AOL Instant Messenger v4.8.2790

This page and images may be be downloaded as a single zip file (176 K) here: aim48.zip

Installation is extremely simple:

• Download the software from http://aim.aol.com/ to your computer; note the name of the program and where it is being saved to.
• Coldboot your computer
• Run the installation software.
• click "Yes" at the EULA
• click "Next"
• click "Next" again to accept the default directory
• click "Next" when it says it's ready to install
• click "OK" when it is done.
• Coldboot your computer

One significant change from 4.7.x to 4.8.x is that AIM now wants permission to act as a server when the program starts. I don't like that. The only time that I require it to act as a server is if I am transferring a file to someone over AIM.

In ZoneAlarm, I prohibit AIM from acting as a server. When I want to send files, I manually change zoneAlarm to give AIM permission to be a server for the duration then set zoneAlarm back to prohibiting AIM from being a server.

Additional raw notes may be found at the bottom of this page.

If you are upgrading from 4.7.x, all of your existing settings should be unchanged. Here are the settings I use. Settings (also called Options or Preferences or Setup) are gotten to by:

• clicking on the orange wrench ("Setup") at the AIM Startup window, or
• signing on and from the Buddy List Window clicking "My AIM" > "Edit Options" > "Edit Preferences", or
• rightclick on the yellow running dood in the system tray and click on "Preferences..."

- - - start of raw notes - - -

* no *existing* options *settings* were changed.

* existing options changes:
  * "Privacy" adds an option: allow users to see:
    "...that I am using a mobile device".  uncheck this
  * "Sign On/Off" adds an option: 
     "Disable automatic login to web sites using the Screen Name Service".  check this.
  * "IM/Chat" adds option to "List users in chat room alphabetically".  doesn't matter.
  * "File Transfer" changes the language, not the meanings, of the 
     Receive File Permission radio buttons.  Leave as is. 

* the last option, "Games" has been removed.

* two new options at end of list:  "Send BuddyList" and "Add-ins"; 
  default values appear to be okay.

* two new shortcuts on desktop: "AOL instant messenger" and "Free AOL and unlimited BS".  
  The "Free AOL..." may be discarded.

* if you have a shortcut in your "Start" button menu, its link changes to point to 
  the correct place, but its name does not change.

- - - end of raw notes - - -

- - - start of significant change - - -

* (zoneAlarm indicates that) AIM now appears to demand server rights every time 
  it starts up, not just when one person sends a file to another.

*** clicking on the "More Information" button of the zoneAlarm popup warning window 
    caused zoneAlarm to lock up and quit responding... 
    DO *NOT* CLICK ON THE "MORE INFO" BUTTON!

Currently we have zoneAlarm set up to allow AIM to connect to the internet, 
and to ask when AIM wants to be a server.  The previous versions of AIM only 
demanded server rights when one person would send a file over AIM to the other.

Basically there are two choices:

1) We can tell zoneAlarm that AIM does *NOT* have permission to act as a server 
   when AIM starts up.  This will eliminate the zA popup warning when AIM starts, 
   but the next few times we try to send files zA will just block AIM without 
   warning us and we will become befuddled until we remember to temporarily give 
   AIM  permsission to act as a server (in zA).

2) We can tell zoneAlarm to warn us every time AIM wants to act as a server 
   (including every time it starts).  This will eliminate the forgetting part 
   of sending files, but it will add another step in getting AIM started.  
   Furthermore, it is possible that we might hit "Yes" or "More Info" instead 
   of "No" at AIM start time.

I think the first choice is the better one overall.

- - - end of significant change - - -

updated 2002 July 06 0002 pdt