HELP please on running AIM

so i got a computer from a friend (jsut the actual computer), and there are settings on it from when he used it so i don't know where i stand.

so everything works fine... obviously i have an internet connection. AIM downloads and opens fine, but when i try to log on it reads "connection failed". i chceked my firewall settings and AIM is an exception, so that's not the issue i don't think.

i clicked auto-configure and it said that it did not work and still failed.

can anyone help me? i'm running AIM 6.9 on a windows XP. what else should i look for? (btw AIM 6.9 IS compatible with windows XP, so it's not a "vista" problem).

thanks

 

Can you connect to the internet? And did you try reinstalling?

 

Two things, have you checked windows fire wall?
1) Go to your control panel and go into the security center(sheild with red green blue & yellow)
2) Look under the "Manage security settings for:" and go into the Windows Firewall(planet hiding behind a brick wall) option
3) You will simply need to go to the tab that says "Exceptions" and find AIM (or a simalar name) that should be on the list, make sure the check mark is filled in so firewall will Stop blocking you IMing client.(unchecking any of the boxes tells the firewall you don't trust the program and windows will attemp to keep it from talking to the net)

Assuming the firewall is your problem your be right as rain to talk to your freinds.

And if you want a quick fix to talk before you get the problem resolved this is a web based Aim client that will circumvent the problem if I am not gravely mistaken:
http://www.aim.com/aimexpress.adp