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2002-05-07
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AXCEL216's MAX Speeed
AOL 16-bit for Windows/WfWG 3.1x ⌐Tweaks + Speed-Ups
These topics refer to America Online (AOL) 16-bit for Windows/WfWG 3.1x,
unless specified otherwise!
My AOL ⌐tweaks, most of which target AOL 32-bit for Windows 95/98/ME, are
available at:
http://members.aol.com/axcel216/aol.htm
WARNING: FIRST BACKUP ALL YOUR HARD DRIVES TO A SAFE LOCATION BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO MAKE ANY SYSTEM CHANGES!
Take EXTREME CAUTION when modifying your System settings! Faulty
changes may result in computer crashes/lockups/permanent data loss,
or might lead to having you REINSTALL the ENTIRE Operating System(s)!
YOU are the ONLY one responsible for ANY changes YOU make!
ALWAYS HAVE YOUR MOST RECENT SYSTEM BACKUP READY!
BEWARE: These ⌐tricks have been tried by others (and most by me), but with NO
guarantee they will also work for YOU!
CREDITS: Some of the following tips I stumbled upon while browsing the
Internet, some have been kindly sent by concerned readers (all
authors/contributors are acknowledged and reliable sources given
proper credit), and some I discovered myself. Enjoy the ride!
NOTE: Contributors tips (clearly marked) posted here do not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the author of these files.
Please send me your comments, corrections, tips at:
axcel216@aol.com
AOLTIPS.TXT Contents: [New "⌐tweaks" added at the TOP]
AOL.EXE SWITCHES
AOL ANTI-IDLE!
AOL PROXY SERVER
AOL PERSONAL FILE CABINET
10 EXTRA MEGABYTES
AOL INSTANT MESSAGES ON/OFF
AOL WEB BROWSING
AOL help + tips on the Internet:
- AOL Client current releases:
http://free.aol.com/tryaolfree/dnld_aol/download_aol.adp
- ZDTV: AOL SuperGuide:
http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/superguides/aol/
- Ojatex's Laptop Tips for AOL in LAPTOP.TXT (included):
http://members.aol.com/ojatex/laptop.htm
- Tips + Tricks for AOL:
http://www.tipsandtricks.net/
- AOL.com Help:
http://www.aol.com/nethelp/
- Remove Trojan Password Stealers:
http://members.aol.com/luvjanet/remove.html
- Midnight Silver's AOL Tricks:
http://members.nbci.com/mdntsilver/
- Blind Crow's AOL Tricks:
http://members.nbci.com/dashvilla/
- America Online, Netscape, the Internet & You:
http://www.cris.com/~shanker/david/aolscape.html
- Netscape Navigator and AOL:
http://members.aol.com/banderilla/navigaol.htm
- PC FAQs AOL Help:
http://pcfaqs.20m.com/aol.html
- Secret AOL profile codes:
http://members.aol.com/widfara4/AOLprofile.html
- AOL Glossary:
http://www.observers.net/glossary/
- AOL Watch:
http://www.aolwatch.org/
- AOL Observers:
http://www.observers.net/
- AOL Funnies:
http://www.whoisvan.com/
______________________________________________________________________________
AOL.EXE SWITCHES
AOL.EXE command line parameters work with ALL Windows 9x/ME and 3.1x releases.
To learn how to start AOL using command line switches, which allow you to go
directly to your area of interest upon running AOL, proceed with these steps:
1. Start AOL.
2. Click the Favorites icon.
3. Open Favorite Places.
4. Click the "Add Favorite Place" button to create a new item.
5. In the "Enter the Place's Description:" box type:
AOL Logon Scripts
or any other suggestive name.
6. In the "Enter the Internet Address:" box type:
aol://4344:431.scrptaol.1313877.538546639
7. Click OK.
8. Double-click on "AOL Logon Scripts" and read up.
AOL ANTI-IDLE!
If you are among the millions of frustrated AOLers who have been "greeted"
with a 45 minutes inactivity popup dialog box one too many times, when you ARE
in fact doing something on the Internet (eventually using a stand-alone web
browser while connected to AOL), you should consider one of these solutions:
1. AOL users located in the USA or Canada:
If using a "Call Waiting" (or similar) service provided by your telephone
company (telco), turn it off by adding the *70 (or 70# or 1170 = depending on
your local phone line provider) prefix followed in most cases by a comma (,)
in front of your (local) phone number used to connect to AOL through your
analog (dial-up/56K) or digital (xDSL/cable/satellite/ISDN) modem.
