AOL 9.1 shuttin down machine

[Tony D]

I had a call from someone who upgraded from AOL 9.0 to 9.1. She says her machine now shuts down after 40 minutes. Anyone seen this?

[Goku]

Can you tell us what Operating System is she using?

 

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

Kelly with AOL nothing surprises me - they install so much 'rubbish' on the machine I am surprised that it will boot up.

I uninstalled all the bumph that came with it on a friends machine and he later said his internet and system in general was running about 300% faster.

We should have a recommended internet provider option -

o2 where available and Virgin wherever not << personal experience.

[Tony D]

She's on XP. Probably Home version, but I'm not sure - could be Pro. She also said that her friend is experience the same problem and that after talking to AOL, this is normal for AOL 9.1.

 

I just don't understand why AOL would shut down a computer. I didn't find anything with a quick web search.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I find it hard to believe that ISP software would cause shut down issues, bad as AOL is Tony.

 

I'd suggest that you get her to run the things suggested in the malware sticky.

 

It sounds to me more like heatsink and thermal cutout problems.

[Goku]

Tony, can you confirm if she has any management software installed? Someone in her home might have set it to auto shut down after forty minutes? Also, does reverting back to AOL 9.0 helps her or not as AOL 9.1 is still in Beta and therefore is bound to have problems.

 

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

Wolfey they take control of lots of things with the software they 'get' you to install in order for the internet to connect.

I have heard literally thousands of people leaving AOL due to the way the software 'takes over' their system.

The only experience I have seen with the new system is that when they down loaded and installed the new software their system was plagued with Viruses and trojans.

hard to believe but I have seen it with my own eyes

[Tony D]

We have an appointment set up for Friday. I think I have her convinced that AOL is not in her best interest. She's on Comcast cable and there's no reason for her to keep AOL other than the fact that her email address ends in AOL.com.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I don't disagree that AOL resembles a trip through one of Lara Crofts jungle adventures but I still am not convinced that it is the contributing factor to these shut downs.

[Dalo Harkin]

I think in terms of contributing - the fact that the software they include comes with AV and Anti spyware, if they are not doing their job then the shutdowns could be a result from getting Viruses and spyware/malware.

[Tony D]

This machine has SAS Pro and AVG Free. I had the user run a SAS complete scan yesterday and it came back with only Tracking Cookies. Knowing the user, the machine is probably clean.

 

Do you think Event Viewer will shed light on this?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

How old is the box Tony? Have you had the side off to check for dust etc?

[Tony D]

Good idea - I'll check it for dirt. This machine is kept in a desk cabinet and doesn't get circulation. Now that summer is here, I thought there may be a temperature problem. We humans adjust to the heat, but the computers don't. With the increase in temperature and the fact that the machine is in a confined space - there may be a heat issue. I asked the user to open the cabinet door to increase air circulation.

 

However, what's curious is that this coincides with the upgrade to AOL 9.1 and that her friend says she experienced the same problem when she upgraded and that the user said AOL admitted it's a problem with AOL 9.1.

 

I'll check things out on Friday.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Well it it won't hurt to check for dust and then we can take it from there Tony.