[SpiritKitty]

Hi Everyone...
I found this site/forum by trying to fix my main idx and organize problem...
that fixed (long story short - had to uninstall 2 versions of aol and then re-install them)
unfortunately now I can't open my address book...at all
before it was only in one of the sighn on's, now it's everywhere. what can I do to fix this...if anything? I'm trying so very hard not to lose all my information. All my addresses, filing cabinet information, my favorites...

a very frustrated kitty...

[ehari]

what version of AOL did u uninstall?

what version of AOL did u re-install?

what version of windows do u have??

and what connection do u use? dialup/dsl/cable?

[SpiritKitty]

I'm sorry, I am so stupid.... I know better too...can I use the excuse that I was so discouraged that I forgot to include all the pertinent information?

AOL versions 8.0plus and 9.0
Windows me
cable connection

I had started having the problem with my address book back when I went from 6.0 to 7.0 but it was only on one user. Stayed that way when I switched from 7.0 to 8.0. It was while I was gone on vacation that my husband was looking at his email and "something" went wrong...he swears he didn't do anything but I wasn't here and I think at this point he's too scared to tell me what he might have done. But I couldn't even open aol for a bit. Then got it working by using a restore point on my system. The problem I had was that I couldn't restore any of my pfc files. When I tried to copy the organize file into the aol folder there wasn't an organize file to overwrite. When I tried to send an e-mail through my browser, aol being my default e-mail program, the error message that I kept getting was that it wasn't installed properly, even though I was able to use it?

Does that give you a little bit more information? or did I now go over to the other side and give you too much?

[ehari]

So now you are using AOL 9.0.

and u r not able to see your filing cabinet,favourite places and address book?

earlier before installing AOL 9.0 u were using AOL 8.0 right?

If that be so....the favourite places and address book are transferred to the AOL server. You can check this by going to www.aol.com logging in with your screen name and password and trying to pull up the address book.

Now after uninstalling AOL 8.0 where did u copy the organise folder ? On AOL 9.0 the organise folder should be pasted in C:\WINDOWS\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_America Online 9.0.

When I tried to send an e-mail through my browser, aol being my default e-mail program, the error message that I kept getting was that it wasn't installed properly, even though I was able to use it?

what exactly does it say when u try to send email?

.......and since u have cable.......is it possible that u r husband tried to play or tweak some network setting on the computer?

and u r favourites also do not come up on AOL 9.0 right?

before i forget.....r u using AOL Cable or Road Runner/Comcast etc...?




PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS IN ORDER FOR ME TO HELP YOU BETTER.

[SpiritKitty]

Originally posted by ehari
So now you are using AOL 9.0.

Yes

and u r not able to see your filing cabinet,favourite places and address book?

no, i am able to see my filing cabinet, and favorite places now. here is short chain of events:
uninstall and delete all aol related folders, with the exception of saved pfc folder (saved to desk top)
attempt to install aol 9.0 from disc
was no place to put organize folder (i have done this before when switching from aol 7.0 to aol 8.0 and then again from 8.0 to 8.0 plus had a problem with phone book but only on one of the sign on's)
uninstalled 9.0 again
installed 8.0 plus from disc
installed 9.0 update from disc
that installed my filing cabinet and favorites without having to copy any saved files.
after getting your reply i followed the windows path:C:\WINDOWS\All Users\Application Data\AOL\
and found 2 separate aol folders C_America Online 9.0 and Ca_America Online 9.0. in the in the C_Am - here let me show you look at this path: C:\WINDOWS\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_America Online 9.0\organize\organize
do you see the organize folder within the organize folder? they both have the same information...or so it seems to me. Ca_America Online also has an organize folder but there is not an organize folder within an organize folder.

earlier before installing AOL 9.0 u were using AOL 8.0 right?

i was using aol 8.0 plus for broadband

If that be so....the favourite places and address book are transferred to the AOL server. You can check this by going to www.aol.com logging in with your screen name and password and trying to pull up the address book.

yes i can pull up my address book that way. i cannot see a way of checking for my filing cabinet.

Now after uninstalling AOL 8.0 where did u copy the organise folder ? On AOL 9.0 the organise folder should be pasted in C:\WINDOWS\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_America Online 9.0.

when i uninstalled 8.0 i saved a pfc folder on the desk top
when installing 9.0 i used the upgrade feature. it loaded the filing cabinet and favorites automatically.

what exactly does it say when u try to send email?

"Could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"
this is when i attempt to e-mail through the "contact us" link on a web site.

.......and since u have cable.......is it possible that u r husband tried to play or tweak some network setting on the computer?

no i'm pretty sure he wouldn't try...i can barely get him to check his e-mail. he said he just opened his e-mail. i'm sure it was more than that because one time when he called me he had pop ups all over his screen and i had to talk him through closing them all. he might have gone to a site that had those, but i don't see where that would have damaged the main idx, which is what i was trying to fix when i ran into this. his sign on was the one that couldn't open the address book before, but as he never used his address book we didn't wory about it.
have i told you that the "Cannot Open Address Book" error pops up as soon as i try to log on? it happens before I even sign on - when it's loading the program.

and u r favourites also do not come up on AOL 9.0 right?

no. that was before i uninstalled and then re-installed both of them.

before i forget.....r u using AOL Cable or Road Runner/Comcast etc...?

i have comcast cable.

[ehari]

oh boy ! u did lot of work on AOl 9.0 !

i am able to see my filing cabinet, and favorite places now.

so everything is fine as far as filing cabinet and favourite places are concerned for all screen names....right?

have i told you that the "Cannot Open Address Book" error pops up as soon as i try to log on? it happens before I even sign on - when it's loading the program

don't worry there is a system issue from the AOL end and it will be automatically resolved or perhaps it already has been.

