AOL Journals: Magic Smoke

Monday, November 21, 2005
4:14:00 PM EST Hi folks...here are some updates on our open issues. Nothing major, I'm afraid. Sorry for the delay -- I was waiting to hear from the tech folks on a few things (primarily the procedure on clearing your TopSpeed cache, below [Update: which I have now added.] I will post more info as I hear from them:

* Ad Banners:
Nothing new to tell you. We're working on displaying disclaimer text, but everything I see says the banner ad isn't going away.

Also, BusinessWeek's Blogspotting did a followup entry on Saturday about some of your boycotts and other protests in response to the ad banners.

* Character Sets Not Displaying Properly:
This is the issue of extended characters (accents and other symbols) not showing up correctly. As mentioned, the tech folks tried a fix but it didn't work. No update at the moment.

* Inability to Save Entries:
The tech folks really think that the problem of being unable to save entries is fixed on their end. Because of cached files that are stored on your computer, your computer may not be "seeing" the fix, so you'd still be having the problem even though it's "fixed."

The tech folks are working on installing a patch that will force your computer to get the correct version of the files, by telling it to go look for the files in a new location. This should happen by Wednesday. If you don't want to wait (and why would you?), you can try clearing your caches yourself.

There are two types of caches we are concerned with. You will need to clear both:

Cache 1. Your Web browser cache: This one is easy to fix. Go to AOL Keyword: Browser Settings, click the text link that says Internet Explorer Settings, then in the section marked "Temporary Internet Files", click the button that says Delete Files:

Cache 2. Your AOL TopSpeed cache (or footprint): This one depends on which version of the AOL 9.0 software you have [Update: I added the instructions for AOL 9.0 SE users] :

1. If you have AOL 9.0 Safety & Security Edition: This is easy, but you need to have the most recent version of theAOL 9.0 software. Go to AOL Keyword: Browser Settings. You should see two tabs -- one for "TopSpeed" and one that says "Clear My Footprints." Click on the Clear My Footprints tab, then click the Clear My Footprints button.
   
   
2. If you have AOL 9.0 SE: You can use the AOL System Information Utility program, which comes with your AOL:
   
   * In the Windows Start Menu (usually along the bottom of your screen), click the Start button.
   * Click Programs, then America Online, then AOL System Information:
   

   

   
   * In the AOL System Info program, click the Utilities tab, then click the Clear Browser Cache button. Despite the name, the TopSpeed guys assure me that clicking this button will also clear the TopSpeed cache:
   

   

   
   You might need to restart your computer after doing this.
   
   [Update:  Clearing your footprint should fix the problem, so the following instructions have been superceded, but I have left them in for future historians] If you would like to disable AOL TopSpeed, go to AOL Keyword: Browser Settings. Uncheck the box next to "Optimize Web browsing using TopSpeed technology:

   

   This should tell your computer to stop using the TopSpeed cache, which will force it to get the correct version from the servers.
   
   

Please let me know if this fix works for you, or if you're still having problems.

Thanks -- Joe

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This entry has 45 comments: (Add your own)

• #45 Comment from davethesod 
  10/12/06 7:01 PM | Permalink

  Special Characters???
  
  How about those tech guys find a fix for the 'size 12 font' not working first. Since me and a handful of others were asked to Beta test AOL journals, right at the very beginning, we have made the tech guys aware of this problem. But still, three and a half years later there seems to be no fix in sight, for what should be a relatively easy problem to solve.
  
  C'mon, pull your fingers out guys...
  
  http://journals.aol.co.uk/davethesod/mish-mash/
  
  
• #44 Comment from maryd625 
  2/21/06 3:08 AM | Permalink

  Thanks for the tips, I will try it and get back with U how it did,Denise
• #43 Comment from kemh632 
  11/29/05 8:36 PM | Permalink

  It does work thanks, I guess it need time.
  
  http://journals.aol.com/kemh632/KarensOn-lineDiary/
• #42 Comment from kemh632 
  11/29/05 8:23 PM | Permalink

  I did the first thing and I don't have the second thing. It stilll will not let me save. What's wrong?
  Help,
  Karen
  
• #41 Comment from rapieress 
  11/29/05 3:29 PM | Permalink

  Thank you for posting this fix on the saving problem.  I was beginning to think I was going to have to give up on AOL, and continue my blog through myspace.com.  My work around was going to Netscape, opening AOL.com, signing on and then going to my blog and posting from there so it would save.  A real hassle - thanks again...  
  
  Catherine
  The resident redhead.
  
  http://journals.aol.com/rapieress/Aweekinthelife/

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