I'm having problems with certain links on some AOL home pages, particularly aafes.com. Links on other pages seem to work Ok. When I attempt to select a link on the aafes.com home page, especially secure links to my account or to shop, the link times out and won't connect. I've used AOL and COMCAST Broad Band tech support, check all settings, etc., but no solution. Even uninstalled and reinstalled AOL 9.1 twice, tried IE directly, etc. The website is not reporting any problems. I'm out of ideas. Can anyone help?

Welcome to SAF, Bonate!

This may have been a problem with the site recently. I'm not having any problem accessing any links on that page today.

You didn't mention any specs for your system, especially the browser. Make sure that IE states 'Cipher strength - 128 bit' in Help > About. If you are running an older version, it may not. This is required for https (secure) pages. AOL uses a custom modified Internet Explorer for their browser.

I've never used AOL, and like many people, never will, as they've been quite a headache in the past. Around here, RoadRunner is my ISP, and if I used AOL, the charge would be $10 more per month. Not worth the extra, just to hear some guy say "You've got mail!" If your ISP is Comcast, you don't need AOL to do the internet. Comcast offers email and other services as part of their package.

----------------------------------------
SAF, thanks for the reply and glad to be on SAF. I am still having problems with aafes.com and also with avery.com. Any time I try to link to a log-on page on either. I get warnings:

1) When tried avery.com link to log-in/register product.
"Note from ASPI plugin:
No backend server available for connection: timed out after 10 seconds."

2) When tried aafes.com secure link to log-in got a window:
"You (or a program) have requested information from thor.aafes.com. Which connection do you want to use?
Connections:
My ISP
AOL"
When I select either, I get a window that appears to be trying to dial-up a connection. I don't have dial-up.

3) Then, this screen popped up:
"https://thor.aafes.com/ics/default.asp
This program cannot display the webpage"

Could this be a problem with my IE 7.0 or how I loaded it some way?
Al

I'm at a loss on this one. You may need to do an over-the-top repair installation of Windows, as it sounds to me like something is corrupted, file-wise. If you want to tackle this, there are instructions HERE. There's a link to 'All the guides' if XP Home isn't your OS.

In the meantime, it's possible that a firewall or A-V program you are running is blocking it. Give us a couple days, perhaps someone else will have some suggestions.

Hi,
Just found this site after doing a search for the same problem. Two days ago I was unable to get the aafes signin page as you describe. Prior to that it worked fine. No other signin page seems affected.
After a little trial and error it seems that my router is the problem. I have changed nothing on my system however Windows update is turned on full automatic. That seems to be the only thing that could have changed but I don't know how.
I run WinXP pro on two PCs connected to a Wild Blue satelite through their modem and a DLink DI-524 router. When I bypass the router and connect a PC directly to the modem I can get the aafes login page. Don't know what to try next...

I'm pretty sure a full WinXP reinstall would be overkill....

By the way, some things that didn't seem to help:

1. Turn off AVG anti virus.
2. Try both FireFox2.0 or IE7.
3. Reboot the PC.
4. Reboot the router and the modem.
5. Set security on IE to minimum.
6. Clear all history and cookies.

Welcome, tech 511!

Also try clearing your Temporary Internet Files and emptying your Temp folder in C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Temp\. Nothing in this folder is needed between boots, unless you are using it to store files or as a temp for programs like Shareaza or eMule.