Could SKS please tell me if there is any effective way of getting AOL to respond to a complaint about their services?

For errors such as these go Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer and open the 'Application' event log. Displayed in the Application event log you will see a detailed list of events: Information, Warnings and Errors. Right click any errors and select 'Properties' and determine if they are related to your problem (AOL should get a mention). If you are unsure then replicate the error and take note of the exact time the error took place and then go back to the event log and look for any new errors that relates to the time that your replicated error took place. If you're successful in loccating the log for your error, then you are now armed with everthing you need when contacting AOL for a fix. To copy the error log, click the command button that displays an image of two files on it (this will copy the error log), then open notepad and paste the details and save the file. HTH Jerry.

In a message dated 8/15/2006 12:43:06 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: Now, what does Sync Error:29 - 'invalid_id' mean? Connie I think that is an internal communications error. Have you tried running AOL's computer check up? Sharon

In a message dated 8/15/2006 12:41:53 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: Will it still give me an error report if I have to completely shut down the computer. How about if I have to use ctrl-Alt-Delete and reloaded AOL? ------------ Yes, it should still give the errors within the past 24 hours. Sharon

In a message dated 8/15/2006 3:19:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, DULCICH6@aol.com writes: When this happens, or rather *after* this happens and you are back to working again, Click on the Help at the top of the AOL screen. Then click on About AOL and then press the CTRL key and the letter E at the same time and take a look at your error log. Sharon Hey, that is neat!! I am learning. All of you are great. The Error is actually from yesterday since I haven't had any problems today. How long do they keep this info there. I don't know what happened or when exactly the error occurred but this sure will help. Now, what does Sync Error:29 - 'invalid_id' mean? Connie

Thanks Sharon, I will try this. Will it still give me an error report if I have to completely shut down the computer. How about if I have to use ctrl-Alt-Delete and reloaded AOL? Sorry I am so dense about these things, but I am learning with the help of all of you on this list. Connie n a message dated 8/15/2006 3:19:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, DULCICH6@aol.com writes: When this happens, or rather *after* this happens and you are back to working again, Click on the Help at the top of the AOL screen. Then click on About AOL and then press the CTRL key and the letter E at the same time and take a look at your error log. Sharon

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:18:01 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, VETTE4NANCEE02@aol.com writes: I may as well jump on this, I too have noticed this same thing happening in the past few days. The cursor just stops working, if I go to task manager it doesn't show AOL is not responding. Today I just waited and it was fine after a minute or so. Other times I have lost my connection totally. --------------- When this happens, or rather *after* this happens and you are back to working again, Click on the Help at the top of the AOL screen. Then click on About AOL and then press the CTRL key and the letter E at the same time and take a look at your error log. Sharon

In a message dated 8/15/2006 2:24:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, Soyamaven@aol.com writes: I use AOL 5.0/WIN98, and when the screen freezes, usually, but not always after using the internal Browser and not either FireFox or IE, if left alone, it "unfreezes" after about 3 to 5 minutes. So, when this "freeze" occurs, I walk away from the PC and do something else until the "freeze" passes. Walter- This would tend to confirm my suspicion that some activity going on in the backgroun--spyware scan or similar might be tying up the resources for a few minutes and freezing the cursor. The fact that it comes back later sort of indicates this is the case. Joan

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:21:14 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, JYoung6180@aol.com writes: Did you happen to notice if when this was happening the activity light was active on your computer--you know -- the little green light that shows there is activity? I wonder if this is happening when something is going on in the background like you spyware or virus checker running? Maybe it is overloading the system? Joan No, I didn't Joan but the next time it happens I will try to be more aware and will also check the event log. Nancee, Ca.

I use AOL 5.0/WIN98, and when the screen freezes, usually, but not always after using the internal Browser and not either FireFox or IE, if left alone, it "unfreezes" after about 3 to 5 minutes. So, when this "freeze" occurs, I walk away from the PC and do something else until the "freeze" passes. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. L'Shannah Tovah* & Happy 5767, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY * L'Shannah Tovah (li-SHAH-nuh TOH-vuh; li-shah-NAH toh-VAH) Hebrew. Lit. for a good year. The common greeting during Rosh ha Shannah and the Days of Awe. This is a shortening of "L'Shannah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or, to women, "L'Shannah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." This year, Rosh ha Shannah, because it will occur on Shabbat (Sabbath), begins 18 minutes before sunset on Friday, September 22 on the civil calendar.

In a message dated 8/15/2006 2:18:01 PM Eastern Standard Time, VETTE4NANCEE02@aol.com writes: Today I just waited and it was fine after a minute or so. Nancee- Did you happen to notice if when this was happening the activity light was active on your computer--you know -- the little green light that shows there is activity? I wonder if this is happening when something is going on in the background like you spyware or virus checker running? Maybe it is overloading the system? Joan

In a message dated 8/15/2006 8:21:33 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: As to whether an hourglass or can't move cursor around. I can't move the cursor around. It is there as a cursor but it won't move. I may as well jump on this, I too have noticed this same thing happening in the past few days. The cursor just stops working, if I go to task manager it doesn't show AOL is not responding. Today I just waited and it was fine after a minute or so. Other times I have lost my connection totally. Nancee, Ca.

