The information to resolve your configuration
issue involves many factors.
Each of these factors are explained below.
You do not need to do all the steps, but following them in the order they are
presented may resolve configuration issues.
TO DETERMINE AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
A. AOL 5.0 System Requirements
B. Check MSIE Connection Preference
C. Replace AOL Adapter
D. Configure AOL Adapter
E. Check WSOCK32.DLL File
F. Run the Internet Explorer Repair Tool
G. Reinstall the Browser
A. AOL 5.0 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Please verify that the computer meets the minimum system requirements to run AOL 5.0.
THESE ARE THE MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR AOL 5.0:
- Windows 95 or Windows 98
- 16 MB of RAM
- Pentium-class processor
- 30 MB available hard disk space
- 640x480, 256 colors or better screen (optimized for800x600)
- 14.4 KBPS or faster modem; or a TCP/IP connection
TO CHECK THE COMPUTER INFORMATION, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and the select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on SYSTEM.
3. Select the GENERAL tab.
4. Check under "Computer:" for information about the computer's processor and RAM.
5. Close the System Properties window by clicking on the "X" in the upper-right corner.
TO CHECK THE COMPUTER'S HARD DRIVE SPACE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Double-click on MY COMPUTER on the Desktop.
2. Right-click on the (C:) drive icon and select PROPERTIES.
3. Check under "Free space:" for the amount of free space on the hard drive.
If the computer meets the minimum memory requirements for AOL 5.0, please attempt to increase the available memory.
TO INCREASE AVAILABLE MEMORY, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Close programs running in the background.
a. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL on the keyboard.
b. From the "Close Program" list, one at a time, highlight each program running and then select END TASK to close the program.
c. Close all programs except Explorer and any programs that need to be running for the modem.
NOTE: Some examples of modems that may need software running in these lines are:
- IBM Mwave
- Digicom
- USR WinModem
- AT&T WinModem
Please refer to the modem manual for more information.
2. Windows 95 users can prevent programs on the Startup Menu from loading during boot up:
a. Click on START and then select SHUT DOWN.
b. Select "Restart the computer."
c. Click on YES to restart the computer.
d. Immediately press and hold the CONTROL (CTRL) key while Windows 95 finishes loading.
3. Additional installed fonts or high-resolution bitmap wallpaper also use system resources.
a. Click on the START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
b. Double-click DISPLAY.
c. Select the BACKGROUND tab.
d. In the "Wallpaper" box, change the wallpaper choice to a GENERIC Windows selection. (i.e. Bubbles).
B. CHECK MSIE CONNECTION PREFERENCES
Please verify the Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) connection preferences are properly configured.
NOTE: MSIE is the default Web browser for AOL.
TO VERIFY THE MSIE CONNECTION PREFERENCES, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
- IF YOU ARE USING MSIE 4.X:
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on INTERNET.
3. Select the CONNECTION tab.
4. Select "Connect to the Internet using a local areanetwork," and click on OK.
- IF YOU ARE USING MSIE 5.X:
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on INTERNET OPTIONS.
3. Select the CONNECTION tab.
4. Click on LAN SETTINGS.
5. In the "Proxy server" section, clear the check box for "Use a proxy server" if it is selected and click on OK
6. Click on OK.
C. REPLACE AOL ADAPTER
Windows networking requires that a network adapter exist for any application that must access the Internet. AOL uses the AOL Adapter to access the Internet. A damaged AOL Adapter can cause this issue. Please replace the AOL Adapter.
TO REPLACE THE AOL ADAPTER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Click on START, select PROGRAMS, and then select AMERICAONLINE.NOTE: AOL creates a new AOL Adapter the next time you launch the program. Windows may require another restart to recognize the new AOL Adapter.
D. CONFIGURE AOL ADAPTER
Please configure the AOL Adapter in the Network control panel.
TO CONFIGURE THE AOL ADAPTER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
NOTE: If the computer is connected to a network, please contact the Network Administrator before making any changes in the Network control panel. Altering settings in the Network control panel on a networked computer may affect its ability to connect to the network.
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on NETWORK.
3. Highlight AOL ADAPTER and click on PROPERTIES.
4. Select the BINDINGS tab.
5. Make sure the only item listed is "TCP/IP -> AOL Adapter" and that the check box is selected (has a check in it).
6. Click on OK.
7. In the Network window, select "TCP/IP -> AOL Adapter" and click on PROPERTIES.
8. Select the IP ADDRESS tab.
9. Select "Obtain an IP address automatically."
10. Select the DNS tab.
11. Select "Disable DNS."
12. Select the WINS CONFIGURATION tab.
13. Select "Disable WINS Resolution."
14. Select the BINDINGS tab.
15. Clear the check boxes for any network protocols that are listed.
16. Click on OK.
17. Click on YES if prompted to restart the computer.
E. CHECK WSOCK32.DLL FILE
The WSOCK32.DLL file is required to access the Internet. It is possible the WSOCK32.DLL is missing, damaged, or modified by another program. Please checkthe WSOCK32.DLL file.
