Communicator Help: Installing and Setting Up AOL<sup><font size=-2>®</font></sup> Communicator

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Installing and Setting Up AOL Communicator

Installing AOL Communicator

Running the Setup Program
Documentation
Sharing AOL Communicator With Other Users
Upgrade Notifications

Running the Setup Program

Before you begin, make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements described at AOL® Keyword: AOL Communicator

To download and install AOL Communicator:

1. Sign on to your current AOL client software, go to AOL Keyword AOL Communicator and click the button labeled Click to Download Now!
2. Save the file ac_install.exe to any convenient location on your hard disk where you can find it again.
3. Double-click ac_install.exe.

If you are installing AOL Communicator for the first time, you'll see the AOL Communicator Setup screens described in the steps that follow.
If an earlier version of AOL Communicator is still installed on your hard disk, you will first be asked if you want to upgrade it.

4. License Agreement. Click Accept if you agree with the terms of the license.
5. Installation Options. Leave all items selected and click Next.
6. Installation Directory. If the default location is OK with you, click Install to continue with the installation.

If you want to specify a different location, click Browse, choose the location where you want to install AOL Communicator, click OK, and then click Install.
The Installing Files screen displays the progress of the setup program as it installs Communicator.
Note: If AOL client software (such as AOL® 9.0 Optimized) is running, you may see a window titled "Viewpoint Media Player Uninstallation" stating that the installer needs to close the application waol.exe.
If you see this message, switch to the AOL client software, open the File menu, and choose Exit. Wait a moment, then click Retry in the Viewpoint Media Player Uninstallation window. (If you have already cancelled the installation, run ac_install.exe again as described above starting with Step 3.)

7. Completed. If this is the first time you have installed AOL Communicator, the setup program closes and the Account Wizard opens. See "Setting Up Mail Accounts" for instructions on what to do next.

If you are asked to restart your computer, click OK. In this case, launch AOL Communicator after restarting. If no accounts have been set up yet, the Account Setup Wizard appears when the program launches.

Related topics:

Location of Installed Files

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Documentation

To view AOL Communicator Help while using AOL Communicator, open the Help menu and choose Contents & Index.

You can also click Help buttons in any AOL Communicator window to open Help to relevant information.

PDF Available: To print AOL Communicator Help, follow these steps:

1. Go to AOL Keyword: AOL Communicator
2. Click Frequently Asked Questions, then click the PDF icon labeled AOL Communicator Guide to download the guide.
3. Locate the PDF file that you downloaded to your hard disk.
4. Open the PDF file and print it.

Release Notes: For late-breaking information and a detailed list of known issues, open the Help menu and choose Release Notes.

For additional information, including a FAQ, demo, and tutorials, go to AOL Keyword: AOL Communicator

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Sharing AOL Communicator With Other Users

When you're using most versions of AOL client software, you can sign on with only one screen name at a time from a single application running on one computer. In a family, for example, each parent and child might have a different screen name and sign on to AOL client software separately to read mail and use other AOL® services.

AOL Communicator works differently. It allows you to set up multiple e-mail accounts or send instant messages using any screen name. Anybody who can sit down at your computer and launch AOL Communicator may be able to access all the mail accounts that you have configured using the Account Setup Wizard, or use any of the Instant Messenger™ screen names for which you have saved a password.

Support for Multiuser Operating Systems

Like most other software programs, AOL Communicator supports the multiuser capabilities built into many operating systems.

For example, if several people share a single Windows® system that is set up for multiple user profiles, each person can maintain separate AOL Communicator preferences and other settings, just as for any other programs on that computer. Each system user profile requires its own user name and password, and multiple users in the same family can each log on to a single computer separately.

If your computer is configured for only one systemwide user profile, or if it doesn't permit the use of more than one profile, then you will be able to maintain only one set of AOL Communicator preferences on that machine.

Using a Master Password

You can set a Master Password that must be entered when you first launch AOL Communicator. For details, see Turning on Your Master Password.

You can also provide limited protection for an individual account within AOL Communicator by turning off the "Remember password" option for that account. For details, see Controlling Your Passwords.

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Upgrade Notifications

When a major new release of AOL Communicator is available, you'll see an upgrade notice a few minutes after you first launch the program.

If you see the upgrade notice, just click Upgrade Now to initiate the download. If you decide not to upgrade right away, you can change your mind and upgrade manually at any time.

To upgrade manually, open the Help menu and choose Upgrade AOL Communicator. If the command is still dimmed after AOL Communicator has been running for a few minutes, you are running the most recent version available.

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The sections in this document that discuss security, encryption, and privacy are provided by AOL for your information only. They may help you take certain steps to protect the privacy and security of your personal information on the Internet. This document does not, however, address all online privacy and security issues, nor does it represent a recommendation by AOL about what constitutes adequate privacy and security protection on the Internet.

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Last Updated September 18, 2003