New HP 'puter...How do I stop the fucking AOL ad from popping up

when I'm trying to use a Finale program shortcut?

When I try get into the text options in Finale by pressing Ctrl-Shift-M, instead of getting into the text editing area, Internet Explorer pops up with a big fat ad for AOL. I tried AOL's online user support; and the techie wanted me to change my effing browser homepage setting. :eyes:

qualified techno-geeks here, but if you use another dial-up or broadband service and don't need it, just remove all the AOL programs.

I can't figure out what I need to remove to keep this bullshit from happening anytime we want to write a new piece of music... :grr:
I hate them now more than ever!

Gotta hit the hay soon...

Somebody?

It might be from windows messenger service. Try deactivating that, it's junk any way.

It's in control panel/add/remove programs. PM me if you run into trouble

ALSO, in your internet explorer, click tools, internet options and make sure pop-up blocker is on.

I wonder if it's called something other than AOL...

look for somethin like "aolinstaller" OR click start, then "search for aol, leave window open I'm sitting here. Can delete it from the search window

Jeeze! I'm not even a subscriber!

Here's what interested me: Among the files listed in the search are a bunch of HP game files, which all begin with C:\Program Files\WildTangent\Apps\

Now I had a bad experience with WildTangent on a previous computer...pop-up ads coming from nowhere, slow computer response, etc.
I'm wondering if I should eliminate Wild Tangent. Isn't it just spyware?

Can uninstall from control panel -remove files programs. AND if you have AIM maybe why you are getting popups too.

My dad had AOL as his ISP. He had a terrible time just getting them to cancel his account, and then after that it took my two techno-geek brothers and me hours to uninstall it. You don't just "uninstall" like a normal program. AOL is a prime example of bloatware, and it extends its tendrils throughout the computer. You have to uninstall bits of it manually.

Strip away its startup rights. Choke it with your firewall. Tear it from your harddrive.

out the back door = removal :shrug: anything that says aol on it is my thought :thumbsup:

assuming you're using XP, look at the running processes and try to stop EVERYTHING that hints of AOL At least that stops the popups. Maybe. Note that not all AOL routines are stoppable, unfortunately, but this one should be.

Now, the hard work starts-- you've got a brazillion register entries from AOL crap, so you have to use add/remove programs to get rid of most of it. Some of them come back like demonic zombies, so you have to delete them again.

Then, you have to go through all your folders to find even more crap that's hidden.

Finally, you should use a registry cleaner to get the last bits of it out.

Oh, and somewhere along the line Process Explorer or something like it comes in handy to stop AOL crap from loading at startup. If parts of it are loaded and running, it's really hard to kill.

Took me a couple of weeks to finally rid myself of it, and I'm still not sure I really got it all.

:)

o come on, you knew someone was going to say it. :)

occasionally. With five people using this computer, it inevitably finds us.

As far as Wild Tangent...get rid of it!!!!! Some of those spyware and adware applications replicate themselves in your computer and can become very difficult to get rid of. Aside from Norton software, there are some decent free downloads like Spybot and Spyware Blaster that can help. Also, BHODemon.

Good luck!