"Could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

try this:
Close AOL and internet explorer (if open).Then Go to start ->settings->control panel ->internet options ->programs tab ->under category of email make sure 'america online' is selected->then click on apply and OK.
Now restart the computer.

Did that help?

[SpiritKitty]

Originally posted by ehari
oh boy ! u did lot of work on AOl 9.0 !

u r telling me...

so everything is fine as far as filing cabinet and favourite places are concerned for all screen names....right?

yup. i lost the personalized stuff but that's no big deal...i can do it again...hannibal lechter saying you've got mail....

don't worry there is a system issue from the AOL end and it will be automatically resolved or perhaps it already has been.

no it hasn't been resolved and as i said, it's been going on since i went from 7.0 to 8.0 but it had only been on one of the sign ons...now it's on all of them.

try this:
Close AOL and internet explorer (if open).Then Go to start ->settings->control panel ->internet options ->programs tab ->under category of email make sure 'america online' is selected->then click on apply and OK.
Now restart the computer.

Did that help?

okay, boy do i feel stupid...i knew that before...why did i forget it this time? yes, it resolved that problem.

do you think i should contact aol about the address book issue? i've tried their "fix it" but it just says that i don't have an anti-virus program installed....i do but i have issues with it...so it's just not enabled. isn't is amazing how much trouble you can get into when you re-install your operating system without disabling your virus protection ...i had to reformat my hard drive...not exactly my idea of fun

anyway, talk to aol or can you help me? which, btw you have done already and i am very grateful...thank you!

[ehari]

lost the personalized stuff but that's no big deal...i can do it again

what exactly have we lost....i think we can retrive it.

it's been going on since i went from 7.0 to 8.0 but it had only been on one of the sign ons...now it's on all of them.

when exactly did u go from 7.0 to 8.0?

do you think i should contact aol about the address book issue?

bottomline..If i cannot fix it ..... they cannot fix it. .

i've tried their "fix it" but it just says that i don't have an anti-virus program installed

what exactly did they ask you to "fix"?

How address book in AOL works :

The addresses in the address book are stored on the AOL server so you can access it from any computer.But a copy of the address book is also stored on the local computer for offline access in the form of .abx and .aby files.Deleting the .abx and .aby files on the local computer will force the AOL software to download a fresh copy from the AOL server.

so if u have not done this step try this for one screen name:

1. Disable any firewall if you have it.
2. start -->search -> files & folders.
3. Search for ScreenName1.ab*.
4. Delete all ScreenName1.ab* files.
5. Sign on to AOL with ScreenName1 and check if that helped. If there are lot of addresses stay online for sometime for the address book to be downloaded before u attempt to open it. Also try signing off and signing on again if even that did not help.
5. If that does help repeat step 2,3,4,5 for other screen names.

i have comcast cable

Do you have some kinda home networking at your place?

Go to start->settings->control panel->add/remove programs->windows setup->double click on commmunications. Is 'Internet Connection Sharing' CHECKED??

That's all for now.

[SpiritKitty]

Originally posted by ehari
what exactly have we lost....i think we can retrive it.

it's really not worth bothering with, just the appearance settings and such. oh yes, and as i said, hannibal lechter saying, "you've got mail. goody, goody..." easily redone. it was acquired from aol -easily replaced.

when exactly did u go from 7.0 to 8.0?

um, was i supposed to remember that? my concept of time is probably like a 5 yo seems like decades ago...when did it first become available to download from them... as soon as it showed up as available - i downloaded it. it had to be at least a year ago, maybe 2. i'm sorry, i'm not sure.

bottomline..If i cannot fix it ..... they cannot fix it. .

LOL i believe you!!!! i just didn't want to be a pest...

what exactly did they ask you to "fix"?

if you're thinking about having to reformat my hard drive - that wasn't them. that was a very helpful gentleman at dell that told me to re-install my operating system. he didn't remind me to turn off my anti-virus software and i didn't think of it...a very nice lady from dell helped me re-format my hard drive. that whole thing was another story altogether...long story...frustrating but boring.

How address book in AOL works :

so if u have not done this step try this for one screen name:

5. If that does help repeat step 2,3,4,5 for other screen names.
[snipped for convenience]

aren't you just the bomb!!!!! i love you i worship you!!!!

that is very good to know...i will print those instructions off...if you don't mind.

Do you have some kinda home networking at your place?

nuh uh. one computer....mine! no palm pilot *sigh* no lap top *sigh* not even a cell phone (i'm not sorry about that one )

Go to start->settings->control panel->add/remove programs->windows setup->double click on commmunications. Is 'Internet Connection Sharing' CHECKED??

i didn't even see a "internet connection sharing" box to be checked. so i'm going to assume that it isn't checked

That's all for now.

that was enough....you're my hero!!!! thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...
SK

[ehari]

i didn't even see a "internet connection sharing" box to be checked

have u tried looking for Internet Connection Sharing under 'Internet tools'?

i.e:

Go to start->settings->control panel->add/remove programs->windows setup->double click on Internet tools

[ehari]

if all this fails.........i give up

Just call AOL and ask them to file a problem report .Don't let em walk you thru the same thing all over again.

Am sure they do not have any other steps for you.

[SpiritKitty]

i had meant to come back sooner and tell you that everything worked wonderfully. thank you very much for your help. you are my newest hero.

[ehari]

could you tell me what worked? please

[SpiritKitty]

deleting the .ab* files from all the user names.

i am able to access address book in all sign ons now.

again, thank you...u r the bomb!!!!

[ehari]

thanks for letting us know what worked.It will help me to help others.