I was working on my grandparent's computer and found that all the AOL background services (like the AOL connectivity garbage) was costing RAM and CPU time and would like to have it not run. In the past, I've found that setting the AOL services to manual and unchecking the tray app from MSCONFIG actually prevents the AOL software from working.
I already converted my grandma to using Firefox and just checking her AOL mail via the HTML interface, but my grandpa is completely immovable in the manner. He MUST have his AOL desktop interface. To me though, it seems like such a shame to have the AOL background stuff steal away performance 24/7 for the little bit each day that he goes on to check his mail, stocks, etc.
I'm looking for 1 of 2 solutions:
1 (preferred): Which is the newest working AOL version that DOESN'T run (or can be configured to not run) all the background garbage? I know oldversion.com has a bunch of versions; which one will do the trick?
2: If there are no versions that are old enough do without all that stuff AND new enough not to be broken by the new AOL sign-in procedures (R.I.P., AOL Communicator), is there at least some way to set AOL 9.0 to run the service only when necessary? (I suppose a batch file with NET START / STOP commands could do the trick, but I'm looking for something a bit less clunky.) Also, what's the bare minimum requirements in terms of background services to get AOL 9.1 (or 10.x) up and working?
Note that this is on XP, and that solutions such as "Why don't you set him up with a personal Firefox shortcut that opens everything he needs in tabs or use Speed Dial with all of the things he needs as big impossible-to-miss buttons" are invalid and ineligible as the logic "breaks down" when faced with crochety-old-man stubbornness.
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