If your broadband connection is running slowly, try one or all of the following steps to resolve the problem.
-- How can I check the speed of my connection?
Close down any TV on-demand programs
To check if this is the cause of your problem, you will need to disable the player temporarily. If your connection improves once it's disabled, then it's likely that the player is the cause of the problem. When you restart your computer, the player will start again. For a more permanent solution to this problem, please contact the provider of the on-demand player.
To disable the on-demand player, take the following steps:
1. Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys on your keyboard, and then press the Delete key.
2. Select the Processes tab.
3. Look for KHost.exe in the list of processes.
4. Select KHost.exe and click End Process.
5. Click Yes to end the process.
6. Close the Task Manager.
Check that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for broadband
1. Click Start, and then select Programs or All Programs.
2. Select AOL, and then AOL System Information.
3. Check that the values in each field meet the minimum system requirements set out below.
4. Click Close.
Minimum system requirements
Your computer must meet or exceed the following system requirements in order to successfully run the AOL software:
-- Operating System: Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7
-- Processor: Pentium-class; minimum speed as recommended for your operating system (for example, 266MHz or above for Windows XP)
-- RAM: 64MB or above (128MB recommended)
-- Hard disk space: 128MB or above
-- Screen resolution: 800x600 and 256 colours or greater
-- Connection: Any of the following: 28.8Kbps modem or faster, broadband (DSL), ISDN or TCP/IP (LAN connections)
Restart the computer
1. Shut down your computer in the usual way, eg by clicking Start, then Shut Down.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Turn your computer back on and try to connect again.
Check the physical connections
1. Unplug every device from your broadband-enabled phone line. Ensure to check every telephone point.
2. Locate the master phone socket and plug the filter directly into this socket.
3. Plug the DSL cable (the yellow line cable) into the DSL side of the filter.
4. Plug the other side of the yellow cable into your DSL modem or modem router.
5. Connect the DSL modem or modem router to the computer via the USB or ethernet cable provided.
Notes
-- For the best performance, we recommend that you always use your master socket and the DSL cable provided. Remove any extension cables that are present.
-- The cable connecting the DSL filter to the modem or modem router should be no longer than 10 metres.
-- Any other telephony devices connected to the phone line, such as a burglar alarm, or Sky digital must also be connected via a DSL filter.
-- Ensure that no more than four telephone sockets, including the master socket, are in use.
Use the AOL Quick Restore feature
Run a Quick Restore via the One-Click Fixes
Note: This step is for AOL 9.0 and 9.0 VR users only.
Windows 7 - Run AOL System Information in compatibility mode
1. Click the Start globe and select All Programs.
2. Right-click AOL System Information and select Properties.
3. Select the Compatibility tab.
4. Tick the box labelled Run this program in compatibility mode for.
5. Select Windows XP (Service Pack 3) from the drop-down list.
6. Click OK.
If you have One-Click Fixes installed on your computer, you can use the link below to run a quick restore. Otherwise, follow the steps below to manually run the quick restore:
Use the One-Click Fix to run a Quick Restore*
Run a Quick Restore manually
1. Right-click the AOL icon in your Windows system tray (at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen, next to the clock).
2. Select System Information.
3. Click Utilities or AOL software.
4. Select Quick Restore and click Proceed or OK.
5. Click OK when prompted.
*To use this fix, you'll need to first download the One-Click Fixes. To run the fix you must be using the AOL software or Internet Explorer. One-Click Fixes are unavailable for Windows Vista and Macintosh users.
Run the'AOL is running slowly' auto-fix
1. Start the AOL software but do not sign on.
2. Select the Help menu at the top of the screen, and then select AOL Help.
3. In the menu on the left, select Resolving Problems, and then select Solving Common AOL Problems.
4. Click AOL is running slowly on the right.
5. Close all programs (including the AOL software) and then click Continue on the auto-fix window.
Check your firewall software
Select your firewall below for steps on how to modify the firewall security to allow the AOL software to work with the firewall software. We recommend that you contact the firewall software supplier if you require any further information.
Windows 7
To configure your Windows 7 firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Click Start and select Control Panel.
2. Select Large icons in the View by drop-down list on the right-hand side.
3. Click Windows Firewall.
4. Click the Allow a program or feature through Windows firewall link on the left-hand panel.
5. Click Change settings.
6. Tick the following programs: AOL 9.0 VR, AOL System Information and AOL TopSpeed.
7. Click OK. Your Windows Firewall is now set to allow the AOL software.
Windows Firewall
To configure your Windows firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Click Start and select Control Panel.
