Friday, May 11, 2007

An Open Letter to AOL

Recently, we have been attacked by a supremely annoying pop-up from AOL. After you sign off, this "AOL Connectivity Services Update" thingie pops up on your screen. You can’t minimize it, you can’t tell it not to bother you right now, you can’t make it go away. It stays on your screen, no matter what other applications you open. The only way to get it out of your face is to click it and drag it as far as possible off the side or bottom of your screen. Or turn off your computer and not make the mistake of signing on to AOL again.

My husband emailed "AOL Help" for a patch to get rid of this damn thing. It took them two days to get back to him about it. Only to tell him that there is no way to get rid of the thing other than to click on it and allow this "update" to download. Here is a copy of my reply (warning) to AOL—I’m sure you’re reading, little gremlins…

The whole point of this inquiry is that we DON'T WANT to 'Update Connectivity." The last time I did, whatever changes were made didn't mesh with my firewall, and I couldn't connect to AOL at all for weeks afterward. I finally had to get involved with live tech chats from another computer. Which are never fun, because of two things: a.) Most of the time, the "technicians" have no idea how to resolve even the most mundane of technical problems and b.) there is always a language barrier issue to deal with.

I have no intention of "updating" my AOL connectivity, and if you can't tell me how to get rid of this annoying pop-up, I WILL get rid of AOL. We have been members for ten years; I've stuck with AOL through the Journal-land ad wars, obnoxious ads dancing all over my email, AND the granting of free access to services for which I have faithfully paid all these years. If this Connectivity pop-up is indeed unkillable, it will be the last straw.

So, my friends, "Coming to Terms’…" days may indeed be numbered…

10 comments:

  1. No prob.  Yahoo.com, for example, provides an excellent free email service, and once you get through the initial setup, Blogger.com is great for journals (use Bloglines for alerts).  Come on over.

    ~~Silk
    http://SilkenDrum.blogspot.com/

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  2. I havn't run into this, I wonder why?

    Jackie

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  3. There is a way to get rid of the "AOL Connectivity Update" box. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, which brings upf the Windows Task Manager. Simply delete the "Connectivity" line, and it's gone.

    Art

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  4. Although it's easier to leave a comment on AOL journals, I'll follow you wherever!
    *debbi*

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  5. I know all about how annoying AOL is, which is why I only visit, and don't use them anymore.  If you leave AOL, you've got to come back to Blogger, or find somewhere else to post, because reading "Coming to Terms" is an essential part of my day!  

    Judi

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  6. Since I switched to the "free AOL" I have had multiple problems with connecting. I have to continuously run the "computer check-up" to solve issues, like taking over a minute to connect (connection issues my tushy). The free AOL sucks. But, I still enjoy a virtual virus free environment!

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  7. YES!!!!  This works:

    There is a way to get rid of the "AOL Connectivity Update" box. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, which brings upf the Windows Task Manager. Simply delete the "Connectivity" line, and it's gone.


    Today (May 14) is the first time I've gotten this message on THIS computer, and I'm DELIGHTED to have the answer so quickly and easily!  MANY thanks!

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  8. If you start blogging elsewhere, please let us know here and allow for a little transition period.
    I get quite annoyed at all the communication, with and without, pop-ups that AOL does with my computer.  I am sure that if I left AOL I could get up and running in half the time.

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  9. The "Control+alt+delete" thing DOES work...and I'm eternally grateful to "Art" for passing that information along.  Also a little sheepish that I didn't think of it myself (slapping forehead...duh!)  Art may have granted AOL a little reprieve...though I don't know if that's a good thing...

    And some of my readers may not know that I started another blog on blogspot back in the journal-ad-protest days.  For awhile, I was double-posting there and here, but when we bought the restaurant, I barely had time to devote to one journal much less two.  But I never deleted "Better Terms," (http://betterterms.blogspot.com/) and if I leave AOL, that is where you'll find me.  I'll give everyone fair warning should this occur...  Lisa  :-]

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  10. I don't know if I can take one more friend leaving AOL.  Honest to gawd.  I don't think I can.  :::sigh::: So AOL, get your friggin act together, would ya?

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