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                     A M E R I C A     O N L I N E  

                                 9 . 0
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                         T I P S   &   T R I C K S
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Applies to:
America Online 9.0 Security Edition
America Online 9.0 Optimized



Well shit, I'm bored and decided to rig up some tips for you AOL 9.0 users.
These are mainly some performance tweaks for users looking to get every
edge out of AOL 9 without having to revert back to a smaller more effecient
version of AOL. 

If you are in fact struggling with the performance of this version of AOL, and
these tweaks do NOT resolve your issues, I recommend going back to AT LEAST
AOL 7. You can get this version at:
download.com
http://ftp.newaol.com






   +-----------------------------------------+
    TRICK AOL9 SETUP TO INSTALL LIGHT EDITION
   +-----------------------------------------+


Light edition is the smaller, more effecient version of AOL9 software. By 
installing the light edition you are ensured that you are running the minimal
components of AOL9 while still maintaining the new interface and most of the
features.

It should be noted that by installing AOL9 LE you will LOSE the following 
features of AOL9 SE:
- Larger Welcome Screen        - SuperBuddy Icons
- Desktop Themes               - Video Instant Messages
- Quick Views                  - graphics for KOL/RED services
- Animated IM Wallpapers

If you don't need these features then lets continue shall we:
- first off download the latest build from Keyword: Upgrade
- allow the setup to finish, it'll kick you off and go into setup when you are
  done. EXIT setup.
- click start, run.., type in msconfig, click ok
- system configuration utility window will pop-up, click boot.ini tab
- click advanced options..
- check /MAXMEM, in the box put in 96, click ok twice
- reboot your machine

**WARNING: BY DOING THIS YOU HAVE LIMITED YOUR SYSTEM TO 96MEGS OF RAM, SO
THE BOOT WILL BE SLOW!!**

- once back into the interface of windows, make sure "show hidden files and
  folders" is enabled. If not, open my computer, click Tools - Folder
  Options, click View tab, check Show hidden files or folders, click ok
- now go to the following directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\AOL Downloads
- in this directory should be a folder with the setup of AOL9 in it, run it
  (usually labeled something like "setup_90")
    * alternatively you can do a search for setup90.exe using windows search
      to see if it comes up with anything.
- in setup AOL will verify your RAM and will think you only have 96MB of ram,
  the process will complete with AOL 9 LE being installed.
- once completed, click start, run..
- type in msconfig, click boot.ini tab, click advanced settings
- uncheck /MAXMEM, click ok
- click ok again
- reboot your machine

Your machine should now have AOL 9 LE installed INSTEAD!


   +-----------------------------------------+
         KILL UNNEEDED BUNDLED SOFTWARE
   +-----------------------------------------+

AOL 9.0 comes bundled with a bunch of junk that you may not need, you can 
remove these by using Add/Remove Programs. To access Add/Remove Programs:
- click start, settings, control panel
- double-click add/remove programs

You can remove the following bundled software:
- AOL Coach: Used to assist novice members with the functionality of AOL,
  it automates AOL tasks for you to learn new things. This was introduced
  in AOL 6.
- You've Got Pictures Screensaver: Used to create Screen Savers if you
  happened to order You've Got Pictures through AOL.
- AOL Deskbar: Annoying, quick access toolbar that is on your desktop, you
  can remove this too if it is of no use to you.
- PureNetworks Port Magic: Unknown, but is considered spyware by some 
  antispyware companies. It is definitely best to at LEAST remove this
  product.

There are a few more that you can remove, but DO NOT remove AOL Connectivity
Services, as your AOL software will FAIL to function properly.


   +-----------------------------------------+
         KILL UNNEEDED STARTUP SERVICES
   +-----------------------------------------+

The following can be safely disabled using msconfig:
AOLDialer.exe
AOL Spyware Protection
HostManager

All these services are fairly useless for most users.


   +------------------------------------------+
     STOP AOL TOP SPEED TECHNOLOGY SERVICE
   +------------------------------------------+

This may be a required service for 9.0 optimized, but I am unsure. In order
to disable TopSpeed Tech Service you need to first disable it within AOL9:
- open AOL9, logon
- click settings
- go to Internet Options
- uncheck "Turn on AOL TopSpeed"
- close AOL
- go to start, settings, control panel
- go to adminstrative tools, services
- look for AOL TopSpeedMonitor, change the startup type to manual to be
  safe, click ok
- close services window
- log back onto AOL



   +---------------------------------+
        THE GHETTO LIGHT EDITION 
   +---------------------------------+
I don't feel this is the best method to get the light edition performance
but it will do. If you do not want to go through the long process of 
getting light edition installed on your PC, you can try this method:
- open AOL, click Help - About America Online..
- Press Ctrl + D
- disable all the features listed here, click ok
- close AOL and reload AOL
- all fancy features should be turned off and it should at least make
performance a little bit better.

However, the features are still INSTALLED they are just disabled, unlike
the method described previously, which prevents them from installing in
the first place.