NTI- AOL e mail, AOL broadband, AOL Dialup, AOL Chat and more

America Online is the most popular online service provider. With so many options to click on it can be confusing just performing the simplest of tasks. Here are the most requested topics and step by step instructions to go along with it. Put this page in your Favorites for easy reference!

Click these icons

for PDF format, (best for printing or keeping on file). Not included on simple tasks.

If you do not have Acrobat Reader, go to the Download Page to get a free copy. (You really should have it anyway)

AOL e mail is part of the AOL service. They now offer free AOL e mail for non subscribers.

Feeling chatty? Get it off your chest in AOL chat rooms, message boards and blogs. Join in at AOL People Connection.

AOL webmail allows you to log into you AOL account from any location from a browser. Just go to aol.com on any computer, login to AOL webmail with your account information and you can check your mail when you are away from your own computer.

AOL offers 2 basic services, AOL dial up and AOL broadband. AOL broadband is for those that are connecting with a high speed connection.

Online dating for men and women using AOL Personals. Start meeting singles near you with a free AOL personals trial. Find single men and women online for dating, long-lasting relationships or just to chat.

Connecting to AOL services using a standard telephone line vs high speed is referred to as AOL Dial up.

Fast, instant way of sending a message using AOL instant messaging utility also known as AIM.

The term used and the name of the icon you will click on in AOL to check your mail.

AOL> How to download a file in AOL 3.0 thru 7.0:

Download the Attached File:
1. Sign on to AOL and Open the new e-mail
2. Click on DOWNLOAD NOW …The "Download Manager" comes up
3. Click the SAVE button…after a moment you will see a message telling you that it "…has been transferred". (It will be downloaded to the: 'C:\AOL*\Downloads' directory.)
4. Click OK on that message.

Now let's get your newly downloaded file:
5. Click on START
6. Click on Windows Explorer and navigate to: "C:\America Online ?.0\Downloads"
7. You should see the file that you have downloaded…double click on the file to open it…that's it!
Back to Top

AOL> How to attach a file in AOL:

1. Open a new e-mail
2. Click on the ATTACHMENT button.
3. Locate file that you wish to attach and choose Open or OK.
4. Finish filling out the E-mail as usual.
5. Click SEND…you will notice your file being sent at this point.
Back to Top

As of April 5, 2004 AOL has finally released the coveted IMAP access to AOL email. These settings will allow you to set up your AOL account in Outlook...something that has not been possible in the past with the exception of our MAPI Transport method shown below.

METHOD 1: IMAP
In Outlook, set up a new Internet Mail account as you normally would. Here are the AOL IMAP and SMTP addresses:

(Note this Mapi.exe file is not available any longer as it came out with a Beta version of AOL . I suggest that you store it in a safe place and keep for future use)

1. First off, you need to make sure that you have Outlook 98 or higher installed with the Corporate or Workgroup mail option as well. You can check by going to Start\Settings\Control Panel\Mail.

If you do, in the Control Panel \ Mail you should have a screen that either shows profiles installed or it may be on a screen with the services installed for a particular profile. (Also, at the bottom of the window, it says Microsoft Outlook Profiles.)

If you do not have the Corporate or Workgroup mail option installed, you will need to rerun MS Outlook 98 setup... (usually found in the c:\outlook98setup folder) or add from CD.

1. Click on Add component.. Then find the Corporate or Workgroup mail option and install it.

2. Once this is done, you will need to install the AOL Mapi Transport program (download below).

3. Once that is done, go back to the MAIL icon in the control panel and open it up.

Now, this is where you really need to pay close attention to what you are doing.

4. Click on Show Profiles. If you currently have any, I suggest removing them. Only to prevent confusion later on.

5. Now, you will need to create your user profile(s). If you are using it for just one account, you need only one profile...etc.

6. Click the ADD button to create your first profile... Next click on Manually configure Services and hit next, type in the name for your profile (I suggest your AOL screen name) and hit next.

7. Now it is time to add the services that this profile will use. Click on Add.

America Online should be one of the choices. Chose it. Follow the prompts to configure how Mapi Transport should connect to AOL.

8. Next you must add a personal folder. This is for receipt of mail. Follow the prompts and name it what you like. (Again, I suggest your AOL screen name.) The folder will then be username.pst. Then be sure in the Folder Name field, you type in your AOL Username and then hit ok.

