Anti-AOL

"Invasive AOL updates!"

A young lady from Los Angeles emailed me this week asking, "Are you familiar with these invasive AOL updates? Can you help me???"

I test AOL's software for my blog, so the answer is, "Yes and yes".

One nearly fool-proof method to make AOL's forced updates stop is to delete the stick.dll file.

You can also delete the entire folder mentioned below - either method works on AOL 10.0 Desktop but not on AOL 9.0 VR, which I need to play around with a bit more. The full path to the file on a Windows PC should look something like this:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1144194954\ee\services\softwareUpdate\ve r1_13_8_3\

On older versions of AOL like 9.0 VR you can try deleting anotify.exe, which might stop the white auto-update nag above the system tray but will not stop AOL from notifying you the old fashioned way that it wants to update - by covering your AOL window with a huge "now or later" nag with some buttons on it to click for "now" or "later".

My reader goes on to tell me that she can't stop using AOL dial-up because:

1. I have lots of email that have important information and don’t want to lose them, so I need to go through all of them and get what I need before I cancel (case in point: I just retrieved some emails 6 months and older today with very imp info).
2. My neighbor shares his DSL with me (I can’t afford my own right now), but every once in a while I don’t have a connection and I need to use my AOL dial-up to get online and pay a bill on time.

How to import AOL email?

I would simply import AOL's email into POP Peeper. When you set up POP Peeper, and before you use it to fetch email from AOL, make sure you change its settings to ensure your AOL email gets copied to your hard drive: Go to Options, Set Options, Storage, then set POP Peeper to "Store Entire messages to disk" and check the box for "Save messages periodically". Here's a screen cap of the window you'll use for that.

If for whatever reason POP Peeper is not for you, you can do a web search for "how to import aol email". The first result will normally be for the ePreserver program. It costs money, but many of my readers swear by it, so listen to them, not me, when you're trying to decide how best to fetch your AOL email.

How to switch to another dial-up provider?

If you need to use AOL only infrequently, why not use Net Zero for free instead? (This is the first time I've recommended a dial-up ISP in almost three years of writing for this blog, and I'm suggesting Net Zero only because her need for dial-up is not 24/7). They offer a decent plan with 10 hours free each month. That should more than meet your needs. Before you switch, find out how to switch your ISP without losing your connection to the Internet.

The best way to remove AOL?

My reader continues:

Once I get rid of AOL, I plan to copy all of the files on my computer, reformat my hard disk, and start all over to make sure there is nothing from AOL left on my computer. I know this may sound extreme, but I believe it is the best way to completely remove AOL, as suggested by close friends!

Gotta love them "close friends"! My boyfriend and I cannot even agree on this. He insists I should wipe my hard drive and re-install Windows when I'm done with my bi-annual testing of AOL software (we've argued about this for three years). I insist it's easier (and quicker!) to get the computer "like-new" again than it is to format and re-install Windows - but I don't constantly complain of AOL's ravaging effects on my computer for nothing, so I'll flip our "close friends" a quarter for suggesting a computer is much better from scratch than it is after AOL has been on it - even if you remove every last trace of AOL's invasive software. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.

Hi, and welcome to Anti-AOL, a blog about how to cancel, uninstall, or file a complaint against AOL that also covers the latest bad news about them.

How to find what you need: All the tutorials and help pages are here.
All tutorials work on Windows XP except those written for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users.

Here are questions people typically ask me when they're ready to leave AOL.

Questions

• How do I contact AOL to cancel my service and/or change my price plan to "free"?
• Do I need to use AOL's software or keep paying for AOL if I connect to the Internet with another ISP?
• If I cancel AOL, can I use my existing AOL email addresses with AOL's free email service?
• How do I uninstall AOL/AIM/other AOL products?
• What other help can I find here?

Answers

How do I contact AOL to cancel my service and/or change my price plan to "free"?

You can reach AOL by mail, phone, or fax, or use their online cancel form. If you get your Internet connection from AOL, I suggest you sign up with another ISP before you cancel AOL, to ensure you can continue to connect to the Internet without any interruption.