2. AOL EASTER EGG:
Click Go to from the main AOL menu (these exact steps may vary depending on
which version of AOL you are using) -> select Favorite Places -> click Add
Favorite Place -> type:
aol://1391:43-52114
in the "Enter the Internet Address:" box -> type Hello! (or any other
suggestive name you wish) in the "Enter the Place's Description:" box -> click
the OK button or press the Enter key.
From now on, when you (double)-click on "Hello!" (or whatever else you called
it), it will bring up a small (non-resizable!) window containing a person's
head wearing snorkeling gear, and waving at you, on a blue background.
This can be used as AOL's own "anti-idler" every time after signing on to AOL,
because it starts a non-stop looping animation. :)
To get it out of the way, just minimize the window.
BONUS:
If you have your PC sound volume turned up, you can also hear "He, he!" the
first time the head pops up.
Moreover, when you left-click once inside the blue window, a web browser
window will open, taking you to AOL's American Greeting Cards web page:
http://www.aol.americangreetings.com/greetingcard/
AOL PROXY SERVER
This tip was made possible by John Brandt (jhbrant@aol.com):
"Your AOL proxy server tip works on Windows for Workgroups 3.11, for both
Netscape and MS IE, even though it says it only works on 32-bit versions.
Makes sense - after all, the proxy doesn't know, or care, what OS and browser
you're using."
Using a proxy server with ISPs that support it (including AOL), enables
anonymous ("stealth") Internet browsing. This means that a web site using
server based Java, JavaScript, CGI, Perl or any other tracking technology
cannot detect your IP, IP point of origin or e-mail address anymore.
Normal browsing allows this detection, and further more, by using one of
Netscape's or other 3rd party WWW/FTP browsers with built-in e-mail
capabilities, a server you access can "extract" your personal e-mail info,
and also use IP detection for sending and/or reading cookies to and from your
browser (only if your browser is set to accept cookies). MS IE 3/4/5/6
browsers make an exception, and therefore are "safe" for "stealth" browsing,
because they don't have a built-in e-mail tool.
Another advantage of using proxies is an increase in browsing speed, due to
the ISPs/Online Services capability of caching web pages and graphics files
locally on their servers, thus accessing various web sites faster from the
cached pages.
IMPORTANT:
The AOL proxy server works ONLY IF YOU:
1. Are an AOL (America Online) member.
2. Connect to AOL ONLY by using one of AOL's proprietary networking
protocols, NOT through a 3rd party ISP using AOL's TCP/IP protocol!
3. Use AOL 16-bit client software 3/4, AND
4. Use a 16-bit proxy capable web browser, like Netscape
Navigator/Communicator or Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows/WfWG 3.1x
(both free).
5. Use AOL's 16-bit proprietary proxy file (WINSOCK.DLL), which MUST be
located in your Windows/WfWG 3.1x directory.
AOL PROXY SERVER USING NETSCAPE BROWSERS:
... Appears courtesy of Jason Caprio (Jcap334@hotmail.com), and updated
courtesy of Ben (Heatt13195@aol.com):
"1. You MUST be a member of AOL using AOL client 3.0 or newer.
2. Go to the Netscape web site:
http://www.netscape.com/download/
and install the latest version of Netscape Communicator/Navigator.
3. Run Netscape and go to: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Proxies.
4. Choose "Manual Proxy Configuration", and click on View.
5. On the HTTP space, type:
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
6. On the small space just to the right which is the Port, type:
80
for unsecure sites (HTTP), or:
443
for secure sites (HTTPS).
7. Netscape will work with AOL perfectly and FAST!"
AOL PROXY SERVER USING MICROSOFT BROWSERS:
To use the AOL proxy server feature with your Microsoft Internet Explorer
browsers (started separately, NOT using AOL's custom browser from within AOL),
apply these easy steps, courtesy of The Captain, and updated courtesy of Ben
(Heatt13195@aol.com):
"This works with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0x (instructions for 1.0x,
2.0x, 3.0x, 5.0x + 6.0x are slightly different) and AOL software in
Windows/WfWG.
Open IE4 -> click View -> Internet Options -> Connection tab. Place a check
mark in "Access the Internet using a proxy server". Type in:
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
in the Address field, then type:
80
for unsecure sites (HTTP), or:
443
for secure sites (HTTPS) in the Port field, and check "Bypass proxy server
for local (Intranet) addresses".
Click OK twice.
Open IE5 -> click Tools -> Internet Options -> click "LAN Settings" under the
"Connection" tab to list the "Proxy Server" options on the bottom half of the
window that comes up. Place a check mark in "Use a proxy server". In the
"Address" box type:
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
In the "Port" box type:
80
for unsecure sites (HTTP), or:
443
for secure sites (HTTPS).
