In a message dated 9/20/2006 12:35:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, Hansenjl@aol.com writes: Joan or Sharon, do I have any option other than signing up for the $9.95 AOL? Not that I'm aware of--free doesn't include tech support. Joan

Sharon, If, for whatever reason, you decide to not buy a new computer and continue to use your WIN-ME based system, be sure you do **daily** backups of all your data files. From what you've described, it is only a matter of time before you have a fatal and unrecoverable systems crash. And FWIW, it is my understanding that Microsoft no longer supports WIN 98 or WIN ME. Jon Raymond St Paul Park, MN Web site: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~raymond/

Windows '95/98 & ME are no longer supported by Microsoft, so none of these Operating Systems are worth trying. When Windows XP was brought out, it was a completely different system. (of course, Windows ME was known as Bill Gates' big mistake - ha!) The cost to have your PC's hard drive completely reformatted and trying to get everything to configure, is not worth the headache! I sell custom built PC's, so my PC are a little more expensive than those out in the stores. But, if you really don't want to spend much, you can purchase a Dell for around $800 (or maybe less, I'm not sure, as I don't keep up with what is in the stores). Just to let you know, Dell only has a 90 day warranty on their PC's, as my custom builts have a 1 yr. warranty. I do know you can pay for extended warranties. (Of course, I only sell PC's in my local area - haven't ever tried selling them out of the area.) Sorry, not much good news for those that have older PC's. Jan Scott In a message dated 9/20/2006 11:26:22 AM Central Standard Time, sharonmc2002@aol.com writes: In a message dated 9/20/2006 12:12:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, JScott4607@aol.com writes: You cannot upgrade your Windows '98 PC to Windows XP. Windows XP requires much more than your Windows '98 PC has - at least 512 MB RAM, higher processor, etc. You would have to take Windows '98 completely off of your PC and reinstall Windows XP, which is not worth it, because Windows XP would most likely not work at all, or would work so slow, it wouldn't be worth it. I'm sure your software wouldn't work right, even if you could get XP to install. At this point, you have no choice, but to either keep using your Windows '98 PC or purchase a new PC with Windows XP on it, sorry. I have a computer business out of my home and go through this with many customers every day. Jan Scott Jan what's involved in upgrading windows me to windows xp? Sharonmc2002

I have subscribed to AOL for 13 years and never had a problem with AOL e-mail. One week after I switched to free AOL, for 34 hours from 11:14 on 9/18, I received no e-mails though I normally would receive at least 30 during this period, and then they started coming again. But, because I have free AOL, I cannot contact AOL Help to find out what the problem was and to learn how I could recover the e-mails I didn’t receive. As usual, free isn’t really—there is usually a cost somewhere. Joan or Sharon, do I have any option other than signing up for the $9.95 AOL? Hansenjl

In a message dated 9/20/2006 12:12:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, JScott4607@aol.com writes: You cannot upgrade your Windows '98 PC to Windows XP. Windows XP requires much more than your Windows '98 PC has - at least 512 MB RAM, higher processor, etc. You would have to take Windows '98 completely off of your PC and reinstall Windows XP, which is not worth it, because Windows XP would most likely not work at all, or would work so slow, it wouldn't be worth it. I'm sure your software wouldn't work right, even if you could get XP to install. At this point, you have no choice, but to either keep using your Windows '98 PC or purchase a new PC with Windows XP on it, sorry. I have a computer business out of my home and go through this with many customers every day. Jan Scott Jan what's involved in upgrading windows me to windows xp? Sharonmc2002

You cannot upgrade your Windows '98 PC to Windows XP. Windows XP requires much more than your Windows '98 PC has - at least 512 MB RAM, higher processor, etc. You would have to take Windows '98 completely off of your PC and reinstall Windows XP, which is not worth it, because Windows XP would most likely not work at all, or would work so slow, it wouldn't be worth it. I'm sure your software wouldn't work right, even if you could get XP to install. At this point, you have no choice, but to either keep using your Windows '98 PC or purchase a new PC with Windows XP on it, sorry. I have a computer business out of my home and go through this with many customers every day. Jan Scott In a message dated 9/20/2006 7:44:48 AM Central Standard Time, JHuecker@aol.com writes: I have Windows 98 SE - If I install Windows XP as an upgrade will it affect my other software programs, ie Family Tree Maker 2005, etc. I hesitate to buy another computer, I already have two and only use one on a regular basis. Also will it affect the modem I have for broadband? How much memory does one need for XP? Not a computer geek as you can tell. Thanks in advance. Joan/Ohio

In a message dated 9/20/2006 8:37:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, JJasper381@aol.com writes: Recently, the firewall which is part of the AOL Safety and Security Center does not open when I boot up my computer. I now have to open it manually after boot up is complete by going to the SSC application. I have gone to the AOL techs on two occasions. One had me clear the cookies and the other remove and reinstall the firewall. Neither resolved the problem. I do not have any other firewall operating (Windows XP Firewall turned off). I have AOL 9.0 SE. Has anyone else had this problem and if so, were you able to correct it? Any solutions welcomed! Jerry Had that problem and a bunch of others all at once. No answers yet either. :-( sharonmc2002

Spoke to tech support at aol yesterday. They told me that every 4 months or so aol will get corrupted on the mac and you have to throw most of the files out. Under instruction I trashed a lot and my tech problem cleared up. aol was crashing as soon as I tried to do anything requiring memory. It only took me minutes to go from free aol to paid aol.

