Frequently Asked Questions   Others
STARTING OUT

Getting Started
Registration
Screen Names
Signing On
Passwords
Service Connection

 
USING INSTANT MESSENGER

Buddy Lists
Instant Messages
I'm Away Message
Chat
Warnings
Sounds
Other Applications

 
ADVANCED TIPS

Auto Operations
Preferences
IM URLs
IM & AOL Users
E-mail
File Transfer
News Ticker
Others

 
REPORT A BUG

Report a Bug

 
Others


Q: Can I use Instant Messenger with WebTV?
A: No, this feature is not available at this time.

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Q: When I use Instant Messenger for several hours, why do all my buttons turn black? (Windows only)
A: This is usually due to low random access memory (RAM) in your computer. Close all applications and restart Instant Messenger. If that doesn't restore your correct button colors, restart your PC.

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Q: When I use the scroll wheel on my mouse, other users see me as "idle" in their Buddy Lists. (Macintosh only)
A: The only workaround at this time is to disable the IdleTime extension. You can use the Extensions Manager control panel to do this. Note that this will prevent people from ever seeing you as idle.

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Q: How do I get the graphical smileys to appear? (Macintosh only)
A: Select Preferences from the Edit menu, click General, and then select Show Graphical Smileys.

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Q: What should I do when one of my Instant Messenger windows always opens off the screen? (Windows only)
A: When the window opens off the screen, do the following:

    1. Press Alt+Spacebar once to open the Control menu at the top-left of the window.
    2. Press the M key once to select >b>Move.
    3. Use your arrow keys to move the window into the middle of the screen. You see only the outline being moved.
    4. When the outline is in the location you want, press Enter.
    5. Download the latest version of Instant Messenger.

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Q:There is a problem with the size of one of my Instant Messenger windows. I can't fix it, and installing the very latest Instant Messenger client doesn't help. (Windows only)
A: You must modify a registry key using the Windows Registry Editor program. WARNING: You can cause Windows to stop functioning if you make a mistake in the Registry Editor program. If you need assistance, find someone who is familiar with the program to help you. AOL cannot be responsible for any damage you do to your computer. To modify the registry key, follow these steps:

    1. Exit Instant Messenger.
    2. From the Start menu, launch regedit from the Run dialog box.
    3. Browse to the following registry key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\America Online\AOL Instant Messenger (TM)\CurrentVersion\Users\Your Screen Name\WindowPos
    4. Right-click on WindowPos
    5. Click Delete.
    6. Choose Yes on the confirmation dialog that appears.

You're done. Now when you restart Instant Messenger, all of the window sizes and positions will be restored to their default values.

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Q: Why do I get strange error messages when I try to install Instant Messenger?
A: Your copy of the Instant Messenger Installer probably was not transferred completely when you downloaded it. Try downloading the Instant Messenger Installer again

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Q: What should I do when Instant Messenger freezes when I try to access a menu item? (Macintosh only)
A: Disable Adobe Type Reunion or add Instant Messenger to the Adobe Type Reunion list of compatibility applications in Adobe Type Reunion Control Panel. If this does not fix your problem, install the latest version of Instant Messenger.

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Q: Is there a keyboard shortcut to exit Instant Messenger completely? (Windows only)
A:Yes. When the Buddy List or Sign On window is the active window, press Ctrl+Shift+F4. You can also choose Exit from the Instant Messenger system tray menu.

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Q: Why does Instant Messenger crash with Windows 98 when I'm using a dual-monitor machine? (Windows only)
A: Download the latest display drivers for both of your video cards.

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Q: When I use the scroll wheel on my mouse, other users see me as "idle" in their Buddy Lists. (Macintosh only).
A: The only workaround at this time is to disable the IdleTime extension. You can use the Extensions Manager control panel to do this. Note that this will prevent people from ever seeing you as idle.

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