9. And finally you must add your Outlook Address Book service. This is for storing your contacts in Outlook.

10. If you have not already done so above, click once on America Online from the list then choose Properties and set up connection preferences for AOL (Note: This can be either the regular AOL Dial up method or by choosing TCP/IP you can use any Internet service provider!).

11. So you should now have: America Online, Personal Folders, & Outlook Address Book listed as services…click APPLY if available and OK…you are done

This should set you up to be able to receive and send e-mail through Outlook 98+ for one account. You will also want to set up (add) a personal address book. This you will probably want to share with all profiles. This can be done pretty easily. When adding the PAB, highlight the file that already exists. Do this on all profiles.

Now, if you want to use more than one account, you will need to set up multiple profiles under the mail icon in the control panel. One for each account. Ok.

Next, you will need to setup Outlook to prompt you for which profile to use on startup and I believe that is on the Tools->Options->Mail Services menu from within Outlook 98.

1. You MUST make sure you sign on under the MASTER screen name if you have multiple names under the same account. This would be the first name that signed up to AOL
2. Then go to Keyword "Mail Controls" in most versions of AOL.
3. Click on "Set Up Mail Controls"...you will see from there.
Back to Top

As you use AOL you generate "temporary files" or "cache" which need to be cleared once in a while. You may notice that AOL sticks or hangs up on step 6 for example during sign on, it could be anything like that. Chance are you need to clear cache called "History" in AOL.

Note: Also in this same dialogue box you can set your default Home Page (the one that comes up automatically when you go to the Internet)

AOL>Graphics or photos don't look as good as they should? UNcheck Compressed Graphics:

If your graphics or pictures is poor, follow instructions below. AOL has a default setting which automatically compresses graphics to make them load a little faster. However, if you enjoy high quality photos and graphics and do not mind waiting a few extra seconds, do this:

1. Click on My AOL then Preferences ...you do not have to be signed on
2. Click on Web Graphics tab
3. UNcheck Compress web graphics
Back to Top

AOL> How to attach a file IN AOL:

If you are concerned about losing Favorite Places, saved email in the Personal Filing Cabinet, or your Address Book, you can back up the files for these features.

1. Click on My Computer from your desktop.
2. Click on the "+" to the left of your C drive....it will expand to show all subdirectories. Look for America Online 6.0, 7.0 or whatever version you are using. Note that if AOL has been reinstalled it will be followed by and "a" or "b" such as America Online 7.0a for example. Choose the last one in the list which is the most recent install.
3. Under that you are looking for the Organize subdirectory, where you will find a number of different files. These files contain your Personal Filing Cabinet [PFC] which contains your Flash Mail, Favorite Places and your address book. You can copy these to either a backup directory, or if size permits, directly to a floppy disk. You will not have access to your Personal Filing Cabinet if you sign on as a Guest from another member's computer.

There are two ways you can back up your PFC. You can either archive each folder one at a time or save the entire PFC to another folder or disk.

a. Click on MY FILES
b. Choose PERSONAL FILING CABINET
c. Right-click on the folder in the PFC you wish to archive.
d. Choose SAVE FOLDER AS
e. Use the dialog box to pick a folder on the hard drive where you want to save the PFC. NOTE: Take note of where you choose to save the PFC, you will need to be able to find it again next time you wish to open the file.
f. Save the file as FOLDERNAME.PFC. (Where FOLDERNAME will be the default name of the previous folder in your PFC).
g. Click SAVE.

To reopen your PFC file.

a. Click FILE and choose OPEN
b. Find your PFC file you originally saved.
c. Click on the file twice to open it.

You can save the entire PFC file from your Organize directory. You would want to use this method if you need to transfer your PFC from one copy ofAOL to another.

To save the Personal Filing Cabinet, Favorite Places, and Address Books from your copy of America Online 5.0, 6.0 or 7.0

a. Click the START button.
b. Click FIND, then select FILES OR FOLDERS
c. In the Named box, type ORGANIZE. Make sure the LOOK IN box is set to MY COMPUTER
d. Click FIND NOW. The search results appear. In the list provided, select the ORGANIZE directory located inside the AMERICA ONLINE x.0 directory.
e. Double-click the ORGANIZE folder to open.
f. Right-click on the file named after your screen name and choose
g. Copy these files into the folder you wish to use or simply right-click on your Desktop and choose PASTE.
h. This will copy the PFC for your screen name. Repeat this step for any other screen names you wish to save.

If you need to transfer this information to another computer, simply copy these files from the America Online x.0 directory on your current computer to a floppy disk and then copy them into the America Online x.0 directory on the new computer to replace that organize folder with your newer one.