TO CHECK THE WSOCK32.DLL FILE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Set the computer to SHOW ALL FILES so you can locate the WSOCK32.DLL
file.
a. Click on START,
select PROGRAMS and then select WINDOWS EXPLORER.
b. Click on VIEW and select OPTIONS or FOLDER OPTIONS.
c. Click on the VIEW tab.
d. Under the "Hidden files" section select "Show all files."
e. Click on APPLY, then click on OK.
2. Locate all WSOCK32 files on the computer.
a. Click on the START, select FIND, and then select FILES OR FOLDERS.
b. In the "Named:" box, type: WSOCK32.DLL
c. In the "Look in:" box select (C:).
d. Select "Include subfolders."
e. Click on FIND NOW.
3. Make sure the computer has a WSOCK32.DLL in the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory and the size and version are correct.
This file should be 65 KB in size for Windows 95 and 40 KB for Windows 98.
a. Right-click on this WSOCK32.DLL file and select PROPERTIES.
b. Click on the VERSION tab.
c. Make sure the file is either version 4.00.950, 4.00.1111 or later for Windows 95 or version 4.10.1998 for Windows 98.
NOTE: A missing or unavailable VERSION tab indicates that the WSOCK32.DLL is damaged.
If the WSOCK32.DLL file in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory is the wrong size or version, or is missing or damaged, please contact the computer manufacturer or Microsoft for assistance reinstalling the WSOCK32.DLL.
TO CONTACT MICROSOFT, PLEASE CALL THE NUMBERS BELOW:
- Microsoft Standard Support Line (425)635 7000
- Internet Explorer Support Line (425)635 7123
NOTE: Microsoft may impose a fee for technical support of this product.
F. RUN THE INTERNET EXPLORER REPAIR TOOL
Please run the Internet Explorer Repair Tool to repair problems with the Web browser.
NOTE: The Internet Explorer Repair Tool is available for Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) 5.X on Windows 95 and Windows 98. The Internet Explorer Repair Tool is missing in Windows 98 SE. MSIE is the default Web browser for AOL.
TO RUN THE INTERNET EXPLORER REPAIR TOOL, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.
3. Highlight "Internet Explorer 5 and Internet Tools" and click on ADD/REMOVE.
4. Select "Repair Internet Explorer" and click on OK.
5. Click on YES.
6. When prompted, click on YES to restart Windows.
G. REINSTALL THE BROWSER
Some of the Web browser files may be missing or damaged. To replace missing or damaged files, please uninstall and then reinstall MSIE.
TO UNINSTALL MSIE 5.0, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
NOTE: PLEASE DISREGARD THIS STEP IF THE COMPUTER IS RUNNING WINDOWS 98 SE.
Microsoft has integrated MSIE 5.0 into the operating system in Windows 98 SE. Attempting to remove the browser may damage the operating system.
There are two options if the computer is running Windows 98 SE:
1. Reinstall Windows 98 from the CD.
2. Call Microsoft or the computer manufacturer and ask them for assistance reinstalling Windows 98 SE from the CD.
TO CONTACT MICROSOFT, PLEASE CALL THE NUMBERS BELOW:
- Microsoft Standard Support Line(425) 635 7000
- Internet Explorer Support Line (425) 635 7123
Microsoft may impose a fee for technical support of this product.
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.
3. Highlight "Internet Explorer 5 and Internet Tools" and click on ADD/REMOVE.
4. Select "Restore the Previous Windows Configuration" and click on OK.
5. Click on OK.
6. When prompted to restore the previous version of Internet Explorer, click on YES.
7. Click on RESTART WINDOWS.
8. If you receive the message "Setup was unable to restart Windows. There is probably another application still running, or you do not have system authorization to shut down Windows," click on OK.
9. Exit out of other running applications and then click on RESTART WINDOWS again.
This restores the previous copy of the Web browser.
TO UNINSTALL MSIE 4.0, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
NOTE: PLEASE DISREGARD THIS STEP IF THE COMPUTER IS RUNNING WINDOWS 98.
Microsoft has integrated MSIE 4.0 into the operating system in Windows 98. Attempting to remove the browser may damage the operating system.
There are two options if the computer is running Windows 98:
1. Reinstall Windows 98 from the CD.
2. Call Microsoft or the computer manufacturer and ask them for assistance reinstalling Windows 98 from the CD.
TO CONTACT MICROSOFT, PLEASE CALL THE NUMBERS BELOW:
- Microsoft Standard Support Line (425) 635 7000
- Internet Explorer Support Line (425) 635 7123
Microsoft may impose a fee for technical support of this product.
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.
3. Highlight "Microsoft Internet Explorer" and click on ADD/REMOVE.
4. On the Active Setup screen, select "Uninstall Internet Explorer and all its components."
5. Click on OK.
Please reinstall the Web browser after uninstalling it.
TO REINSTALL MSIE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, and then select CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.
3. Click on INSTALL, and then click on NEXT.
4. Click on BROWSE and navigate to the MSIE setup file if one exists on the computer. If the MSIE setup file is missing, you can either reinstall AOL 5.0 to replace the browser, or download the setup file for the browser at Keyword: BROWSER