a question for the computer guru's
Thread Starter
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,562
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
a question for the computer guru's
while doing my yearly hard drive cleanup, file compression, and junk deleting, i noticed AOL was still in there. i tried to un install it, but the un install keeps on going into not responding mode. i have tried in normal windows, and also tried in safe mode, but no matter how i try, as soon as i try to remove it, everything freezes up, and then i hit ctrl, alt, delete, and i see the aol not responding in task manager.
anyone have any ideas ???
anyone have any ideas ???
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Vermont area
The simplest thing by far would be to just ignore the heck out of it - it's not hurting anything. Don't stare directly at the AOL, if AOL begins to spin or vibrate - move away!
Delete any AOL-ish stuff in your startup folder or anything else that may interfere with the uninstall. Reboot and retry the uninstall (I guess your safe mode attempt covered this). Google for a solution, you are not the first to try to uninstall AOL! You could probably just delete most of the AOL specific files from the directory it's installed in. You'll still have little shortcuts, Start Menu entries, registry entries, shared libraries in the Windows folder and all manner of dingleberries going on - you could make a career of this. Worst case, backup all your data, format the drive and reinstall Windows, reinstall all your apps, restore your data and presto! You've uninstalled it!
There are uninstaller programs, probably some free ones too but you could always buy one.
Or just leave it alone. How much space is it really taking up? How much space do you have? How much do you really need? If your drive is near full consider adding a cheap one.
Delete any AOL-ish stuff in your startup folder or anything else that may interfere with the uninstall. Reboot and retry the uninstall (I guess your safe mode attempt covered this). Google for a solution, you are not the first to try to uninstall AOL! You could probably just delete most of the AOL specific files from the directory it's installed in. You'll still have little shortcuts, Start Menu entries, registry entries, shared libraries in the Windows folder and all manner of dingleberries going on - you could make a career of this. Worst case, backup all your data, format the drive and reinstall Windows, reinstall all your apps, restore your data and presto! You've uninstalled it!
There are uninstaller programs, probably some free ones too but you could always buy one.
Or just leave it alone. How much space is it really taking up? How much space do you have? How much do you really need? If your drive is near full consider adding a cheap one.
Last edited by BikerWithTruck; Feb 28, 2006 at 07:28 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,475
Likes: 727
From: Calgary Canada
I've screwed around with a couple of different registry cleanup tools to combat problems like this. In the end, it's far easier to just reformat and re-install. The only problem that causes is if you have software that you don't have the original discs for and can't get from the internet.
If you absolutley have to keep something, buy a 2nd hard drive and install windows onto a partition of the new one, then delete it off the old one and you will be left with your programs intact.
Take your time and make sure to read all the directions and you'll be fine.
If you absolutley have to keep something, buy a 2nd hard drive and install windows onto a partition of the new one, then delete it off the old one and you will be left with your programs intact.
Take your time and make sure to read all the directions and you'll be fine.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 12
From: Louisiana
I know this might sound crazy....but reinstall the same version of AOL that you are tring to remove and then uninstall it. That wasy any files that are corupted will get fixed and the uninstall should work.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Vermont area
Originally Posted by byronbgs
I know this might sound crazy....but reinstall the same version of AOL that you are tring to remove and then uninstall it. That wasy any files that are corupted will get fixed and the uninstall should work.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
Likes: 2
From: NW burbs of chicago
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 6
From: Abilene Kansas
try doing the reinstall then boot into safe mode and uninstall.... also, while there run spybot search and destroy and antivirus
Matt
Matt
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 747
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From: Mesa, Arizona
Originally Posted by seventyseven250
I've screwed around with a couple of different registry cleanup tools to combat problems like this. In the end, it's far easier to just reformat and re-install. The only problem that causes is if you have software that you don't have the original discs for and can't get from the internet.
If you absolutley have to keep something, buy a 2nd hard drive and install windows onto a partition of the new one, then delete it off the old one and you will be left with your programs intact.
Take your time and make sure to read all the directions and you'll be fine.
If you absolutley have to keep something, buy a 2nd hard drive and install windows onto a partition of the new one, then delete it off the old one and you will be left with your programs intact.
Take your time and make sure to read all the directions and you'll be fine.
Thread Starter
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,562
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
AOL is like pee in a pool. hehehe. i like that inference. and that is about what it is like.
i left out the long version where i tried most of what was already mentioned including downloading it and trying to remove. it is not taking up much space now,31 meg on a 30 gig drive. i had already removed all the shortcuts and associated BS, its just knowing that its on the drive and i can't get rid of it that puts a burr under my saddle. i never installed it, it is on the startup disc that came with the computer. oh well, i guess it will have to stay there till the puter crashes and i have to reformat it. i really don't kneed the space, i still have 8 gig unused.
i left out the long version where i tried most of what was already mentioned including downloading it and trying to remove. it is not taking up much space now,31 meg on a 30 gig drive. i had already removed all the shortcuts and associated BS, its just knowing that its on the drive and i can't get rid of it that puts a burr under my saddle. i never installed it, it is on the startup disc that came with the computer. oh well, i guess it will have to stay there till the puter crashes and i have to reformat it. i really don't kneed the space, i still have 8 gig unused.
Thread Starter
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,562
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by lcampbell
Go into the registry and remove all instances of AOL and all references to it. If you feel upto it.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 864
Likes: 0
From: Near the trees
Go into the C drive and search AOL.* and remove it that way. If you have already been in the registry, you won't find the references to AOL using Add/Remove programs nor using the uninstall (freeze up) option for AOL.