Here are all of AOL's phone numbers and addresses so you can cancel your account. Both free and paying members of AOL can also use this link to AOL's online cancel form to cancel AOL. Check my tips on how to use the online form to cancel your free or paid AOL account.

As liber_cogito (a former AOL call rep) kindly pointed out to me, you can also go to AOL Keyword: My Account and change your price plan to Free. Read more about what AOL offers for free as of Aug., 2006 at Bob Rankin's blog.

AOL's software, email, content, and most of AOL's online services are given away free of charge since August of 2006.

You can stop paying for AOL now (even if you use AOL dial-up, AOL for Broadband, or an AOL high speed partner - just be sure to sign up with another Internet Service Provider before you cancel). To cancel your AOL account, you can call AOL or go AOL Keyword: My Account, or use AOL's online cancel form.

You cannot reach AOL by email to cancel your account. 4-28-08: AOL does have an email system for an online support desk of some sort - if I ever find the link I'll post it here.

Here's everything in the known universe about how to cancel AOL. Write to me if you still can't find what you need.

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Do I need to use AOL's software if I connect to the Internet with another ISP?

No. A few exceptions are listed below. See this article for more information.

1. If you use AOL Broadband in the UK, you will lose your connection to the Internet if you cancel AOL, so be sure to sign up with another Internet service provider before you cancel. A rough outline on what you will need to do to switch from AOL Broadband in the UK to another service provider is here.
2. In the US, if you use AOL dial-up, or if your high-speed connection to the Internet is through a partnership AOL entered into with the following DSL and/or cable companies: BellSouth, Qwest Communications, AT&T, Covad, Clearwire, or Charter Communications, you may lose your connection to the Internet if you cancel AOL.
   Question: "I have high-speed through one of the AOL partners listed above, so how I can tell if I can cancel AOL without losing my Internet connection"?
   Answer: Check your monthly credit and debit card statements for charges from AOL for service. If AOL charges are present, chances are good you might lose your connection to the Internet if you cancel AOL, so be sure to sign up with another service provider before you cancel.

If you want a new dial-up provider, all the information you need to switch providers before you cancel AOL is found at Easy Call. Once you've chosen a new provider, you can cancel your AOL dial-up subscription and remove AOL's software.

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If I cancel AOL, can I use my existing AOL email addresses with AOL's free email service?

Yes, but if you don't use your existing AOL email addresses within one year of canceling AOL, they will be deactivated and purged from AOL's system.

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How do I uninstall AOL/AIM/other AOL products?

AOL's instructions for uninstalling your software are often inadequate and won't help you remove AOL 9.0 SE Optimized, some versions of AOL OpenRide, and other (older) versions of AOL software. AOL's instructions also won't help you get rid of files and folders that are left behind after you remove AOL.

Here are the best ways to...

• Remove AOL from XP, Vista and Windows 7
• Remove AOL when it's not listed in Add and Remove Programs on XP
• Remove AOL when it's not listed in Add and Remove Programs on Vista and Windows 7
• Remove AOL if it "freezes" during uninstall or still runs after you uninstall it
• How to Remove the AOL Wan Miniport Adapter
• How to Remove the AOL Uninstaller From Add/Remove Programs

AIM users: Information on how to remove AIM is here.

Here's everything in the known universe about how to uninstall AOL. Included in those pages are tips on how to use the greatest AOL removers of all time so you can get the job done right.

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What other help can I find here? How about filing a complaint against AOL? Learning about the latest AOL email issues?

You can find all of that here and more; just check the Tags and the How-to Index.

If you want to import your AOL email contacts into Outlook, about.com has an easy tutorial.

If you want a free email "collection service", my POP Peeper tutorial might be just what you need.

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If you have a question that's not answered here, or in the How-to Section, or in the other FAQs please feel free to send me an email.

Last updated 10-1-09.

Yes, you can use AOL's software and email now - for free!

