How to fix AOL Instant Messanger (AIM) on Window's Vista

If you're like me, you hate the new version of AOL Instant Messenger! Instead of conforming, we go to web sites that allow us to download the older versions of software that we are comfortable with. This works great, unless the newer versions of Window's are no longer compatible with the software. This is the case with AOL Instant Messenger version 5.9 and Window's Vista. Often, when you try to start up AOL Instant messenger (or AIM) on your desktop nothing will appear. To fix this problem, you must do some editing to the registry. Here are the steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Window's Vista
• AOL Instant Messenger
• Basic Computer knowledge

1. Go to your window's start button. On Window's Vista it is just the Window's logo. Type "regedit" in the search bar and hit enter. A warning will come up asking you if you really want to proceed. Hit continue.

2. 

   Click on several folders in this order:
   My Computer -> HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> America Online -> AOL Instant Messenger (TM) -> Current Version -> Misc
   
   Use the picture to the left as a guide.

3. The Misc folder will reveal a file called "Data Path." Double click on "Data Path" and a box will come up with a long address. Delete the contents of that box and hit ok.

4. You're almost done! Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete simultaneously and click on "Task Manager." Once you are in Task Manager click on the "Processes" tab. End the process of anything in that list that has aim.exe in it.

5. Once you have done those 2 things, AIM should work for you.
   
   In the future, you will not have to go through all those steps. Once you click regedit in the search box, it will take you directly to the data path file. You will just delete that address & end the processes on aim.exe and you will be all set.

Resources

• AIM
• AOL