Brand new install, new pc - self built - with proven hardware - winxp home edition. Loads of software installed sp1 all updates via windows update site. After installing AOL 7.0 messages started appearing Windows has recovered from a serious error + what appeared to be random reboots.

Originally thought it was a driver problem according to microsoft that style of problem is generally blamed on non compatible xp drivers, anyway originally gave up as I could not nail down any faults with any hardware. So I wiped the machine and started again.

2nd attempt never saw ANY problems right upto the point I installed AOL 8.0 (thought the later version may help) and was by this point suspicious of AOL anyway. Keeping in mind the system had been tested after each additional piece of hardware/software was installed I was amazed to see the second after AOL 8.0 went on (well a single reboot after) along came the problems again. Windows has recovered from a serious problem. Bingo. Uninstalled AOL 8.0 immediately and so far the system has been fine.

SOLUTION #1: Activate the System Information Utility from the AOL desktop icon. Select the Utilities tab. Select Uninstall Adapter. Close utility. Start AOL. It will reload the adapter and work fine.

Note that this method stopped working after I installed Windows Service Pack 1.

SOLUTION #2: Activate Netscape 7.02. Go to WWW.AOL.COM. Login. Go to some feature that starts AOL (like a link in the news of your mail). The service will then work. You might try to link through AOL companion after you login.

I have AOL 8.0 plus on a 28.8 bps connection and it works.... slowly. I also have a LAN and wireless network working at the same time. I prefer AOL Communicator for my mail because it has a MUCH better span filter. It works without this work around, but I can't get to AOL content without the full fledged application.

sorry! if i sound bad just somthing to think about..... its your
pc.

P.S. this was a cable modem setup.

Here goes:

Remove all AOL revisions. (mine had 4 to remove)

restart computer

---the following will force your computer to re-download
--- XP home edition SP1 even if it's installed (and hosed)---
---ALSO good if you restored your machine to a pre-SP1 date---
---and ended up rendering Windowsupdate unusable as a result---

***Please use regedit with discretion and make a back up first!***

===following taken verbatim from MS windowsupdate site===

Please reinstall Service Pack 1 or if you do not wish
to reinstall the service Pack then we need to change the value for
the CSDVersion in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows to 0.

1. Click on the Start button
2. Click on run
3. In the Open box type regedit and click Ok
4. Browse in the left frame to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows

5. In the right frame you will see the key CSDVersion
please double click on this key
6. Change the value to 0 and click Ok
7. Please reboot the machine

=====end of MS info=====

Now, you want to go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com and get SP1
and any other updates (will take a few steps with reboots)

You now have a good SP1 version of WinXP

now go to AOLs web site and download the 8.0 client (www.aol.com)

*** Other things you may still need to do ***

Go into AOLs system information utility and remove the
AOL network adapter. Next time you run AOL it will re-install.

enjoy!

In addition, you may want to reinstall AOL 8.0 after the new modem. However, a normally functioning AOL would not require this.

*** "Typical AOL 8.0 problems" *** include:

Increased memory requirements for this version of the AOL client
force many users to unload non-vital startup components and
other boot-loaded programs that aren't mission critical to free
up as much RAM as possible before the new AOL client will
function reliably.

AN AOL Tech Support Manager explained:
You really should have at least 128MB of RAM, and around 70
percent of system resources should be available to run smoothly.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I have also come across several AOL 7.0 clients that have RECENTLY
developed problems with Internet Explorer browsing capability.
There are also assorted CRASHES involving WAOL.EXE and various
Windows components.

On several Win98 and WinME systems, the AOL client will attempt
to connect up to three times. It appears at this point that the
client has successfully logged into AOL, but IE will not connect
to any web sites. Users report that the AOL package appears to work
(mail, normal aol pages function) but not IE or anything using
the TCP stack or Windows dial-up networking.

Removing the AOL adapter from the network control panel fixes
some of these systems.
Running 'Repair Interner Explorer' utility from System Information
fixes some of these systems.
Running INETWIZ has successfully repaired a small number
of these systems.

Worst case scenario: (as best I can tell, the customer was still down)

Removed all AOL software (Add/Remove Programs)
Removed Dial-up Networking component (Add/Remove programs)
Removed ALL components from Network control panel.
Removed and reinstalled all modem drivers.
Reinstalled Internet Explorer (5.5)
Reinstalled AOL 7.0 and let Network components reinstall as needed.

This problem is teched out to varying degrees by AOL technical support, at which point the AOL tech deems the modem drivers or Windows OS to be at fault, and tells the AOL customer to call us
to fix the problem. Several AOL customers report spending HOURS with AOL customer support techs before being abandoned.

Please post any information that surfaces regarding any sources to
current AOL problems and any verified FIXES for these problems.

(I'd almost have to refer to these as possible 7.0/8.0 release BUGS)

thanks for your time and help!