Connect to AOL Broadband Without Their Application

When you subscribe to AOL Broadband, you are forced to install a resource intensive application (AOL8.0 or AOL9.0) and connect to the internet from there. I have noticed that this application (waol.exe) sometimes uses upto 99% CPU and my computer grinds to a halt!

In order to avoid having to use the AOL application and connect directly to the internet, follow the following steps:

• Go to Control Panel and select Network Connections
• Click New Connection Wizard
• Choose to "Connect to the Internet" and then press Next
• Choose to "Set up my connection manually" and then press Next
• Choose to "Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password" and then press Next
• Type the name of your ISP e.g. "AOL Broadband" and then press Next
• Choose for "Anyone's use" and then press Next
• Type your User name e.g. "JohnSmith@aol.com", Password, Confirm password and then press Next
• Tick "Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop" and click Finish to close the wizard.
  

Now you can connect straight to the internet by going to your desktop and clicking on the "AOL Broadband" icon.

In order to automatically connect whenever you startup your computer, add this icon to the Startup folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup