Internet Log on problems

slacker2 · Post by **slacker2** » Tue Nov 05, 2002 5:10 pm

Hey all,

I have a friend that has AOL and everything was working fine. He did the install of the new AOL (tried to download from the net) and now he cant seem to connect onto the internet. He says that it tries to connect to the modem but it never does and then his system locks up. He says that his system recognizes the modem. So my thinking was that some files got corrupted in the download so these are the thing I have had him try.

1. Un-install all AOL and then reinstall the older version that had been working.

2. Re-install the modem.

Neither of these solved the problem. So now I'm not sure where to go. I told him to do a scan disk to make sure his HD is okay. The only other things I can think of would be to try a new modem and if that didn't help then move to the dreaded FDISK and reinstall windows. ANy help would be appreciated. He didn't have the exact system specs but he told me it was a gateway that was about 1 yr old. So I am guessing something like a PIII 600 or something like that. 128 MB RAM and Gateway generic video card.

Slacker

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Tue Nov 05, 2002 5:51 pm

I think AOL overwrites winsock32.dll and installs it's own custom version. Try removing TCP/IP from the network setup and reinstalling it.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 4:38 am

What OS are you using, try going into safe mode and then checking system again to see what is left in the network component settings under system, also check modem and any other keys to see what has been left behind by AOL.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 9:22 am

In my opinion, AOL is the fourth most destructive legal virus in circulation (the first three being, in order: Gator, Bonzai Buddy a.k.a. the Purple Monkey Virus, and Windows Millennium). AOL does overwrite your winsock32.dll file and you'll have to download another version of it (you can get it from a lot of different places on the internet, just do a Google search).

If your friend is intent on staying with AOL, instead of downloading the latest version from the internet, you should probably go to a large retailer such as Wal-Mart, Circuit City or Office Depot and pick up a CD copy or call AOL and get them to send you one. If you're trying to download a file the size of AOL over a dial-up connection, any noise on the line could cause data corruption which will affect your install.

You could try uninstalling the modem through the device manager and rebooting and letting plug-and-play detect the modem again and reinstall the drivers, but your better bet is to find a copy of winsock32.dll and install that on the machine. You shouldn't need to do an fdisk-format-reinstall, but AOL does some crazy and invasive things to your computer's system files, so that may be in the cards for you as well.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 9:24 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
In my opinion, AOL is the fourth most destructive legal virus in circulation (the first three being, in order: Gator, Bonzai Buddy a.k.a. the Purple Monkey Virus, and Windows Millennium).

Personally, I'd have to put Windows ME above those other three...I used it for a year...

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 9:26 am

Originally posted by Kameleon
Personally, I'd have to put Windows ME above those other three...I used it for a year...

98SE all the way!

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 9:38 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
98SE all the way!

Now I have found the Grail that is 2000...is the fact that Microsoft put out a good OS down to complete fluke, or did they, like, actually try?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 10:17 am

Originally posted by Kameleon
Now I have found the Grail that is 2000...is the fact that Microsoft put out a good OS down to complete fluke, or did they, like, actually try?

Funnily enough it comes across as a fluke, 2000 is absolutely great. Apparently they have won an important award for it also, which is ironic due to the fact that they are trying their best to superseed it with XP, they have since changed their mind since they can make some serious money on the OEM market with some good awards.

Still it makes you think the company has no idea at all sometimes (sorry that should be all the time

)