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                  AOL(R) Communicator Read Me
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AOL(R) Communicator is subject to the terms detailed in the 
license agreement accompanying it.

This Read Me file contains information about system 
requirements, documentation, and initial installation. 


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                     System Requirements
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         OS Version: Windows 98
                     Windows 98SE
                     Windows Me                      
                     Windows 2000
                     Windows XP

            Machine: Pentium-class processor, 300 MHz or higher

Additional Hardware: Full Duplex sound card and speakers
                     65,000-color video display card set to 
                       display at 1024x768 or higher (video)

           Software: Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

                RAM: 128 MB of RAM or more

 Hard drive storage: Minimum 80 MB free space available

 You must have an active AOL(R) Member account to run 
 AOL Communicator.


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                       Documentation
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For late-breaking information and known problems, launch
AOL Communicator, open the Help menu, and choose Release 
Notes.

AOL Communicator Help is available as a PDF file at AOL(R) 
Keyword: AOL Communicator. Click Frequently Asked Questions, 
then click AOL Communicator Guide.

After AOL Communicator is installed, you can open the Help 
menu from any component application and choose Contents & 
Index to see an HTML version of the documentation. You can 
also click Help buttons in many AOL Communicator windows to 
see information about that part of the interface.


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                 Installation Instructions
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To download and install AOL Communicator:

1. Go to AOL Keyword: AOL Communicator and click to 
   download the program. Save the program file ac_install.exe
   to a convenient location on your hard disk.

2. Double-click the file you just downloaded, ac_install.exe.

   If you are downloading AOL Communicator for the first
   time, you'll see the setup screens described in the steps 
   that follow.

   If an earlier version of AOL Communicator is still 
   installed on your hard disk, you will be asked 
   if you want to upgrade it. 

3. License Agreement. Click "Accept" if you agree with the 
   terms of the license.

4. Installation Options. Leave all items selected and 
   click Next.

5. Installation Directory. If the default location is OK 
   with you, click Install to continue with the installation.

   The Installing Files screen displays the progress of the 
   setup program as it installs AOL Communicator.

   Note: If AOL(R) client software (such as AOL(R) 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 2.)

If this is the first time you have installed AOL Communicator, 
the Account Setup Wizard opens. The first account you set up 
must be an active AOL Member account.

If you are asked to reboot your computer, click OK. In 
this case, launch AOL Communicator after rebooting to open 
the Account Setup Wizard.

"Installing and Setting Up AOL Communicator" in AOL 
Communicator Help describes how to to set up your mail 
accounts and start using AOL Communicator.

Copyright (C) 2002-2003 America Online, Inc. 
All rights reserved.


18 September 2003