AOL is blocking me from DU! (but, duh, I found an alt.route)

here's the scenerio:

I've been having HIDEOUS issues with adware,viruses, browser (IE) hijack, etc. all day.

I was able to post on DU until this afternoon.

after the last reboot, DU could not longer read or set cookies.

Salon.com. NYTImes.com.... no problems. ONLY DU.

so, I opened a new MSN.com account and used that to get to DU.

accepted by login/password.

no problem.

AOL is trying to block me from DU....

WTF is that about?

Your internet satisfaction will be much higher

HATES aol. i dont know why i dont get anything about computers, but he refuses me to have on my computer, and this man refuses me nothing, so is a funny

After many hours on the phone with SBC DSL, here is the fix. Go to Tools and Internet Options, click on connections tab, click on LAN settings and make sure all 3 boxes are unchecked. For some reason, time after time the "proxy box" has a mind of its own and checks itself. Has happened repeatedly since Sunday.

Also clear all cookies, files and history. It has been working for us. Lots of strange bugs floating around in cyber-space these days.

Good Luck.

:tinfoilhat:

or AOL is simply shit?

BUT, it worked until today...

can I borrow that hat?

Hint hint
.|.
.|.
\./
.v.

(a long time in "internet" terms). I left it in disgust and vowed never to go back. Never have, never will. The royally SUCK!

Sounds a bit like that to me.

no one seems to get the point.

AOL (garbage that it IS) has worked for me for YEARS. and, I can't quit it due to family contact issues, etc.

something happened TODAY.

MSN allows me to post this, AOL, as of TODAY, will not.

something is wrong.

i've been zapping viruses and adware all day. but, only DU through AOL is affected.

If you don't mind wallowing in filth for the short time it will take.

:shrug:

on DU.:-)

they're just like any other ISP. I no longer use them but if you want non-AOL content, use IE and not their built-in shitty browser.

it was hijacked.

can't access "Internet Options" and the (*%(*&^)*&^(*&^89&^%R*&^%)(*& pigfucker adware criminals have reset the default home page and BLOCKED me from changing any settings.

I also can't uninstall it.

losing it here.

all my other AOL/cookie relationships work (salon, NYT, cafepress, etc.) ONLY DU is being blocked by AOL.

i am posting through an MSN account I set up this afternoon, btw

run all your clean up programs again, and happy surfing.

Try simple stuff before you do that.

I've used it on XP a few times, and never had a problem. I'm not talking about restoring to the time of factory shipment.

the version you are using isn't the "current one." Whether it is or not, AOL is very easy to uninstall and re-install. Or just pick a newer version and put it in and it will automatically pick up and install the new software over your older version.

If you have the super duper latest AOL version then what I've told you won't matter, but I only upgrade AOL when they force me to and it's for stuff like you're talking about. It could be that your old version is straining and AOL likes to bump you to a newer version. I think their spyware tells them what sites you use the most and they want to sell more ads so they start denying you access or bugging your access.

Background: I hate AOL. But in '96 it was the "browser" that came with my first computer that was the easiest to connect to. The other browser was the first version of Netscape Navigator. I went with AOL for two months and switched to Netscape which had "Sprynet" as the ISP. Sprynet went through many buyouts and ended up as Earthlink, but I never had to change my e-mail so I stayed with them until today.

HOWEVER! I kept the "minimum AOL" account at $4.95 a month since 1997 and it's the ONLY thing that's reliable when I travel! I can plug into AOL anywhere and I forward my Netscape/Earthlink/Sprynet mail to AOL when I go on vacation because IT WORKS!

Whatever Works is worth keeping. It's probably that you need to upgrade to the "latest version" and they are penalizing you by denying you access to the site you visit most.

If you have the latest version, my post will mean nothing to you. Just was trying to defend AOL since there are so many here who automatically come after folks who DO NEED TO USE IT!

:-)'s much babbling, here.

back up, turn it on, and about 85% of what's wrong goes away. I like to try the simple stuff before doing "System Restore" "RegEdit" and all that other stuff that folks will tell you.

Not being able to access DU sounds simple enough you don't need to tear everything apart. Could be DU's "cookie things" also that are screwing it up.

They are tracking every connection to a liberal site on the 'hit list' and DU is number 3 on the hit list.

I get an atttack everytime I'm in one lately. Get Spybot and Adaware after you do the fixes that were already mentioned to you.

They will help some. I'm still trying to figure out how to get back some of the stuff I've lost.

I went in through MSN as well. What's AOL's problem?

Probably has a corrupted cookie from DU. Try clearing your cookies.

And I went and ate some! Damn.

Why aren't you guys putting some fresh uncorrupted cookies there so we folks don't get this stuff. :D Stale, corrupted cookies....OMGosh....

You need a new chef there in DC.

I know when you go into the forest you want a guy with a gun behind you, but 99% of the time you don't need him. Take a chance and try other ISP's.

I finally did get the sasser virus because I have ventured into the woods alone, but I will never have AOL again and have you checked to make sure you don't have a worm or virus?

It was just lousy and I hated the way I would get cut off. Plus their customer service was horrible. I also hated the way they distorted graphics. It also damaged my old computer. I switched to Earthlink after that. I had no problems with them but I decided to go to comcast broadband afterwards. I like Comcast better. No rpoblems with them.

John