all this silly "From" mangling to try to avoid
the spammers I can't be sure who I'm responding to)

I think AOL believes that having the firewall blocking
certain ports may interfere with their getting to the
DSL modem. I never could get a straight answer about
just what ports needed to be open for this to work.

But when I was on the phone with them they had me turn
off all the firewalls temporarily, to see if that fixed
the problem, it didn't and I turned them back on.

Ok, let's start over.
Let me know what you have, what you want to connect,
and I will see if I can tell you what I've done to get
this at least partly working for one person.

 

[Guest]

Rats!

Yes, unbelieveable!

That is a little odd, who suggested that and why?
AOL I believe ignores Dial Up Networking and does it's own,
which can be inconvenient, but that is another story.

Don't know why.

You were the one trying to get DSL working, true?
(with all this silly "From" mangling to try to avoid
the spammers I can't be sure who I'm responding to)

Interestingly, I don't have a firewall built-in in my WinXP Pro. And, yes I
was trying to get DSL working. Because my Gateway computer doesn't have
etherent phone line built-in so I had to use USB line. I gave it up and
removed it. I uninstalled the cable modem software out of the computer. I
moved it to my new Dell computer, which has one and reamins not working at
this moment. That is why I plan to have Charter tech person come to my house
and fix it.

I think AOL believes that having the firewall blocking
certain ports may interfere with their getting to the
DSL modem. I never could get a straight answer about
just what ports needed to be open for this to work.

Really. wow.

But when I was on the phone with them they had me turn
off all the firewalls temporarily, to see if that fixed
the problem, it didn't and I turned them back on.

That's what they have been asking me AFTER I told them I don't have
firewall. :|

Ok, let's start over.
Let me know what you have, what you want to connect,
and I will see if I can tell you what I've done to get
this at least partly working for one person.

In my Gateway computer, there will be no cable modem software be used. I
plan to restore back to normal... using dial up modem (U.S. Robotics 56k
modem) built-in and AOL. I don't think my Norton Anti-Virus program would
interfere anything like that. But I do have Norton AV in it. System restore
doesn't work.

If I don't get out of this mess... I probably will format the HDD and start
all over again which I don't mind. Fortunately, I am able to save all datas
and applications.

David

 

[Don Taylor]

Interestingly, I don't have a firewall built-in in my WinXP Pro.

That seems very very odd. If you go to Control Panel and scroll
down do you find a Security Center or not? If you do and you
click on it what do you find in the next window. There should be
Firewall, Updates and Antivirus controls sitting there. If you
don't see those then maybe something has been dropped from the
Control Panel.

And, yes I
was trying to get DSL working. Because my Gateway computer doesn't have
etherent phone line built-in so I had to use USB line. I gave it up and
removed it. I uninstalled the cable modem software out of the computer. I
moved it to my new Dell computer, which has one and reamins not working at
this moment. That is why I plan to have Charter tech person come to my house
and fix it.

Ah, if you have tech support coming then maybe they can resolve this
for you. Hopefully so.

Really. wow.

Nobody seems to "play well with others" it seems.

That's what they have been asking me AFTER I told them I don't have
firewall. :|

In my Gateway computer, there will be no cable modem software be used. I
plan to restore back to normal... using dial up modem (U.S. Robotics 56k
modem) built-in and AOL. I don't think my Norton Anti-Virus program would
interfere anything like that. But I do have Norton AV in it. System restore
doesn't work.

Norton should recognize AOL and let it through.

If I don't get out of this mess... I probably will format the HDD and start
all over again which I don't mind. Fortunately, I am able to save all datas
and applications.

Well, see what the tech support person can do for you.

And if there is anything else I can try to offer just
make another posting and we can try to figure this out.

NONE of this really needs to be as complicated as it has been made.

 

[Guest]

Ok Check this out during one of the original posts you had it stated that you
got the message "AOL will now install the files in order for you to connect"
and it keeps going in that loop? If that is correct then there is a couple of
different things that you can check out. First Check your device manager if
it is completly empty then you have to possibilties.
1.) MS just released a Update on 10/11/05
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms05-047.mspx
some people have been having issues with that most not. Now when AOL is
giving that message two main things are trying to be installed. first is the
AOL Connectivity Service and then you have the AOL Adapter other wise know as
WANmini port(ATW) which is a virtual device. if the device manager is not
working properly then devices cannot be instaleld properly hence the issue.

2.) The second one has just been discovered which also relates to the
Device Manager and that is best resolved by

You may want to print out these instructions for reference, since you will
have to restart your computer during the fix.

Please download AproposFix from here:
http://swandog46.geekstogo.com/aproposfix.exe

Save it to your desktop but do NOT run it yet.

Then please reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following:
1) Restart your computer
2) After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the
Windows icon appears, press F8.
3) Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
4) Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.


Once in Safe Mode, please double-click aproposfix.exe and unzip it to the
desktop. Open the aproposfix folder on your desktop and run RunThis.bat.
Follow the prompts.

When the tool is finished, please reboot back into normal mode

If you have a full working Device Manager then you can always run a search
on the computer for an executable called ACSROLLBACK.exe and try that but
check these items in order for you may cause more issues if you go the other
way