The emails about how to cancel and remove AOL are piling up in my inbox again - in fact, that's nothing unusual - so let's go over this one more time, folks:

You can use the AOL software that's already on your computer, or download and use the latest AOL software from aol.com, and use AOL's online email service for free since August of 2006. Find out how to cancel your monthly charge for AOL here. Scroll down the page linked to in the previous sentence to choose the cancellation method that best suits your needs.

Exceptions to Using AOL for Free

1. If you still need to use AOL for a dial up connection you must pay a monthly fee for it.
2. In the UK, if you still use AOL for a broadband cable connection you must pay a monthly fee for it.
3. The US dial up and UK broadband connection plans each include an AOL web browser and email.

No, you do NOT need AOL's software in order to use Roadrunner, Comcast - or any other ISP!

Don't let AOL or your ISP fool you. Are you paying an extra monthly charge because AOL or your ISP told you that you must use AOL's software in order to keep your connection to the Internet alive?

Unless you have one of the plans mentioned here (check with your ISP first) they are not telling you the truth. Learn how to cancel AOL's monthly charge to your credit or debit card here. Scroll down the page linked to in the previous sentence to choose the cancellation method that best suits your needs.

Yes - AOL 9.0 VR and AOL 9.1 Are Causing Your Connection Problems!

Not only have I had a lot of problems maintaining a connection to the Internet with AOL 9.0 VR or 9.1 installed; so have other people. I get email every week about this. In my experience, AOL 9.0 VR and AOL 9.1 are the most likely culprits for being unable to make or keep a connection to the Internet on a clean computer that had no connection problems before installing AOL. The AOL Adapter used in those versions is most likely at fault.

To restore your Internet connection, follow the steps below, and follow them in the exact order they're listed in.

General AOL Removal Instructions

1. First remove AOL from XP - or remove AOL from Vista - and be sure to follow all of the steps on those pages in the exact order they're listed in.
2. Next, remove the AOL Adapter.
3. Lastly, reboot your computer and check your connection again.
4. If taking the steps above does not restore your connection then AOL's software might not be at fault so take your computer to an authorized repair shop or seek help from an online computer-help forum to determine what the problem is.

"Marah, if Time Warner owns AOL and Roadrunner doesn't that mean that I can't..."

Yes, Time Warner owns AOL and Roadrunner but that does not mean you must use AOL's software in order to use Roadrunner Broadband. I don't. That's right - Roadrunner is my ISP, too, and I'm going to sue them one day for throttling my bandwidth - but if you're happy using Roadrunner then just keep on using it. You can still cancel and remove AOL from your computer if you like - you will not lose your connection to Roadrunner over it at any point. You don't need one to use the other. It's as simple as that.

It's True: AOL 9.0 SE Cannot Be Removed Using Any Normal Method Known to God or Man

I did find one safe way to get AOL 9.0 SE off your computer, though, and it's not hard to do; follow the instructions here.

To Recap

This post has covered all the questions that I normally get by email. Each and every one of these questions has been answered on my blog. If you want to email me with any questions not covered in this post I will simply refer you to one of my other FAQs. I will only answer in more detail if you ask me a question that I haven't covered at some point. Thanks for reading!

When I use Vista I pull my hair out. Why, you may ask? Because using Vista is just like using XP - until you try to delete something. Then it acts more like Fort Knox than an operating system. Gaining complete control over Vista isn't easy. This post aims to get you over that hurdle.

I've added this post to my help pages for people leaving AOL because some of you use Vista. Deleting AOL's leftover files and folders can't be done on Vista without knowing these tricks to access your system-protected folders. As usual, take these steps at your own risk. If you have a question, you can leave a comment or email me.

How To Disable UAC

• Here's four methods to disable UAC (User Account Control). Disabling UAC will save you time by giving you minimal Administrator rights over your computer. However, you'll still need to choose one of the methods below to delete all of AOL's folders.

How To Run as Admin

• Here's one method for working as the Administrator in Vista on a folder-by-folder basis. You may still need to elevate your privileges to successfully remove all of AOL's files and folders.

