Some of you who are using Aol may have noticed problems viewing these web pages. This can include blotchy images or colored lines
which run across the screen. This is a problem inherent in the Aol browser...but one which can be remedied. Aol's 3.0 and 4.0 web browsers both have
a special feature which allow you to set the quality with which you view web pages. To save bandwidth, this option is by default set to low.
The first thing you need to do to solve the problem is to verify that you actually are using Aol 3.0 or 4.0. If you are using Aol 2.0 or 2.5 you will have almost no chance of correctly
viewing most web pages created within the last couple of years.
To verify which version of AOL you are currently using you need to do the following:
If you have a version lower than 3.0 or 4.0 you should probably update to a newer version. Aol Keyword: UPGRADE.
Even if you have 3.0 or 4.0 "for Windows", and you're using the Windows 95/98 operating system, you should probably upgrade to the
3.0 or 4.0 "for Windows 95/98" because this version has added capabilities such as allowing you to use outside web browsing software such as Netscape.
Now that you've verified which type of software you're running:
If you are running AOL version "4.0 for Windows 95/98"
If you are running AOL version "3.0 for Windows 95/98"
If you are running AOL version "3.0 for Windows"
Once you've updated to the newest 3.0 web browser you'll still need to configure it:
Start your AOL software. Go to the "Members" menu. Choose the "Preferences" option. Click on
the "WWW" button, which will open "WWW Preferences". Near the top are three options: "No
Graphics", "Compressed Graphics", "Uncompressed Graphics". Choose "Uncompressed Graphics".
Toward the bottom is a button labeled "Advanced" -- click it. Click on the "Purge Cache" button,
which will empty the "cache" (the cache is where your computer stores temporary internet files while
you're surfing the net. Don't worry, you won't be erasing anything important.)
When it asks if you are sure, click "yes". Click the "OK" button.
Click the next "OK" button. Your AOL is now ready.
Open your Aol software and go to the "help" menu. Choose the "About America Online" option.
Solving your problem should be easy. Start your AOL software, click the "My Aol" icon, and choose the "Preferences" option.
Click the "WWW" button which will display the "AOL Internet Properties". Choose the "Web Graphics" tab.
Make sure the checkbox for "Use compressed graphics" doesn't have an X in it. If there is already an X
there (this is the default setting), click the checkbox until it is gone. Now choose the "Advanced" tab.
Halfway down the box, there will be a "Temporary Internet Files" section, with a button labeled
"Settings". Clicking this will take you to a box with a button labeled "Empty Folder". Clicking this,
and then choosing "Yes" to the next question, will empty the "cache" (the cache is where your computer stores temporary internet files while
you're surfing the net. Don't worry, you won't be erasing anything important.) Click "OK" to go back to "AOL
Internet Properties", and click "OK" again to return to the "Preferences" box. Close the"Preferences" box. Your AOL is now ready.
Start your AOL software. Go to the "Members" menu. Choose the "Preferences" option. Click on
the "WWW" button, which will bring up "AOL Internet Properties". Choose the "Web Graphics"
tab. Make sure the checkbox for "Use compressed graphics" doesn't have an X in it. If there is already an X
there (this is the default setting), click the checkbox until it is gone. Now choose the "Advanced" tab.
Halfway down the box, there will be a "Temporary Internet Files" section, with a button labeled
"Settings". Clicking this will take you to a box with a button labeled "Empty Folder". Clicking this
will empty the "cache" (the cache is where your computer stores temporary internet files while
you're surfing the net. Don't worry, you won't be erasing anything important.)
Click "OK" to return to "AOL Internet Properties", and click "OK" again to
return to the "Preferences" box. Close the Preferences box. Your AOL is now ready.
You might need an extra change or two:
The Aol "3.0 for Windows" browser is unable to take advantage of many common web page techniques and options.
Pages viewed with it will almost never be displayed as their authors intended. You will need to go to AOL's
Keyword: BROWSER, and follow the instructions for downloading the most recent AOL 3.0 browser.