[V0lt]

I'm pretty sure AOL uses netscape as it's browser...I could be wrong though. That could be the reason that the XP settings don't play a part in AOL.

What you could do is open up internet explorer on top of AOL (if you don't have any "parental controls" on your account) and then XP's settings would have jurisdiction there.

 

[V0lt]

Here's something to try:

If you are happy using internet explorer on top of AOL just so that the mail links clicked will get you into yahoo, take a look at this page. It overviews how to set yahoo as the default mail service in internet explorer.

As for having that same default mail service in AOL, I think they probably removed that on purpose because they are evil bloodsucking nazis.

edit: I don't think that program settings are something you can disable in parental controls, but I have no way of knowing since I don't often use AOL and my parents are they account holders so I don't administrate parental controls.