How to Elevate Your Admin Privileges

Here's how to elevate your privileges in Vista on a folder-by-folder basis. I've shamelessly stolen my instructions from a comment written by "Alan" on The How-To Geek.

1. Assuming you already have admin privileges: Right-click the AOL folder you wish to delete, click Properties, then click your Security tab.
2. The bottom half of the Security window will list the current user permissions. Click the Advanced button you'll see there.
3. Click the Owner tab, then click the Edit button (you'll be asked for permission if UAC is enabled).
4. Change the Owner to your own account, then place a checkmark next to the words, 'Replace owner on subcontainers and objects' and click the Apply button. This results in all files including system files being switched to your account as the owner.
5. Now click 'Advanced Security Settings for (your folder) '. Now you can edit the permissions: select your account (the one you just used to take ownership) and click the Edit button.
6. You will now see the Permissions tab. Select your user account (first doublecheck that the permission set for it is Full Control). Place a checkmark next to the words, 'Replace all existing inheritable permissions…', then click Apply.

Vista may still ask for permission to delete your folder, but now you have the permission you need to delete it.

How to Take Over Vista

Best of all (and my favorite kind of step - the most dangerous one)...

• Here's how to access Vista's top-secret Super Admin account (this renders all other methods to delete folders from Vista unnecessary since it makes Vista work just like XP).

Related posts:

• How to Remove AOL 9.0 VR (Vista Ready), AOL 9.1, and AOL Desktop From Any PC
• How to Uninstall AOL Without the AOL Uninstaller On Vista

Last updated 3-11-09.

Issue: You want to remove AOL, but you're missing the AOL Uninstaller.

Solution: Remove AOL without it.

Difficulty Level: Easy

So you want to remove AOL from your Windows PC but when you check Add/Remove programs you're missing the AOL Uninstaller (or the entry for "AOL Choose Which Version to Remove").

What to do? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about removing AOL. What follows is a pretty simple way to remove AOL that doesn't harm your computer. Whether you're a tech who's looking for the easiest way to get AOL off of your customer's computers, or a beginner who can't get AOL off of your PC, this page is for you.

I tested this method on AOL 9.0 SE, AOL 9.0 Optimized, AOL 9.0 VR, AOL 9.1 GM (the first public release of 9.1), AOL 9.1, and AOL Desktop on both Windows XP and Windows Vista. This method works well on both operating systems. See this tutorial if you're an XP user.

Before we get started, visit this page to learn how to back up your registry, files, and folders.

Issues for AOL users running Vista and Windows 7: I've had email that some PCs are infected by viruses when removing AOL, so run a scan with the free online Trend Micro tool before you get started.

The first thing you'll need to do is shut the AOL Connectivity Service down.

1. Shut the AOL Connectivity Service down (works on Windows XP and Windows Vista/Windows 7)...

Click Start, right-click My Computer, and click Manage.

The Computer Management window will open. Click Services and Applications at the end of the list you'll see on the left hand side, then double-click on the word Services.

Find the AOL Connectivity Service on the Services list on the top right hand side of the window. Right-click and choose Properties, then click Startup Type Disabled, click Apply, then click Service Status Stopped and click OK. Now the AOL Connectivity Service is disabled.

All you need to do now is uninstall the copies of AOL you don't want, delete the leftover AOL files on your computer, and (optionally) clean up your computer's Registry.

2. To finish removing AOL without the AOL Uninstaller...

Click Start, click My Computer, click Program Files, then click on any AOL folder in your Program Files (such as 9.0, 9.0 VR, 9.1, etc.) to open it. Look for an executable file called the uninstall or the uninstaller (the name of it may depend on which version(s) of AOL you have installed). An easy way to find it is to use the View Option in Explorer to tile the files within the folder, then arrange the tiles by group. When you find the uninstaller click on it to uninstall AOL.

