It's like a bottomless pit of useless information. For the times it runs great--it's great but I can usually depend on spending at least an hour a week trying to figure out some dumbsxxt problem that has come up from nowhere. And the support is like unbelieveable.
Yesterday after posting several items on e-bay, I get a notice that I have a browser problem----I haven't a clue what browser I have. The e-bay thing tells me that my browser wouldn't accept cookies!! It did the day before!!!!!!
I go to my laptop and everything works fine so I guess it's my desktop. So I try to figure out if I have Internet Explorer or Nestscape??? I look for Internet options, security, tools, etc. After 2 hours, I'm still cookie less!
Whenever I call Dell, HP, or AOL for support, I get to India with some towel head asking me all sorts of dumb questions and telling me to do stuff that is rediculous. When I do it, I get worse problems! Once tried to change to PeoplePC and the towel heads managed to put a bunch of spywhere crap on this thing! Oui Vey-----.
Is there a simple way to identify my browser, find cookie settings and see if there is something wrong with it??????

Huck
You probably received a security update patch from Microsoft, which will sometimes reset the security and prviacy options to pretty tight or secure settings.
When in you web browser (more than likely Internet Explorer), Click on TOOLS, then on OPTIONS. Then click on the PRIVACY Tab. You should see a little slide bar on the left. If it is not already there, slide it to where it reads Medium. Then click OK. That should solve your Cookie acceptance problem.

If that don't do it, look at the setting on your laptop and match the desktop to it for that privacy tab.

Bill, what is the best way to get to my browser as I never use it---just use AOL junk. If I right click on the start button and get what I think is the browser, I go to Tools but it has no line for "Options" . I think I have XP Home Edition at 5.1 if that helps!!

Start, Programs, then look for Internet Explorer, then you can click on it. It has been a while since I messed with AOL, but there may be a tools options from within them that will give you the options menu on your web browser.

Did start, programs but Internet Explorer doesn't show in the list of programs!!!

i am not sure how aol is set up now , but on the main bar there use to be an area where you could create new screen names/parental controls etc, all of your internet options for aol's browser are in that area. WHATEVER you do, do NOT use their tech service... they will try n get you to change all kindsa junk you dont need to...

your biggest problem is probably aohell.my best advice for anyone with aohell is to get rid of it and use something else its over priced and takes over your computer.there are plenty of other dial up services for 1/2 the cost that can do the same thing that aol does. just would have to get aim if you use instant messenger through aol a lot.

I agree, a better internet provider would be a giant step in the right direction.

Huck
Although I agree with the rest about AO-Hell, let's see what we cen do to git ya going. I haven't used AOL in a long time and don't know anyone local to check the settings, but when your in AOL and you open the web browser, you should have some sort of tool bar at the top of the screen that will have a pull down menu label; Options or tools. Chances are from within there you find the screens I was talking about to make you securiy/privacy setting changes. I wish I knew some one here using it and I'fd go and see how to find the setting for you, but I live around yupppees and we all have highspeed connections. If you find something that looks familar give a shout or heck if need be PM sone phone numbers and we will talk you through the mess.

http://www.msisurvey.com/faq/AOL9.0_toolbar_example.jpg


lord knwos what version they are on now tho...

Enabling Cookies

What Are Cookies? | Enable and Disable Browser Cookies | JavaScript Cookies

AOL has developed this page for users who wish to learn how to enable and disable cookies in browsers.

If you are an AOL client using Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, and you receive errors such as this one:

"Your request could not be served because you have browser cookies disabled. Please enable cookies in your browser's settings, close your current web session and try again."

AOL 9.0

1. From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
2. Select Internet [Web] Options
3. Select Use your Internet Explorer Settings to set advanced browser options.
4. Select the Privacy tab
5. Select Advanced
6. Deselect override automatic cookie handling button
7. Click OK to exit.

AOL 8.0

1. From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
2. Select Preferences
3. Select Internet Properties (WWW)
4. Select the Privacy tab
5. Select Advanced
6. Deselect override automatic cookie handling button
7. Click OK to exit.

AOL 7.0 with IE 6.x

1. From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
2. Select Preferences
3. Select Internet Properties (WWW)
4. Select the Privacy tab
5. Select Advanced
6. Deselect override automatic cookie handling button
7. Click OK to exit.

AOL 7.0 with IE 5.5

1. From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
2. Select Preferences
3. Select Internet Properties (WWW)
4. Select the Security tab
5. Select the Custom Level tab
6. Under "Allow Cookies that are stored on your computer" click "Enable"
7. Under "Allow per-session cookies (not stored)" click "Enable"
8. Select OK, Yes you want to save the settings

AOL 6.0

1. From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings
2. Select Preferences
3. Select Internet Properties (WWW)
4. Select the Security tab
5. Select the Custom Level tab
6. Under "Allow Cookies that are stored on your computer" click "Enable"
7. Under "Allow per-session cookies (not stored)" click "Enable"
8. Select OK, Yes you want to save the settings

AOL 5.0

1. Go to My AOL
2. Pick WWW
3. Click the Security tab
4. Go to Custom Level
5. Scroll down to find Cookie
6. Click "Enable"
7. Click OK

AOL 4.0

1. Click on Preferences
2. Select on the WWW button
3. Click on the Advanced tab
4. Select the "Accept all cookies" checkbox link (http://webmaster.info.aol.com/cookieguide.html)

I think 9 is the latest, but like you Liz, Who knows. Those should get huck fixed.

all I know is when I had aol.. it was a PITA to fix when it screwed up ( which was all to often..) I switche dto earthlink dialup after that and they were alot better to deal with. Cheaper, easier and if you want all the bs software aol gives you they have about the same.. just as easy to use without it tho. PeoplePC use to be good, but then they turned into aols clone with added bonus of spyware, and walmartconnect runs off aol so its the same thing... Im just glad where I live now cable is available :)


oh ya Huck if your using AOL as your mail client, that could explain the pic issues.. I use to have MAJOR email issues with them and wally connect

Well guys, your advice and guidance managed to help this dumbsob find his way to the security settings and somehow they got reset to high which totally screwed me up with e-bay. I couldn't do crap!! But I reset them to medium and all is well. What had me befuddled was that I couldn't find who or what my browser was and nothing on my programs said "Internet Explorer" but I did find something like MSN which i guess is another name for it.
I do plan on leaving AOL on the first opportunity. No cable here--shix, we are lucky to have electricity. My computer runs at 26K!! Plenty of puter but a real funnel at the dialup.
Hard to believe that I spent 32 years working for ---IBM---and my job was to oversee which non IBM products, IBM would provide service on. Thank god I had great guys who knew it all----. Now if you need to know how to adjust your hood on the truck---that I can do!!!

Thanks guys---really appreciate the help!! Huck

Glad you got it Huck. Yeah it is hard for me to imagine being "stuck" with only dial up. I know a lot of folks with only that option and the only one that seems to touch everywhere is AO-Hell. AS I say we all needed training wheels at some point in our life, that is pretty much what AOL is to the internet world, training wheels. Glad your back in business.