If a you can not receive e-mail from a particular person it may be because in the “Mail Control” settings, they are blocked. Or if you do not wish to receive mail from a particular person....do this:

2. Click on the setup button on your Buddy list and then Privacy Preferences

3. Make sure the first option is selected: Allow all AOL members and AOL Instant Messenger users”

Back to Top

Shopping on the Internet
While using your credit card over the Internet can be safer than shopping at the mall, there are ways that credit card numbers can be snooped out on the Internet. Most businesses that take credit cards take a variety of precautions with credit card number transmissions to and from their Web sites:

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): stands for Secure Sockets Layer; a technology that encrypts information that travels from your browser to the Web server, so that while you're sending and receiving information within a secure server, your credit card number and any other information you send and receive is much harder for anyone to steal. You'll know when you enter a secure server with the AOL browser, because your browser will prompt you with a message like this: "Encrypted data with valid server authentication."

Do be careful when you shop on the Internet, and if you have doubts about the reputation of the merchant, check them out before sending your credit card number. Dozens of big-name merchants are online in AOL's Shopping Channel at Keyword: Shopping. Not only do you have AOL's Total Satisfaction Guarantee working for you when you shop at AOL's Shopping Channel, but also your information travels through AOL's closed network and not through the open Internet.

The Web and Children
As in any walk of life, there are certain things you don't want your children to see online. AOL makes it easier for children to explore the online world with “Parental Controls”. Parents can set a variety of options for children on secondary accounts using a Web content rating system and flexible blocking options. Visit Parental Controls at Keyword: “Parental Controls” for more information.

Web Browser Security Features Available only on AOL version 4.0 and higher.

Some content providers have set up Web "certificates" with trusted third parties (like a company called Verisign) so that users can authenticate that the content they're getting is bonafide. If you do business with providers who use certificates, you can use those certificates with your AOL browser.

How To See Which Certificates You Should Accept:
1. Click the My AOL icon on the toolbar, and click Preferences on the drop-down menu.
2. Click on WWW.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Under the Certificates heading, click Sites.... A list of certificates appears.
5. Click View Certificate.

New Technologies
Some new technologies ("Active Content") have gotten a lot of press about software bugs and people being able to do things you might not want them to do to your computer. All AOL accounts are set so that no security problems having to do with these new technologies can affect you through your browser. See the Security tab under your WWW preferences to change your security settings -- AOL does not recommend that you change them.

How To See the Active Content Settings:
1. Click the My AOL icon on the toolbar, and click Preferences on the drop-down menu.
2. Click on WWW.
3. Click the Security tab. You can change these settings from this screen, should you wish to.

Note: Files that you download from the Web can contain computer viruses or Trojan Horse programs. Viruses and Trojan Horse programs can cause damage to your computer files, contain objectionable graphics, or compromise the security of your account. You should always check files you download for viruses and Trojan Horse programs before you open them. To learn more about viruses and Trojan Horse programs or to obtain anti-virus software, go to the AOL Computer Protection Center at Keyword: “Virus Info”.

Fraud can come in many forms but the most common will be through e-mail. A client recently wrote us and told us of an e-mail that said they were from the AOL billing dept. In fact the e-mail was AOLBilling-Dept@aol.com . This is FRAUDULENT~! AOL will never, EVER send an e-mail regarding billing. They will always call you if necessary. This particular e-mail had several typos and poor grammar (a dead give away) . It went on to say that there was a terrible snow storm and that billing information was lost and they needed it again. THEY WILL NEVER E-MAIL YOU TO ASK FOR BILLING INFORMATION. Get the picture? Ok if something like this happens to you here is what to do:

If you get a suspicious e-mail simply click on Forward and send it to TOSEMAIL1@aol.com This is the Terms of Service Dept at AOL they will take the appropriate action.

4. Navigate to the location on your hard drive in which you want to save the graphic.

Getting help when you need it can be very frustrating. But there is a way that really works and works well. AOL has integrated a Live Tech support that is extremely helpful. Available 24 / 7 / 365...here is how to find it (Drop it in your favorites!)

1> Click on the Help menu and choose Member Services Online Help
2> Click on this icon :
3> On the left click on Get Live Online Help
4> Select Technical OR Billing help
5> Click on GO THERE
In a few seconds It will drop you in an Instant Messaging type format where you type your question and you will get live feedback from tech support.

AOL Tips