<sigh> AOL problem (i think) <sigh> - Broadband Internet

north wales · 20-12-2005, 13:38

I have a friend who recently purchased a Packard Bell laptop along with a Netgear router and AOL silver package boradband (with a view to going wireless).

I went to his house a couple of weeks back and set up his wireless system which worked fine, no problems, job done... however... to connect you were required to shut off norton (which was a free trial version on the laptop) so we thought we'd re-installa full version of Norton in the very near future.

2 weeks later and I'm back, his connection was fine for a few days, then he couldnt log in. I went back, connected to the router fine, signal strength excellent, ststus connected. I cant however get him onto any web pages. Logging in through explorer says "page cannot be found" attempting to log in with AOL says a firewall is on. disable the (still free with only 12 days left) trial of Norton, disable windows firewall ... nothing, still allegedly has a firewall.
try to log into the router settings page, fine, first time no problems, its just that jump to the internet which is being a pain in the arse.

AOL are pants, something which, had he not accepted a 12month contract , we'd do something about. However, due to that contract being in place another solution is required.... anyone have any ideas whatsoever other than reboot the laptop and start again in the hope it'll work for a little longer this time??

o u 8 1 2 · 20-12-2005, 13:51

heres what aol told me to do _
uninstall firewall(norton) aol is rather picky about such things hence mc affee is free with them
re install aol
change filter
dissable burglar alrm until / fit a filter
never worked for me but perhaps its worth a try

north wales · 20-12-2005, 13:55

I think I'll need to go down the re-boot the whole machine route and start over, its becoming a long struggle with aol to get anything working, i reckon if i phone them, log a (another) call, re-boot the laptop. Install the router and aol softrware first then see how it works in a week or so, if it goes down i want my contract with them cancelled on ground they are not providing the service they are contracted to i.e any form of connection.

Unless anyone has a "just switch this to this" solution.

What was your resolution in the end?

The Phazer · 20-12-2005, 14:04

Have you tried changing the MTU in your router controls? AOL UK's is very low at 1400, and most routers have a default of 1460.

That's normally the problem. Apparently there's also an issue where AOL's systems don't like routers if your password is more than 8 letters long.

Phazer

Gizmo210688 · 20-12-2005, 17:43

I doubt this will help, but not using the AOL software to connect to the internet USUALLY sorts out the problem.

I used to use AOL (without the software) with loads of different firewalls and Anti-Virus programs, and I never had any problems.

Although I have no experience in the world of routers and wireless connections and such, so what I've just said may be of no use to you at all.

20-12-2005, 13:38	#1
north wales Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	<sigh> AOL problem (i think) <sigh> I have a friend who recently purchased a Packard Bell laptop along with a Netgear router and AOL silver package boradband (with a view to going wireless). I went to his house a couple of weeks back and set up his wireless system which worked fine, no problems, job done... however... to connect you were required to shut off norton (which was a free trial version on the laptop) so we thought we'd re-installa full version of Norton in the very near future. 2 weeks later and I'm back, his connection was fine for a few days, then he couldnt log in. I went back, connected to the router fine, signal strength excellent, ststus connected. I cant however get him onto any web pages. Logging in through explorer says "page cannot be found" attempting to log in with AOL says a firewall is on. disable the (still free with only 12 days left) trial of Norton, disable windows firewall ... nothing, still allegedly has a firewall. try to log into the router settings page, fine, first time no problems, its just that jump to the internet which is being a pain in the arse. AOL are pants, something which, had he not accepted a 12month contract , we'd do something about. However, due to that contract being in place another solution is required.... anyone have any ideas whatsoever other than reboot the laptop and start again in the hope it'll work for a little longer this time??

20-12-2005, 13:51	#2
o u 8 1 2 Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: middle of know where Posts: 4,854	heres what aol told me to do _ uninstall firewall(norton) aol is rather picky about such things hence mc affee is free with them re install aol change filter dissable burglar alrm until / fit a filter never worked for me but perhaps its worth a try

20-12-2005, 13:55	#3
north wales Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6	I think I'll need to go down the re-boot the whole machine route and start over, its becoming a long struggle with aol to get anything working, i reckon if i phone them, log a (another) call, re-boot the laptop. Install the router and aol softrware first then see how it works in a week or so, if it goes down i want my contract with them cancelled on ground they are not providing the service they are contracted to i.e any form of connection. Unless anyone has a "just switch this to this" solution. What was your resolution in the end?

20-12-2005, 14:04	#4
The Phazer Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,808	Have you tried changing the MTU in your router controls? AOL UK's is very low at 1400, and most routers have a default of 1460. That's normally the problem. Apparently there's also an issue where AOL's systems don't like routers if your password is more than 8 letters long. Phazer

20-12-2005, 17:43	#5
Gizmo210688 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Rotherham Services: Sky Value Pack, PS3, 120GB iPod Classic, 8MB Broadband, PSN: Gizmo210688 Posts: 3,603	I doubt this will help, but not using the AOL software to connect to the internet USUALLY sorts out the problem. I used to use AOL (without the software) with loads of different firewalls and Anti-Virus programs, and I never had any problems. Although I have no experience in the world of routers and wireless connections and such, so what I've just said may be of no use to you at all.