I'm Finally Getting Off Aol

Quaunaut

<div class="IPBDescription">For good.</div> Hallelujiah! Now, don't get me wrong- a serious gamer can still use AOL, and it won't limit them in any way other than having to have the browser open. But once you begin clanning, devving, or anything that officially makes you "Hardcore"- it becomes worthless, forcing the need for Firefox, Integrity, Thunderbird/GMail and overall availability of being online all day every day.

So, I finally convinced my Ma to switch us to SOMETHING else. Probably comcast.

Before I uninstall AOL and install everything for their new browser though, there are some things I want to know:

How to Reformat- don't give me a half explanation, explain EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I have Windows XP Proffessional. I will be printing this out.

Anything I may need to know about always-on connections. Is a virus-scanner really badly needed, and if so, what kind would be best?

Gadzuko

Get a router with a good firewall. I don't know enough to recommend a good one, but you absolutely positively must have a firewall if you are on broadband. A virus scanner is less important, as long as you're intelligent about clicking links and such.

Caboose

How to Reformat, the hard way:
Go to bootdisk.com and download a DOS bootdisk. Turn on your computer with your new bootdisk inserted in your floppy drive. At the command prompt type...

A:\> format c:

Follow the instructions.

Easy way:

Put XP CD in CD Drive, Reboot. Install XP brand spanking new, it reformats for you if you choose a new install.

GJ on the ditching AOL tho!

panda_de_malheureux

After you format and install a few basic programs - set things up to be all nice, you should make an image of the C: drive (or whatever is your OS's and programs).

I can recommend using Power Quest Image Drive, and it takes about 10 minutes to restore your computer (well, 1 drive really) to it's former glory when things go wrong.

Chrono

ahh get some broadband <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
its easy to reformat if you have the windows xp cd you just put in the cd and follow the instructions

Swiftspear

<!--QuoteBegin-Quaunaut+Jun 27 2004, 02:28 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Quaunaut @ Jun 27 2004, 02:28 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Now, don't get me wrong- a serious gamer can still use AOL, <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gah, that's like saying you <i>can</i> drive a car with 3 flat tires, or you <i>can</i> run a footrace with a nail through your big toe. You <i>can</i> do it, but it's will be the most painful thing you ever did in your entire life.

How did you even update halflife? When I was on 56k the DL browser would crash before the 200MB file was half way through compleated.

antichrist

I m still on aol and since last version its been great! I dont have to use the browser anymore and get a nice constant 20 - 30 ping on 512k. I think this is case as too many people on aol dontknow how to use itproperly and you get good speeds due to this.

Quaunaut

AOL has broadband guys. In fact- its quite good. Its just that I want more freedom, so I gotta go do things manually.

AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW WITH WINDOWS XP! MAN that'll make things easier! Thank GOD! WOO! *dances*

Okelie. But actually, AOL doesn't hamper you that much. Moreover, just kinda makes you go that extra step. Otherwise, its not hard at all.

dynamicx

I would certaintly say a virus scanner is needed.. personally I see it as mandatory. Norton, PC-cillin or AVG if you don't want to spend money on one. But remember to keep it updated everyday.. kind of negates the point of having it otherwise. Also, you really should have a firewall. I would recomment zonealarm or kerio personal firewall.

As for reformatting.. if you don't have anything to back up.. it should be as simple as inserting the XP disk and following the intructions <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Oh, and run windows update as often as you can.. you'll have a lot less headaches in the longrun <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Cyndane

With XP professional for the anti-virus, it isn't needed if you are careful about opening emails/links etc. However, Norton is almost as bad as Mcaffee when it comes to XP, thus if you wish to pay for one I went with PC-cillin, for those that do not want to pay for one many and myself included use AVG, although they do have a professional version if you wish to purchase it.

Firewalls: I used to use BlackIce... it did very well then Zone alarm came out, but then I bought that one so it is not the limited free edition.

Router: Always nice to have something to hide your IP address when needed, either linksys or cisco ones work well. Even the motorola ones have proven very effective when needed.

Formatting: The easiest way with XP Pros is like mentioned above, just insert the CD and follow the steps after you select new install. Can't get much easier then that.

Side notes: While not neccessarily as important, I do find it nice to have Spybot/Ad-aware, because even with being careful not to click all links and etc, you can still have cookies/reg files that like to log where you are, even if you disable all active java scripts/active x/flash content. They are just nice to compliment the AVG/Pc-cillin, those two do look for spyware, but not as throughly as programs made to do it do.

Hope that helps, and have fun not having the evil spawn of Aol... even with broadband, I still don't like them. hehe :-)

UnderDOG

If you have a cd burner, download whatever you think you will need after you format. Drivers, IRC, AIM, Vent, whatever, just so you dont have to go hunting for it later when something critical might not be working and you need a fix fast.

OttoDestruct

XP lets you format during install.

How to format / reinstall.
MAKE A DISC WITH DRIVERS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING. AND MAKE SURE THEY ARENT WEB SETUPS.

Insert XP disc. Restart, computer,
Press DELETE at the POST (power on self test)
Look in bios for boot devices, switch the first to CD rom.
Save changes to bios and exit.
The rest is self explanatory, as XP guides you through it.

Comprox

Re-installing. Here is a step by step guide with pictures for doing it with windows XP:
<a href='http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/i...dexfullpage.htm</a>

As for an anti-virus. Let me do a little background explanation here. Viruses and such fall into 2 groups. Those which you need to open via email to get infected with, and those that come into your computer via self spreading (they like to exploit windows errors, so make sure you do windows updates IMMEDIATELY after a new install).

Now, you can get away with no anti-virus for the email viruses, just be careful what you open. Unfortunately, many nasty viruses, like sasser are self spreading. To block these, the best route is a hardware firewall, such as a router. An anti-virus would also clean them as they tried to get in. If you want to be safe, get a basic router (maybe $30-$40) and at least a free anti virus program like AVG. If you are willing to purchase an antivirus also, I do agree PC Chillin is a very good choice. And by god, DO WINDOWS UPDATES, I can't stress it enough. It should be the first thing you do, even before drivers, as well an anti-virus program if you have one.

UnderDOG

Just thought of something, when you dl a windows update does it automaticly go in, or do you have an actual file with it somewhere. If you had an actual file, dl it now, and put it on your post format comp even before connecting to the internet in anyway.

OttoDestruct

<!--QuoteBegin-UnderDOG+Jun 27 2004, 02:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (UnderDOG @ Jun 27 2004, 02:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Just thought of something, when you dl a windows update does it automaticly go in, or do you have an actual file with it somewhere. If you had an actual file, dl it now, and put it on your post format comp even before connecting to the internet in anyway. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Windows update downloads to the temp directory then installs, and I presume deletes.