Setting Up AOL Instant Messenger

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Before you can use AOL Instant Messenger™ (AIM) to send and receive messages and to exchange files via the Internet, you need to make sure you have AIM correctly set up on your computer. There are three simple steps to a successful AIM setup, downloading, installing, and registering.

Downloading of AOL Instant Messenger™

In order to use AIM, you need to make sure you have it installed on your computer! In order to acquire AIM, you currently have two options:

Netscape Communicator 4.76 for Mac/PC. AOL Instant Messenger is included with Netscape Communicator 4.75! If you have the latest version of Netscape Communicator, then you should have AIM already installed on your computer. To check the version of Netscape that you're running, while in Netscape, click the Apple menu, then click About Communicator.... If you do have the latest version, please proceed to Registering AOL Instant Messenger. If you do not, you can download it at http://home.netscape.com/download/.
You can also download the latest version of AIM at AOL.COM. Clicking on the appropriate link below will take you to the latest version of AIM for your system available for download.

AOL Instant Messenger (sm) for Macintosh - DOWNLOAD NOW

AOL Instant Messenger (sm) for Windows - DOWNLOAD NOW

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Installing AOL Instant Messenger™

Once you've downloaded AIM, you need to install it to make it work on your computer. To install AIM on your computer, find and double-click the Install AIM icon

which should be on your Desktop Folder. Follow the installation procedures to install AIM on your computer. You should restart your computer to begin using AIM.

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Registering AOL Instant Messenger™

Now that you've successfully installed AIM on your computer, you are ready to register it to begin using AIM. You only need to register once to begin using AIM. When you register, you are choosing a screen name and password. Your screen name is the nickname by which you will be known by everyone else using the AIM service. Your password is something you will use to log in to AIM whenever you Sign On, or launch the AIM application. To Sign On and register, click the AIM menu

(upper-right corner of your screen), then click Sign On.... You should see a Sign On window as seen below.

<--Sign On Window

Click the Sign On button to begin registration of AIM. A New User Registration window (below) will pop up.

<--New User Registration Window

Click the Register New Screen Name... button. Your browser will launch and a window will appear directing you to AIM's Select a Screen Name! Web page. Here, you will be prompted to type in a desired screen name, a password, and your e-mail address. Click the CLICK HERE! button when you are finished typing in the necessary information in the fields. Be sure to write down your accepted screen name and password for the AIM service. You'll need them when you Sign On to AOL Instant Messenger!

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