AOL Adapter Not Found with or Without AOL Installed

ID: Q244646

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

You may not be able to run America Online (AOL) because the AOL adapter is not present in Network properties and you cannot add it.


CAUSE

This issue may be related to one of the following conditions:

  • A Dial-Up Networking component may be damaged.


  • You may have a 16-bit version of AOL installed.


  • The Windows/INF folder may be damaged.


  • You may have installed America Online version 5.0.



RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:

Damaged Dial-Up Networking Component

Uninstall and reinstall the Dial-Up Networking components:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  2. Click the Windows Setup tab, double-click Communications , and then click to clear the Dial-Up Networking check box.


  3. Click OK, click Apply, and then click OK. If you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.


  4. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  5. Click the Windows Setup tab, double-click Communications , and then click to select the Dial-Up Networking check box.


  6. Click OK, click Apply, and then click OK. If you are prompted to restart the computer, do so. Note that you may be prompted to insert your Windows CD-ROM.


For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q181599 How to Remove and Reinstall Dial-Up Networking and TCP/IP Files

16-Bit Version of AOL Is Installed

Contact America Online and inquire about obtaining an updated version. If you are an AOL user and you can connect to AOL, connect and then go to keyword "Upgrade."

The Windows/INF Folder Is Damaged

If the INF folder is damaged:
  1. Double-click My Computer, open the Windows folder, and locate the INF folder.


  2. Right-click the INF folder, click Rename, type INFOLD, and then press ENTER.


  3. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder.


  4. Right-click the new folder, click Rename, type INF, and then press ENTER.


  5. Extract all the Windows .inf files from your Windows CD-ROM into the new INF folder.


    6. For additional information about extracting files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
NOTE: If you are running Microsoft Office 2000, also copy the Other "folder" into the new INF folder. Also, copy any existing folders under the old INF folder to the new INF folder.

You Installed America Online version 5.0

Remove and reinstall the AOL adapter:
  1. Double-click My Computer, and then open the Windows\AOLSHARE\Sysinfo folder.


  2. Double-click the Sinf icon to start the System Information tool.


  3. Click the Utilities tab, and then click Uninstall AOL Adapter.


  4. Quit the System Information tool and start AOL again.



MORE INFORMATION

The AOL adapter is created either when you install AOL or when you start AOL after removing the adapter.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kb3rdparty dun win95 win98
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: November 2, 1999
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