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:37:39 AM Eastern Standard Time, JYoung6180@aol.com writes: But regardless of the fact you are hiding them out of the way--they are STILL loading and that could be the problem. Joan I know that but I can't work with them flashing. If the ads were only text I'd be okay as far as the headaches. I will try and see if I can get thru a day without them hidden and keep a log of what ad was loaded or trying to load and the time, then call tech support. Thanks for helping.

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:31:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: I have finally figured out a way to adjust the size of the window of the mailbox and email so I don't see them but have the complete email on my screen with the ad hidden. I can't stand that flashing and blinking, it gives me headaches. I had to do something. Connie But regardless of the fact you are hiding them out of the way--they are STILL loading and that could be the problem. Joan

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:24:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, JYoung6180@aol.com writes: Connie- I'm wondering whether an ad that is trying to load on the main AOL page has bad code or something that is causing your computer to freeze. It might be worth trying to pinpoint exactly when this happens and make notes and notify tech support. Joan You are talking about those annoying ads blinking and flashing at the bottom of the mailbox page and the emails as you read them? If so, I have been thinking they were the cause. But I am sure AOL will never take those away. I have finally figured out a way to adjust the size of the window of the mailbox and email so I don't see them but have the complete email on my screen with the ad hidden. I can't stand that flashing and blinking, it gives me headaches. I had to do something. Connie

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:21:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: As to whether an hourglass or can't move cursor around. I can't move the cursor around. It is there as a cursor but it won't move. Connie- I'm wondering whether an ad that is trying to load on the main AOL page has bad code or something that is causing your computer to freeze. It might be worth trying to pinpoint exactly when this happens and make notes and notify tech support. Joan

In a message dated 8/15/2006 11:06:56 AM Eastern Standard Time, JYoung6180@aol.com writes: These sound like two different issues to me. The second one sounds like a connectivity issue and you may want to rebuild the AOL adapter to see if that helps. The freezing problem can have many causes -- when you say you can't use the cursor -- does it show an hour glass or do you mean you cannot even MOVE it around? Okay, what is or how do I "Rebuild the AOL adapter" that sounds too technical for me. I must be one of those people that someone today or yesterday referred to as "they should never be allowed to go near a PC." As to whether an hourglass or can't move cursor around. I can't move the cursor around. It is there as a cursor but it won't move. Thanks for the tip on what to do when one gets the hourglass and no cursor!!! Connie

In a message dated 8/15/2006 10:48:55 AM Eastern Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: When the computer freezes up, I will be looking at the email I was working on and unable to move the cursor or do anything. I usually use ctrl - alt - delete. I have tried using the escape key and sometimes that works but mostly I have to ctrl-alt-delete and restart my computer. When AOL disappears I will be looking at the same screen I was on ie. say the email I had just written and clicked to send and poof I am disconnected. Plus that automatic window then comes and says trying to reconnect to AOL. Sometimes it reconnects automatically and other times it doesn't. I have to shut down the computer, reboot and restart AOL and I get right back on. I just talked to a friend who uses AOL and he is having the exact same problems. All of us, both my children, me and Ken all use different cable companies for our cable connections so it isn't my cable connection. We all are in OH. Connie -------- These sound like two different issues to me. The second one sounds like a connectivity issue and you may want to rebuild the AOL adapter to see if that helps. The freezing problem can have many causes -- when you say you can't use the cursor -- does it show an hour glass or do you mean you cannot even MOVE it around? If it shows an hour glass there is an OLD trick AOLers have used for years to get the cursor back...you go to the very top of the screen in the blue bar at the top of AOL and move the cursor over the blue AOL triangle in the upper left of the blue bar. Usually the cursor then turns back to an arrow--if so--you click on the triangle and hold down the button and slide the cursor over to the Help menu. Still holding it down slide the cursor down to the About America Onlin selection and click. that usually helps you regain the use of your cursor. Joan

In a message dated 8/15/2006 10:33:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, JYoung6180@aol.com writes: I don't have an answer to the problem but I'm a bit confused whether your computers are FREEZING or whether AOL is disappearing and you are staring at your desktop? Joan When the computer freezes up, I will be looking at the email I was working on and unable to move the cursor or do anything. I usually use ctrl - alt - delete. I have tried using the escape key and sometimes that works but mostly I have to ctrl-alt-delete and restart my computer. When AOL disappears I will be looking at the same screen I was on ie. say the email I had just written and clicked to send and poof I am disconnected. Plus that automatic window then comes and says trying to reconnect to AOL. Sometimes it reconnects automatically and other times it doesn't. I have to shut down the computer, reboot and restart AOL and I get right back on. I just talked to a friend who uses AOL and he is having the exact same problems. All of us, both my children, me and Ken all use different cable companies for our cable connections so it isn't my cable connection. We all are in OH. Connie

In a message dated 8/15/2006 9:51:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, Schumaker4@aol.com writes: It is very annoying especially when it causes the computer to freeze up if I am in the middle of a long email or working on a project, all is lost unless I have stopped and save it at every step of the way. Does anyone know what is going on? Connie ----- In a message dated 8/15/2006 9:25:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, VanetteHobbs@aol.com writes: AOL freezes, 10-15 times a day or simply closes, as in *blink* it's gone. ----------- I don't have an answer to the problem but I'm a bit confused whether your computers are FREEZING or whether AOL is disappearing and you are staring at your desktop? Joan