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Can't get rid of AOL

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Jan1957 | 18:41 Mon 21st Jun 2010 | Technology
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I used to be with AOL but in April changed to BT. AOL said I could still keep my email address with them so did until I had changed everything over to my new yahoo email address with BT. Last night I finally uninstalled AOL from my computer because all I was getting was junk emails but I have still got an AOL Icon at bottom right of my screen saying AOL connection available. I also keep getting a pop up box for an AOL Dialler which just won't go away until I enter my old AOL password and click broadband on it.

Have I not uninstalled AOL properly and, if not, how do I? I removed all the AOL programs I could see but is there something else I need to do? Since doing this my BT broadband has been really slow and it is driving me mad!

I would be grateful for any help before I throw my laptop through the window. Thanks.
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AOL is horrible for this, it leaves so much rubbish on computers it a joke, your lucky you can even connect using another ISP!

Go back to add remove programs and double check you have removed everything that mentions AOL and America online and if you find anything else remove it and restart your computer and see if the leftovers are gone then

I'd also check that it hasn't left your computer set to use AOL's proxy servers (I know tthey used to, don't know if they still do)... so in control panel double click on internet options, then click on the connections tab, then click on the LAN settings button and make sure there is not a tick in the box under where it says proxy server.

If that doesn't clear everything post back (though the only guaranteed way to totally remove AOL is to reinstall windows or do a lot of, potentially risky, changes to the registry, it's that bad)
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Thanks Chuck, will give it a try.
Bear in mind, though, that CF isn't joking when he says that there's a chance that the only way that you will ever be able to get rid of this garbage is by wiping the hard disk and reinstalling Windows...
I have done it once ... with 8 or 9.

AOL is frequently described as a virus ... by people mainly from USA, where it came from!
You can get a removal tool somewhere.
600-800 entries in Registry to remove tho.

Before you remove it, it can pay to run "services.msc" and look for AOL processes running .. and kill them. Then you will get a better, more complete uninstall.
On reflection .. the worst thing is getting stuff out of the stupid store .. whatever thay call it, to save in another useable format. Mail address book/contacts can be tricky. There are few converters available.
When you uninstall, first save that big file to your desktop, as that is a backup (of sorts)
Question Author
I have now removed everything I can find to do with AOL, had BT check my broadband speed which they say is fine but my laptop is still going at a snail's pace. As I have no idea what else to do looks like I will have to get a man in that can or throw the bloody thing out the window!

Thanks all for trying to help but as I do not understand this language that all you techies speak I will have to call on a friend who knows what he is doing.
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