Draino for AOL

[Shang]

Several days ago I was trying to download a spread sheet onto my Windows 7 laptop. In doing so I must have stepped on a trip-wire and triggered AOL to download itself onto my computer. Now I have the AOL toolbar, and AOL comes on as my opening page no matter what I do.

AOL is awkward, and is a vehicle for lame-brained advertising. It pops up dumb-azzed videos, trivial news items, and sports reporting that is of no interest to me. It makes my computer look silly.

I have hunted all over the internet for instructions for how to eradicate the damned thing, but thus far none of the suggested solutions have worked.
Anybody have any ideas?

[Tom Montgomery]

Ugh.

OSX requires your permission to commence any download. That prevents problems such as this.

[tigerregis]

Ask them how to do it. If I could ID a tresspasser, I'd follow through with any/everything available.

[Nicholas Carey]

How to uninstall the AOL desktop:

http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/...=&radios=False

How to uninstall the AOL toolbar:

http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/...6&radios=False

If you're running Windows 7, you'll want to following the instructions for Windows Vista.

FWIW, it probably wasn't the spreadsheet you downloaded. There is a raft of stuff (new software installations, upgrades, even maintenance patches) that by default installs the AOL toolbar — you need opt-out rather than opt-in. IIRC, even some Microsoft upgrades have been known to install it for you.

Pay close attention to the installer dialog (and sometimes you won't find the option unless you do a "custom install")

[elf]

How to uninstall the AOL desktop:

http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/...=&radios=False

How to uninstall the AOL toolbar:

http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/...6&radios=False

If you're running Windows 7, you'll want to following the instructions for Windows Vista.

FWIW, it probably wasn't the spreadsheet you downloaded. There is a raft of stuff (new software installations, upgrades, even maintenance patches) that by default installs the AOL toolbar — you need opt-out rather than opt-in. IIRC, even some Microsoft upgrades have been known to install it for you.

Pay close attention to the installer dialog (and sometimes you won't find the option unless you do a "custom install")

Appalling, irresponsible. Why hasn't American business sued Microsloth yet?

[Mrleft8]

AOL, Norton, and a couple of other things glom on to your OS, and somehow manage to re load themselves no matter how thoroughly you try to eradicate them..... I've had this happen several times, and it's usually something innocent looking like trying to look at a website, and all of a sudden, your computer is running a freakin' AOL update......

[Shang]

Appalling, irresponsible. Why hasn't American business sued Microsloth yet?

Sued ?
I think they should be publicly horse-whipped !

[Shang]

(Double-post)

[hokiefan]

Appalling, irresponsible. Why hasn't American business sued Microsloth yet?

Most big companies have their systems set up so NO software downloads unless the IT nazis do it themselves. Can make getting your hands on specialized engineering software harder than it should be. But no AOL toolbars appear anywhere either.

Cheers,

Bobby

[Keith Wilson]

Odd. I actually use AOL for e-mail, just out of inertia. I've had the same address since 1994 and it would be a hassle to change, but I don't get any of that other crap. I'm not sure why. I use Chrome, maybe that's it.

[pcford]

Appalling, irresponsible. Why hasn't American business sued Microsloth yet?

MICROSLOTH!!!!! Is that funny or what!!! Appleheads are the greatest!