Click OK twice."
NOTE: If you use another ISP besides AOL as your alternative or primary
Internet connection (and then eventually log on to AOL through AOL's TCP/IP
protocol), you need to disable the AOL proxy in your web browser while
connected to your other ISP, and eventually enable the specific proxy for
your ISP, if available.
UPDATE: [Thank you Ben (Heatt13195@aol.com)!]
"I investigated the AOL proxy server option further, and discovered that
"ie3.proxy.aol.com" and "www3.proxy.aol.com" must be "generic" names for all
"vip-**.proxy.aol.com" servers.
Maybe they're juggling this around because too many users who aren't "Very
Important People" (VIP) are using the "ie3.proxy.aol.com" setting. :)
If "ie3.proxy.aol.com" is used, the actual server will vary:
vip-wo.proxy.aol.com
vip-wn.proxy.aol.com
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
etc..."
AOL PERSONAL FILE CABINET
Many thanks Ed (EWitten507@aol.com)! Your cool trick follows...
"Saving your AOL artwork and Personal Filing Cabinet
This is a little trick I learned when my AOL software crashed (due to a
power surge and I didn't have a recent backup) and I found out my Personal
Filing Cabinet was too large to be transferred to another installation
using AOL's standard procedures (i.e. reinstalling the software). Follow
these steps to recover your information:
1. From Windows, exit to DOS.
2. Rename your original AOL directory to something like AOL30BAK (RENAME
C:\AOL30 C:\AOL30BAK where C represents the drive letter to which you
installed AOL.)
3. Restart Windows and install the AOL software, being sure NOT, repeat
NOT, to let the installation software search your hard drive for a previous
AOL installation.
4. After AOL has installed, DO NOT start it. Exit Windows again to DOS.
5. Go to the AOL30BAK\IDB directory (CD\AOL30BAK\IDB) and copy everything
but the MAIN.IDX file to your new AOL IDB directory (COPY *.*
C:\AOL30\IDB). DO NOT, repeat DO NOT tell the COPY command to overwrite
files always when it asks if you want to.
You can overwrite every file but MAIN.IDX. Failure to follow this step
could cause problems later on.
6. Go to the AOL30BAK\ORGANIZE directory (CD\AOL30BAK\ORGANIZE). Copy the
contents of this directory to your new AOL directory (COPY *.*
C:\AOL30\ORGANIZE).
7. Restart Windows. Start AOL and follow the instructions for signing on
as a new user. When AOL asks, enter your Screen Name and Password to sign
on to the network. Go to the Members drop-down menu and select PREFERENCES.
Set both Graphics and Personal Filing Cabinet to at least 30MB.
8. Sign-off and exit AOL. Then exit to DOS one last time.
9. Go to the AOL30BAK\IDB directory (CD\AOL30BAK\IDB) and copy the
MAIN.IDX file to your new AOL IDB directory (COPY MAIN.IDX C:\AOL30\IDB),
overwriting as necessary.
10. And that's it. When you sign on in your new installation, AOL tries to
create a new Personal Filing Cabinet for you. Since your old filing
cabinet is already in the ORGANIZE directory and providing that it is not
corrupted, AOL recognizes it and acts accordingly. Your data should be
recovered. Copying MAIN.IDX into your new installation preserves any
artwork you have acquired, and when you sign on again the software will
automatically update and (providing none of the files in the IDB directory
is corrupt) all of your old settings should be restored.
But double check your modem setup all the same."
UPDATE:
"Here's another way to save your File Cabinet if you have to reinstall AOL.
Since AOL will save the Download and Organize directories when you uninstall,
copy only your Idb directory somewhere else, uninstall, and then reinstall
AOL. Then copy it back under your new AOL directory, replacing the one there."
This update courtesy of Tom B. (Jult53@aol.com).
10 EXTRA MEGABYTES
First a tip. Create a shortcut (link) to your AOL FTP Place (you are using to
upload files to your web site) into Favorite Places, respecting the following
convention:
aol://5862:144/members.aol.com:/yourscreenname
or its alias (same thing, but less typing):
aol://5862:144/users.aol.com:/yourscreenname
Replace the "yourscreenname" string above with your real AOL screen name.
Name this new item whatever you want.
This would be mine:
aol://5862:144/users.aol.com:/axcel216
To do this, simply click on "Keyword" from the "Go to" menu, and type "My
place" (no quotes) in the dialog box. When you get there, simply drag the
heart shaped icon at the top right side into the Favorite Places window.
