kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

AOL is evil!!

Well my new Notebook came preinstalled with AOL 9. Problem is I can't uninstall it! I can open AOL and tinker with the program but when I go to Control Panel - Add/Remove the uninstall progam for AOL says there are no versions of AOL on my Notebook. So how do I rid myself of AOL? Thanks guys as always.

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WebGizmos

Join Date 09/2003

+735

I would say do a fresh reinstall of windows...minus the AOHell.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

No can do. Toshiba Notebooks come with a restore partition. After you reinstall Windows you have to weed out all the BS.

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WebGizmos

Join Date 09/2003

+735

Well that kinda...you know!

I wouldn't like not having the ability to reinstall a fresh install of windows. Or you could try a second party uninstaller.

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I noticed that the other day actually ...I was looking at laptops at the local shop, and every one of them came with a "restore partiton" ...Not just Toshiba's either.

I didn't like that at all... still, to some people it'd be handy.

Kona, Have you tried a third-party uninstaller app?

Some of those are more powerful and find more than the windows uninstaller ever could, even one's not listed in add/remove programs list.

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Just a thought, open up "msconfig" and stop it all running at start up (if it does) then manually remove it from "Program Files" not sure if it'll work like that, but i dont see why not.

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

I have a Dell laptop that has that resotre partition. If you reformat the C: drive and reintall Windows it never put anything on it.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

I have tried 2 different uninstall apps neither of witch will detect AOL let alone remove it. Very fusterating.

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Is there an AOL folder in Program Files? If not, it may not actually be installed. I know that sometimes when you click on the "Try AOL" icon on the desktop it actually installs the program. You may be able to just remove the entry from the Add-Remove programs list from the registry and then delete all the shortcuts that are all over the place.

As far as the "Restore partition" that's the computer makers way to save a few bucks at the expense of the customer. If they put the software on the HDD, eating up drive space that you paid for then they can save themselves .20 for the CD they would otherwise have to give you. Most vendors these days offer you the choice to buy a restore CD for the bargain basement price of only $10.

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SirSmiley

Join Date 06/2005

+38

If it's a Dell look for a freeware app called Dell Decrapifier. Haven't used it but, the reviews say it does it's job.

I just edited the registry myself & that got rid of it for me.

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Toshiba

Give this a shot, Kona: WWW Link

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

Didn't work Yrag. Nice program though.

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NightTrainthedark

Join Date 07/2003

+255

You'll go nuts trying to remove it 100% Kona. It most likely is not installed so you just need to delete the folder. There will be remaining AOL files but they are inactive. This has been my experience over and over. Good luck.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

I'm going to try to completely install AOL from disc then try to remove it. I'll tell you all how it goes.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

Speaking of problems by the way is there a program to rename about 1000 files at once? They are all numbered from 1 to 100 or whatever but some are out of place and I don't feel like renaming all of them. It would take hours.

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

Link

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Zoomba

Join Date 11/2002

+114

To save yourself from the restore partition:

Repartition your disk using fdisk or some other 3rd party app. Delete all the partitions including the restore partition, recreate he C partition, then reinstall Windows.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

How am I going to reinstall Windows without an XP disc Zoomba? They didn't include a XP disc hence the reason I need to use the restore partition if and when I need to do a clean install.

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If you, or anyone wants to delete the restore partition, make sure you have all the necessary disks. My Dell, for example, has the XP Pro disc, but it's not the regular, out of the Microsoft box, disc. OS and application restore discs only work when you keep the restore partition. No partition, no OS.

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How am I going to reinstall Windows without an XP disc Zoomba?

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PurrBall

Join Date 02/2003

+23

Might need a trip to the store. Also, Microsoft will give you free cd's if you have the part number, name, and serial number.

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Fairyy~

Join Date 02/2004

+49

Gee Kona - hope you didnt install the AOL disk...AOL refuses to uninstall. Believe me I've tried before. I just had this discussion with a friend the other day . They ended up taking the computer to a puter repairman to have them removed aol. They were able to remove it.

Making a note to myself - next computer : will not purchase unless the store removes AOL and nortons off it first.

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

With Dell laptops there is a system setting which will allow to burn an "XP" disk. I'm not sure about your Toshiba though.

Besides that, if you have a valid Microsoft key, you can use any XP cd.

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..AOL refuses to uninstall.

Aren't I lucky, then, that I wasn't tempted to install the 'free' AOL stuff that came on a disc with my new Soundblaster card....sounds like it's really bad news.

You'd think, given the multitude of complaints regarding pre-packaged software that nobody wants, that Dell, HP and others would discontinue loading it into their systems. It seems, however, they're still not listening.

A friend recently bought a Compaq PC that was bloated with all sorts of crap, including spyware in the MySearch toolbar. Using a de-crapifier just broke the whole thing...and being there was no installation disc, I got her to obtain a copy of XP from MS for around $15 AU and we reformatted it using that...problem solved.

Personally, I would never purchase a factory built machine, not only because they come with a whole load of crap I don't want or need, but also that they're limited and leave little or no room for expansion or upgrades. My custom built machine is so much more versatile and completely interchangable/upgradable. For mine, it's the only way to go.

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werewolf

Join Date 04/2001

+28

Also, Microsoft will give you free cd's if you have the part number, name, and serial number.

Meowy, how do I do that? Is it on the MS website?

I have the drivers disk from Dell, but it would be nice to be able to get rid of those partitions (btw, Dell has 2 partitions, one is the recovery partition and the other is a partition used to boot directly into MediaDirect).

Would kind of like to keep that MediaDirect goodie though. Hmmmm.

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