Special note for AOL Desktop users: You will not find an uninstaller in the AOL Desktop Program Files. Navigate instead to Program Files, Common Files, aol, then click on the uninstaller file that has AOL's blue icon next to it. Screenshot for AOL Desktop users:

Screenshot for all other AOL software users:

The uninstaller will search for every version of AOL on your computer, then it will ask you which versions you would like to uninstall. Select the copies you want to uninstall by clicking on them. If you don't want the Cabinet and Saved Files, uncheck the boxes next to those choices. When you're done with that, click Next and Uninstall. Since these are very brief instructions, you may feel you need a more thorough guide to this. Use the one here.

The uninstaller will run for a few minutes, then prompt you to restart your computer. It's important to restart your computer so you can finish removing all of AOL's files.

3. To remove leftover AOL files and folders from your computer after uninstalling AOL...

Do an Explorer search for "AOL" (without the quotes) with Advanced Options enabled to get rid of all the leftover junk in your Program and Common Files and in your Temp and Application Data folders.

Special step for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Even with UAC disabled, when you try to remove any leftover Program File (not just AOL's) you will often see the message: "You need permission to perform this action. Try again." "Trying again" will not grant you sufficient access to delete the folder. Neither will elevating your privileges or sharing permissions.

My workaround: Say you are trying to delete your AOL 9.0VR folder. Open the folder, then open it's subfolder, then delete the files within the subfolder. Once they're deleted, you can delete the subfolder and the main directory with no problem. My workaround makes no sense at all in theory, but it works, so trust me. Isn't using Windows Vista fun?

Note: My workaround won't work on C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL unless you're running as a fully-privileged administrator with elevated permissions, or using the hidden "super-administrator" account, but I've got it all under control...check out this new post I wrote that explains how to to delete any file or folder from Vista.

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Optional (leftover registry entries will not harm your computer!): To clean your computer's registry, I recommend you use CCleaner. Download it here, and use these instructions, starting with Step 5, to clean the junk up.

That's it! It's as easy as pie.

Check the FAQs section if you have any questions. See my How-to Section for more ways to get AOL out of your life.

With this post I'm beginning an ongoing series of questions and answers from my readers. This week's first question is from Melissa (and ladylynx would also like an answer).

Question

"Hey. It's been bugging me for a while. How do I uninstall AOL's uninstaller?"

Answer

Is AOL (or any program related to it) still installed? Do you still use it?

If the answer to both questions is "Yes", you'll need the AOL Uninstaller to remove AOL with someday, so it's best to leave it alone.

If you've already uninstalled or manually deleted AOL (or AIM, or OpenRide, or any number of AOL programs that can leave the AOL Uninstaller behind) you can try looking for the AOL Uninstaller in your Add & Remove Programs list and clicking Remove if you find it there.

For Windows XP users: Click your Start button and click Control Panel. In Control Panel click Add & Remove Programs, then locate the AOL Uninstaller on the Add & Remove List and click Change/Remove.

For Vista and Windows 7 users: Click your Start button and click Control Panel. In Control Panel click Programs and Features, then locate the AOL Uninstaller on the Installed Programs List and click Uninstall.

If that doesn't work, you'll need a way to edit your Add/Remove list to uninstall the AOL Uninstaller. There are several options that will help you get this done.

If you're comfortable with and knowledgeable about editing your Registry, you can follow the instructions Microsoft gives you to do this.

Alternately, you can use a free program like CCleaner to look for leftover uninstall entries that you can manually delete.

Or you can use jv16 PowerTools 2006 on a 1-month "no credit card" free trial to find and delete the AOL Uninstaller.

See my How-To section for more ways to get AOL out of your life.

Last updated 3-11-09.

This FAQ is for people having problems removing AOL. It is not a replacement for my how-to-uninstall AOL tutorials. Please see the tutorials if you missed them on your way in. Leave a comment or send me an email to get other questions answered or to offer up your own solutions.

The instructions on this page will work for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 users. My tutorial index and FAQs are constantly updated to reflect changes to AOL's and Microsoft's software.

Questions

• I can't uninstall AOL because it keeps running - or I can't delete an AOL file or folder because "the computer won't let me". What can I do now?
• If AOL isn't listed in Add/Remove Programs, how do I uninstall it?
• I've uninstalled AOL. Is it safe to delete AOL's leftover files, folders and registry entries?
• Do I really need to remove AOL's files and/or registry entries?
• When I uninstalled AOL I deleted a [file, folder, program, etc.] that I need very badly. How do I get it back?

