Natconserv

Some background info first:
I'm running Windows 98 SE.
I have AOL 7.0 and IE 6.0 SP1 with a DSL connection.
Also have the latest Java update for my system (1.5.0_09)

The Problem: All of a sudden (about 3 - 4 weeks ago) when I signed on to AOL and clicked on one of their news stories I got an error message that said (it's not word-for-word but close enough): "ActiveX needs to run on this page or you will not be able to view it properly" Trust me - ActiveX is enabled. I checked the browser settings more than a dozen times.
Also, when I try to remotely access & sign in to my AOL account from IE, I get this error message: "You will need to enable cookies and javascript to sign in."

Yet, cookies and javascript ARE enabled! I've adjusted the settings over and over. At one point I enabled everything in IE security & privacy and put everthing on its lowest setting, but to no avail. Since this was only happening when browsing AOL pages (or trying to sign in to AOL remotely) I re-installed AOL 7.0, but that didn't work either.
I also installed AOL 9.0 Security Edition and that didn't help either. Same thing.
And please, don't tell me to download any more browsers. (Opera, Firefox, etc.)
Why did this happen all of a sudden? I already use two other browsers (IE, of course, and my SBC / ATT browser). My IE & SBC browsers should & do work fine. No ActiveX error messages. I can view slideshows, videos, etc. with no problem.
Yet I can't access my free AOL account from either one. (I get that cookies & javascript error message.) And, as I mentioned earlier, when I'm browsing AOL (like their news stories, etc.) I get the error message that I'm not running ActiveX and I can't view pages properly. I didn't get these messages before. What happened? It almost seems that AOL may have changed something. Now, that I have a free account with them, there is no customer service support.. And nobody supports Windows 98se anymore, either. I don't know if downloading more browsers is the answer. HELP!!

OldGrayGary

Hi Natconserv

I'd imagine that you'd be best off uninstalling all of your previous versions of AOL (you can keep your email folders, downloads, & such), and then re-install only the new bring-your-own-ISP-connection AOL [which is either "Open Ride" or "AOL for Broadband" - do a quick check before downloading].

My guess would be that the error message is misleading. Yes, it's likely that you have some ActiveX controls enabled, but not the ones required by AOL. Reinstalling their latest version of AOL for users with a different broadband ISP should have a good chance of configuring that for you. Also - check to make sure that whatever AOL version you download will run OK on Windows 98se (many of the latest and greatest won't).

It actually isn't necessary to use any AOL software at all to access much of whatever free AOL services you enjoy = for example, AOL email is available via webmail at aol.com - you could use any browser.

Make sure to remove any dial-up connections that you no longer use from the "Connections" box in Internet options, too.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

Natconserv

Hello Gary;
I have uninstalled AOL 7.0 and re-installed it. I also installed AOL 9.0 SE and uninstalled it. Did not work. Both versions are Win98 compatible.

I cannot remotely access my AOL e-mail from any other site including aol.com. I can only get my AOL e-mail when I log on using their software(7.0)

The main question is: "why did this happen all of a sudden?" Everything was working just fine untill 4 or 5 weeks ago. I could (using AOL 7.0) surf AOL' s news page and clink on blue links and see videos, slideshows, etc. Now I can't. Don't get me wrong. I get the main page, I can go to other AOL pages. But when I click on a blue link the page won't display properly. If there's photos in the page they won't come out. If there's a video to play it just won't play. Yet, I can get my e-mail (with imbedded graphics). I can visit my favorite places and get full web graphics, videos, slideshows, etc.

I swear this happened after that warning came out about ART images (considering that ART is proprietary to AOL).
Sincerely;
Natconserv

OldGrayGary

Hi again


I'm never surprised when AOL software on a Win9x machine acts up, but I am surprised that you are having trouble getting your AOL email from the "Mail" icon-shorcut on the aol.com homepage, while using IE. That's usually pretty straightforward. If it needed a particular ActiveX control installed, you should have either seen an option screen open - asking your permission to install the control, or have seen the security/privacy bar message (if you have IE 6) -prompting you to click on the bar to see options regarding installing the control. -- Since you have Win9x, you can try the "repair" of IE (you can do this from either Add/Remove in Control Panel, or from System Information's "Tools" menu in Accessories/System Tools), and then visit Windows Update for any patches that might need reinstalling, just to see if that can take care of that part of the problem. It might also help your other AOL problem, since AOL setup often tries to setup it's special AOL settings based on your IE Internet settings.

With so many browser versions coming & going, a Registry Cleaner might help (in case tangled entries are gumming up things). I like CCleaner a lot for this sort of thing http://www.download.com/CCleaner/300...-10315544.html

Many AOL versions have their own diagnostics tools. You can check in the errors section of the AOL system info tool & see what errors are listed there. AOL usually sticks a shortcut to this tool in their AOL (or America Online) folder in the Start/Programs menu.

Hope it's working soon
. . . Gary

Natconserv

Been there done that. I'm getting no messages to download any controls. I've already repaired IE. I've downloaded IE updates and Windows98 updates. I've adjusted AOL controls. See my first post.
It just started happening for no reason.
BTW, knowing that all updates are not neccessarily good, I un-installed Windows98 updates (didnt work) so I re-installed them.
As I said, right after that warning about AOL ART images came out, this started happening. Also, since I download a lot of files, I notice that any file with an ART image in it won't come out. If it's a seperate ART image I can convert it to JPEG with the AOL software (one image at time though. very tedious). However, if the image is part of a page I've downloaded, it won't come out with IE. I guess this is this is going to be a Unsolved Mystery.
take care.
Sincerely;
Natconserv

OldGrayGary

Did you try any Registry Cleaner yet?

Just a thought.
. . . Gary

Natconserv

Yup. Didn't work.