Then go ahead and access your AOL FTP place:
ftp://members.aol.com:/yourscreenname
or:
ftp://users.aol.com:/yourscreenname
from within the AOL interface (even if you connect to AOL using another
primary ISP, like I do), by starting your AOL built-in web browser, to see how
much free space you have left. AOL provides 2 Mb (2,000,000 bytes) of web/ftp
space for each screen name, and you can create up to 5 screen names per
individual account, for a total of 10 Mb (10,000,000 bytes).
Notice that when AOL says 10 Mb (Megabytes), they mean exactly 2,000,000
bytes, NOT 10 MB (MegaBytes) which translates into 1,048,576 Bytes per
MegaByte, which amounts to 10,485,760 Bytes. This is because they calculate
it using the decimal base system, where 1 Kb (Kilobyte) = 1,000 bytes, NOT the
computer language system, the one we're all used to in our routine "computing
life", where 1 KB (KiloByte) = 1,024 Bytes.
Therefore if you do the math, you'll see that AOL's 10 Megabytes are actually
240 KiloBytes "shorter". Bummer... Talk about "savings". :(
BUT [there always must be a BUT :)] if you had subscribed by listing one (or
more) of your AOL web pages with the HomeTown web site (a free advertising
service for AOLers), found at:
http://hometown.aol.com/
and using your AOL built-in web browser, before November 1st 1998, you must
have by now an extra 10 Mb of FTP space (wow!) added to your default 2 Mb,
allocated to the screen name where your HomeTown listed page resides.
If you didn't get your extra 10 Mb yet, send e-mail to:
AOLInsider@aol.com
If you missed this one-time offer, you can still "expand" your AOL FTP space
by adding some of (or all) your web pages to HomeTown AOL. Details here:
http://members.aol.com/hmtwnpromo/double/
When you submit your web page to HomeTown AOL, the default AOL URL changes
from (example):
http://members.aol.com/axcel216/95.htm
to (automatically redirected):
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/axcel216/95.htm
You can also access the same page at this URL:
http://hometown.aol.com/axcel216/95.htm
and they also place a (non-removable) frame on top of your page, which
contains AOL related ads.
Good luck!
NOTE: You must be using AOL software 3.0 or above to be able to do all this.
AOL INSTANT MESSAGES ON/OFF
To turn off AOL Instant Messages (IMs) so they won't pop up while you're in
the middle of doing something else, log on to AOL and follow these steps:
A. First method:
1. Hold Ctrl and press I to open the IM box.
2. Type:
$im_off
in the IM Send to box.
3. Type something (anything) in the body of the IM message box.
4. Hit Send.
To turn AOL Instant Messages back on:
1. Hold Ctrl and press I to open the IM box.
2. Type:
$im_on
in the IM Send to box.
3. Type something (anything) in the body of the IM message box.
4. Hit Send.
B. Second method (some steps may differ slightly depending on your AOL
version):
1. Click the Favorites icon.
2. Open Favorite Places.
3. Click the "Add Favorite Place" button to create a new item.
4. In the "Enter the Place's Description:" box type:
IM OFF
or any other suggestive name you wish.
5. In the "Enter the Internet Address:" box type:
aol://9293:$im_off
6. Click OK.
7. Double-click "IM OFF" to turn off AOL Instant Messages.
To turn IMs back on:
1. Click the Favorites icon.
2. Open Favorite Places.
3. Click the "Add Favorite Place" button to create a new item.
4. In the "Enter the Place's Description:" box type:
IM ON
or any other suggestive name you wish.
5. In the "Enter the Internet Address:" box type:
aol://9293:$im_on
6. Click OK.
7. Double-click "IM ON" to turn on AOL Instant Messages.
AOL WEB BROWSING
Courtesy of Ojatex (Ojatex@aol.com).
"Any AOLer should ALWAYS use their browser as a STANDALONE and NOT under the
AOL shell.
Many AOLers (especially newbies) don't realize that STANDALONE browsing is
possible and BETTER. It also gets rid of the 'fat' AOL toolbar that hogs the
screen."
ADD-ONS:
- AOL 16-bit software 3.0 for Windows/WfWG 3.1x has a built-in proprietary web
browser, which is primitive, BUGgy and does NOT comply with basic HTML
standards (like Frames, Tables, Font Faces, Forms etc). If you prefer to use
one of the free 16-bit Netscape Navigator/Communicator 3/4 browsers to access
the Internet instead (while logged on to AOL), go to this page:
http://www.netscape.com/download/
and download the browser of your choice.
- Read these guidelines to learn how to make the Netscape browsers work with
your AOL software:
http://help.netscape.com/kb/consumer/19970331-2.html