Answers

I can't uninstall AOL because it keeps running - or I can't delete an AOL file or folder because "the computer won't let me". What can I do now?

If you're trying to uninstall AOL and you can't because the AOL program won't shut down (you may see a message to this effect on your screen) or if you can't delete an AOL file or folder from XP after you uninstall AOL (but see this page if you can't delete an AOL file or folder from Vista or Windows 7), most likely you have a copy of AOL 9.0 SE installed. It's defective by design, so to uninstall it you must first shut the AOL Connectivity Service down.

To shut the AOL Connectivity Service down, click Start, right-click My Computer, and click Manage.

The Computer Management window will open. Click Services and Applications at the end of the list you'll see on the left hand side, then double-click on the word Services.

Find the AOL Connectivity Service on the Services list on the top right hand side of the window. Right-click and choose Properties, then click Startup Type Disabled, click Apply, then click Service Status Stopped and click OK. Now the AOL Connectivity Service is disabled.

Once the Connectivity Service stops running, AOL will uninstall smoothly and you will be able to delete any AOL file or folder leftover from uninstalling AOL. (I tested this using HijackThis to determine the Service's status both before and after, and it did the trick.)

Note: Once AOL's Connectivity Service is disabled, you'll be able to remove AOL no matter what other AOL processes are still running on your computer.

If your AOL software is missing the AOL Uninstaller you will need to disable AOL's Connectivity Service, then run an older version of AOL's uninstaller buried deep in AOL's program files (see the next answer).

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If AOL isn't listed in Add/Remove Programs, how do I uninstall it?

1. First double-check Add/Remove Programs. If you're using my jv16 tutorial to remove AOL, you can check the jv16 PowerTools Software Manager to see if it's installed. Tip: you can sort jv16's list alphabetically, by date, or by author. If you're using my CCleaner tutorial, you can check CCleaner's Uninstall List for the AOL Uninstaller, and run it from there.
2. Next, right-click your Taskbar, click on the words Task Manager, then click the Processes tab, and check the list for any AOL processes. You can sort the list alphabetically by clicking the "Image Name" tab. For guidance, the next screen shots show my computer's Processes List with a variety of AOL products installed: AOL 9.0SE, OpenRide, and assorted McAfee products included with AOL's recent software. Click on each image to expand it to full size.




3. If AOL isn't listed in Add/Remove Programs or in your Software Manager, and no AOL processes are running, then AOL isn't installed. Simply delete all of the AOL files, folders and registry entries you find now. If AOL is installed, these are the instructions for removing it for XP users; these are the instructions for removing it for Vista and Windows 7 users.

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I've uninstalled AOL. Is it safe to delete AOL's leftover files, folders and registry entries?

Yes, it's safe to delete them. AOL comes with most PCs, tosses files all over your hard drive, and it's hard to get rid of, but once it's gone, the leftovers can go, too. Just so you don't mess anything up: Make sure you double-check each item you're about to delete before you delete it. Try to be careful the first time around.

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Do I really need to remove AOL's files and/or registry entries?

No, it's not necessary to remove them. It's simply the best thing you can do for your computer (to make it cleaner and faster) but it's not worth doing if you're unsure how to do it, and it will take longer than simply uninstalling AOL.

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When I uninstalled AOL I deleted a [file, folder, program, etc.] that I need very badly. How do I get it back?

I've done research since I took that question and learned Windows never erases anything, even if you delete it, overwrite it, use Eraser, have a system crash, or reformat your hard drive. That said, System Restore cannot bring back a lost folder, file, or document. It can only restore lost settings and some lost programs.

If you've checked your Recycle Bin and C:\RECYCLER and the missing item isn't in those places, and if System Restore can't bring it back for you, try typing "restore lost files" or a similar phrase into any search engine to look for programs that might restore it for you.

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