I have Windows 98 SE - If I install Windows XP as an upgrade will it affect my other software programs, ie Family Tree Maker 2005, etc. I hesitate to buy another computer, I already have two and only use one on a regular basis. Also will it affect the modem I have for broadband? How much memory does one need for XP? Not a computer geek as you can tell. Thanks in advance. Joan/Ohio

Recently, the firewall which is part of the AOL Safety and Security Center does not open when I boot up my computer. I now have to open it manually after boot up is complete by going to the SSC application. I have gone to the AOL techs on two occasions. One had me clear the cookies and the other remove and reinstall the firewall. Neither resolved the problem. I do not have any other firewall operating (Windows XP Firewall turned off). I have AOL 9.0 SE. Has anyone else had this problem and if so, were you able to correct it? Any solutions welcomed! Jerry

Sharon, WinME is probably the culprit. Saving regularly is essential. I became very proficient at reformatting and reinstalling WinME about every 9 months. Several years back, even my shop guy said he regularly reinstalled Win98 and ME on his own personal computer. Since I've had a new computer with WinXP for about two years, I still can't get over not having everything go wacky on a regular basis and having to reinstall the OS. Even WinME's "restore" would stop restoring back in those days. XP and XP's "restore" has been performing flawlessly. Woody ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ sharonmc2002@aol.com writes: <<Okay, we know my software for my fax program disappeared but what would make internet explorer go crazy? I opened my desktop to do some work (windows me with AOL 9.0 SE) and get the message that my ie security settings do not allow active x to get into any of my programs. I went to ie and tried to locate my security settings which are suddenly blank and there are no custom settings available. Help!! Is my computer going off the deep end? There is no sign of viruses, spyware, or anyone breaching the firewall. Sharonmc2002>>

Sharon, Windows ME is a notoriously unstable program. You need to upgrade. Jon Raymond St Paul Park, MN Web site: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~raymond/

Okay, we know my software for my fax program disappeared but what would make internet explorer go crazy? I opened my desktop to do some work (windows me with AOL 9.0 SE) and get the message that my ie security settings do not allow active x to get into any of my programs. I went to ie and tried to locate my security settings which are suddenly blank and there are no custom settings available. Help!! Is my computer going off the deep end? There is no sign of viruses, spyware, or anyone breaching the firewall. Sharonmc2002

In a message dated 9/19/2006 4:02:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Vrgfdonna@aol.com writes: Thanks very much. Just so I can get the basic Computer Check-up. I would love to have the Premium, but we can't get anything out here but dial-up. I know how that is. <G>

In a message dated 9/18/2006 6:09:19 P.M. Central Daylight Time, sharonmc2002@aol.com writes: Regular basic comes not the premium which includes Premium Computer Check-Up With PC Insurance Only for AOL Dial-Up Advantage and AOL High-Speed Essentials Members** ****** Sharon, Thanks very much. Just so I can get the basic Computer Check-up. I would love to have the Premium, but we can't get anything out here but dial-up. Velma

In a message dated 9/18/2006 6:22:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Vrgfdonna@aol.com writes: I got the impression, however, that the "AOL Computer Check-Up" did not come with the $9.95 plan. Is this true? I would really hate to do without that. If you don't already know, would you check to see if you have it? Regular basic comes not the premium which includes Premium Computer Check-Up With PC Insurance Only for AOL Dial-Up Advantage and AOL High-Speed Essentials Members** With Premium Computer Check-Up -- which requires Windows XP -- you get all the features found in the basic version, plus: System Restore backs up crucial system files Disk Defragmenter reorganizes files on your hard drive so they’re arranged more efficiently -- and programs open more quickly Start-Up Optimizer helps decrease the amount of time it takes for your computer to start-up $1,000 in PC insurance to repair or replace your computer in case of physical or mechanical damage* Get _Insurance Details_ (http://computercheckup.aol.com/pcinsurance/pcinsurancesummary.html)

In a message dated 9/16/2006 7:15:38 P.M. Central Daylight Time, Sugarfoot1@aol.com writes: The UK is having similar problems? YIKES!!!! That alone tells me for sure its an AOL problem like I suspected and not with Charter. ***** Julee, I never ever have the problems that you describe, and I've been with AOL for years. When I lived in a large city some years back, occasionally I would get cut off from AOL. It didn't happen often at all. Now that I'm outside the city, almost "out in the country", it never happens. I believe that it is something other than AOL causing your problems, but I am certainly not an expert. Good luck to you. Velma

In a message dated 9/17/2006 7:08:06 A.M. Central Daylight Time, KesslerWV@aol.com writes: My bill for this month here in South Carolina (USA) was $9.95. When checking billing it was the AOL Basic Dial-up plan with unlimited dial-up. I still have 24/7 tech support and (knock on wood) no problems at all with AOL either using an old Mac OS 8.6 or a new Windows XP. ***** Karen, I have not yet changed over to the $9.95 plan, but I do intend to do so. I got the impression, however, that the "AOL Computer Check-Up" did not come with the $9.95 plan. Is this true? I would really hate to do without that. If you don't already know, would you check to see if you have it? Thanks very much, Velma

Does anyone on this list know of a program (either free or purchased) that will help someone manage their AOL personal filing cabinet more efficiently--i.e. find duplicate e-mails, etc? Dianna

In a message dated 9/17/2006 3:43:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, TiggerRadlett@aol.com writes: Does anyone have any numbers for the UK please? Tigger someone probably does .... but can you Google for this ??? I have no clue ... gerri