AIM Disconnecting

I was previously using the AIM program that came built into Netscape 7.1. I have since switched to using IE 6.0 and downloaded and installed the newest stand alone version of AIM from the AIM website. For some reason, AIM disconnects every five minutes or so. It will also disconnect when someone on my buddy list signs on or off. I have no idea why. I went back to the Netscape 7.1 version just to see if there was possibly a problem (bug) with the new AIM but it does the same thing as well!

I am using ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall protection and think that may have something to do with this. I have been playing around with the settings but still get disconnected. I'm using a Win XP Home system with 215mb of ram and a 2.4mhz P4.

Does anyone know how I can correct this problem?? i'm wide open for suggestions.

Thanks, guys, in advance!

 

Step #1 is to clean up your PC.

- Delete all temp internet files.
- Download, update, and run Ad-aware. Delete all the things it finds.
- Download, update, and run Spybot Search & Destroy. Delete the items it has placed check marks with. Leave the rest alone for now.

If that doesn't stop the problem, you will need to check carefully to insure that ZA will allow AIM to communicate thru all the ports it wants to use. I haven't checked in great detail but there may be a port used for "I'm alive" feedback that is blocked.

A quick check although one that will leave you vulnerable for a little while would be to turn off ZA and see if the problem continues. If you had email and all browser sessions closed, your risk would be very, very small.

 

Newt,

I do the pc clean thing on a very regular basis, daily in fact!

I think I may have figured this out after some playing around. I contacted ZoneLabs to ask if they had any info about this. They told me to just give permission to AIM all the way around, access and server rights. Once I did this the disconnects stopped.

This ZoneAlarm is quite the program, I must say. It certainly protects as claimed and also causes headaches on occasion with things like this.

Thanks!