2. Select Classic View from the panel on the left.
3. Double-click Windows Firewall.
4. Select the Exceptions tab.
Windows Vista users: Select Allow a program through Windows Firewall.
5. Click the Add Program button.
6. Select AOL and click OK.
7. Click the Add Program button again.
8. Select AOL System Information and click OK.
9. Click OK again.
McAfee® Personal Firewall
To configure your McAfee® Personal Firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Right-click the McAfee Personal Firewall icon in the system tray (in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen).
2. Select Options and then click Internet Applications.
3. Select AOL and click Allow Full Access.
4. Repeat this for all AOL programs that are listed in Internet Applications.
McAfee® 2007
To configure your McAfee® 2007 firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Open the McAfee Security Suite.
2. Click Internet and Network.
3. Click Configure and then click Advanced.
4. Select Program Permissions.
5. Select an AOL application that is blocked and then click Grant Full Access.
6. Repeat this for all blocked AOL applications.
7. Click OK and close the McAfee Security Suite.
Norton 2003/2005
To configure your Norton 2003/2005 firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Open Norton Internet Security/Personal Firewall.
2. Click Personal Firewall.
3. Click Configure and then select the Programs tab.
4. Select AOL Program Files and set them to Permit All.
5. Click OK and close Norton Internet Security.
Note: We have had some reports that the AOL software will not work with Norton Firewall. If this is the case, leave the firewall disabled and contact Norton technical support about the issue.
Norton Firewall 2007
To configure your Norton 2007 firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Click Start and select Control Panel.
2. Select Classic View from the panel on the left.
3. Double-click Windows Firewall.
4. Select the Exceptions tab.
Windows Vista users: Select Allow a program through Windows Firewall.
5. Click the Add Program button.
6. Select AOL and click OK.
7. Click the Add Program button again.
8. Select AOL System Information and click OK.
9. Click OK again.
Note: We have had some reports that the AOL software will not work with Norton Firewall. If this is the case, leave the firewall disabled and contact Norton technical support about the issue.
ZoneAlarm 2.6 or 3.0
To configure your ZoneAlarm 2.6 or 3.0 firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Right-click the ZoneAlarm icon in the system tray and select ZoneAlarm Control Centre.
Note: If the ZoneAlarm icon is not present, you can run the program from the Start menu.
2. Click the Security or Firewall button.
3. Using the slider bar, set the Internet Settings to Medium.
4. Click the Program button.
5. Right-click WAOL.EXE (AOL) and select Remove.
Repeat this for the following files:
-- aoltpspd.exe
-- AOLacsd.exe
-- AOLDial.exe
6. Restart the AOL software and when ZoneAlarm asks to grant it access, click Yes.
BlackICE
To configure your BlackICE firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Open BlackICE Advanced Application Protection Settings.
2. Click Tools and then click Find.
3. Type waol.exe and click Find Next.
4. Once the file is found, check that Application Control and Communications Control are blank.
5. Repeat this process for the following files:
-- aoltpspd.exe
-- AOLacsd.exe
-- AOLDial.exe
6. Close the window and try connecting to the internet again.
PC-cillin
To configure your PC-cillin firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Open PC-cillin and select the Advanced tab.
2. Select Internet Traffic Control from the menu on the left.
3. Ensure that the Halt Internet Traffic button is not active.
4. Click Settings and then click Personal Firewall.
5. Click Security Level and make sure the security level is not set to High, as this will block incoming and outgoing traffic.
6. In the Exceptions List under the Description column, select AOL Connection.
7. Close and exit the Settings window.
8. Restart your computer and try to sign on to the internet again.
AVG Firewall
To configure your AVG Firewall to allow the AOL software to connect to the internet, take the following steps:
1. Open the AVG Control Centre.
2. Highlight Firewall and then click Configure and Applications.
3. If any AOL entries are listed, highlight each one and select Allow.
4. If no AOL entries are listed, click Add Application.
5. Click [ ... ], next to the Application Path box.
6. Navigate to C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\.
7. Add and allow aol.exe, aoltray.exe and waol.exe.
8. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\.
9. Add and allow aoltpsdp.exe.
10. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\.
11. Add and allow aoldial.exe, acsd.exe, and aolacsd.exe.
12. When all of the AOL applications are added, click OK.
13. Close the AVG Control Centre.
Check your computer for spyware
For more information about spyware, see Safety, Security & Privacy Help.
![]() | Home Networking |
![]() | Spyware protection |
![]() | Internet & web browser |
![]() | Unexpected disconnections |
![]() | Cables, filters & accessories |
![]() | Accessing AOL from overseas |
![]() | Uninstalling and reinstalling AOL |
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