As you may or may not know, all of you AOL users have been having a hell of a time accessing the site since about Thursday. In addition to the access problems... all outbound email from the system here on MonteCarloSS.com to AOL users has been bouncing back with errors.

I called AOL tech support today. After being shuttled around between 5 humans, being disconnected once and rudely hung up on once , they flat out told me it was not their problem. I'm hopeing they will listen to their subscriber base more than an outside service. Apparently our site is not alone. I have heard from other sites with similar problems.

Anyway.. I've done all I can.. it's up to AOL now to resolve their own problems. If you are as frustrated as I am with them, please give them a call and tell them it's on their end. Certainly isn't on our end because the rest of the world can access the site without problems.

All I can do is recommend you dump AOL. :rolleyes: But that ususally doesn't go over well. Maybe if you tell them that it will get their attention.

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: Z65_Paul ]

well i'm back on. AOL never could give me a answer about what happened. hopefully it won't happen again. thanks

I have CompuServe (AOL with a different name) and I can now access the site. I e-mailed CS tech support and here is the crap they gave me. It's no real straight answer, basically saying it's not them:

Dear Brandon,

Hello, my name is Ton, I want to thank you personally for taking the time to write to CompuServe Technical Support and making us aware of your concern. It is always a great pleasure to assist you regarding any technical issues you may have.

A pleasant day to you Brandon. Based from your recent email, I understand that you are having trouble accessing the site "MonteCarloSS.com".

I personally apologize for the inconvenience that you have been experiencing. I appreciate your patience with this matter and I am here to help you.

The information to resolve your question involves many factors. In order to answer your question completely, I will address all these factors.

I suggest that you print this e-mail, as it is lengthy.

TO PRINT THIS E-MAIL, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

1. Select FILE on the menu bar.
2. Select PRINT.

TO DETERMINE AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

A. DISABLE WEB PARENTAL CONTROLS
B. UPGRADE TO 128 BIT ENCRYPTION
C. CHECK YOUR BROWSER'S SECURITY SETTING
D. PURGE BROWSER CACHE
E. INCORRECT PROXY SETTINGS
F. INTERNET ADAPTER

A. DISABLE WEB PARENTAL CONTROLS
Please check your web parental control setting. The default selection for sub-accounts (secondary screen names) is for restricted web access. This is to prevent secondary screen names from accessing the adult content areas on CompuServe and the Internet.

This setting will prevent access to some web sites through CompuServe 2000, and external programs like web browsers and games will not work.

If you wish to edit the parental control setting, sign on with the original screen name (member name) on your account and follow the instructions below. Parental Controls enable the master account holder, which is the permanent screen name created during the first sign-on to CompuServe 2000, to restrict access to certain areas and features on CompuServe 2000, including adult content.

1. Click on ACCESS and select PARENTAL CONTROLS from the
drop down list.
2. Click on the BLUE CIRCLE beside "Set Parental Controls
now."
3. Select the screen name (member name) on top of the
window.
4. Click on the BLUE ARROW beside "Web control."
5. Make sure access to the Internet is set to "Unrestricted
Access."
6. Click on OK, and then click on OK again to accept the
changes.
7. Click on DONE.

You may have to log out and log back in again before any changes take place.

NOTE: Disabling this restriction will allow access to adult
content to anyone with access to that sub-account.

B. UPGRADE TO 128 BIT ENCRYPTION
To check the encryption of your browser you must first launch Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE).

1. Click on START, select PROGRAMS, then click on
INTERNET EXPLORER from the programs list.
2. If prompted to connect, click on WORK OFFLINE.
3. Click on HELP on the menu bar, then select ABOUT
INTERNET EXPLORER.
4. In the About Internet Explorer window, locate "Cipher
Strength:". It will state 40-bit, 56-bit, or 128-bit.

In order to upgrade your version of the Internet Explorer browser from the export grade encryption to 128-bit strong encryption, please visit the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/128bit/intro.htm

Please follow the steps on the website for downloading and installing the upgrade or visit GO:

US128BRO

C. CHECK YOUR BROWSER'S SECURITY SETTING

TO CHECK YOUR BROWSER'S SECURITY SETTINGS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, then click on
CONTROL PANEL.
2. Double-click on the INTERNET (or INTERNET OPTIONS) icon.
3. Click on the ADVANCED tab.
4. Under the "Security" section, please make sure the following
are items are selected:

- Use PCT 1.0
- Use SSL 2.0
- Use SSL 3.0

5. Click on OK.
6. Select the CONNECTIONS tab.
7. Click on the LAN SETTINGS button.
8. Under Proxy Server, uncheck "Use a Proxy Server."
9. Click on OK.
10. Select the SECURITY tab.
11. Adjust your "Security level for this zone" according to your
Internet needs.
12. Click on OK

D. PURGE BROWSER CACHE
The Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) Temporary Internet Files directory may be full or damaged.

TO PURGE THE TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES USING COMPUSERVE 2000, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

1. Click on ACCESS, then click on PREFERENCES.
2. Click on the WWW icon.
3. Select the GENERAL tab.
4. Under the "Temporary Internet files" section, click on
DELETE FILES.
5. Click on OK to delete these files.
6. Under the "History" section, click on CLEAR HISTORY.
7. Click on OK to clear these files.
8. Click on OK to exit out of the CompuServe Internet
Properties window.

E. INCORRECT PROXY SETTINGS
It is possible there is an incorrect proxy setting in the MSIE Preferences.

TO CHECK THE PROXY SETTINGS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

1. Click on START, select SETTINGS, then click on CONTROL
PANEL.
2. Double-click on the INTERNET OPTIONS (MSIE 4.X/5.0) icon.
3. Click on the CONNECTION tab.
4. Make sure the PROXY SERVER selection is set accordingly:

- MSIE 4.0 & 4.01 - "Access the Internet using a proxy
server" is not checked.

- MSIE 5.0 - Make sure "Never dial a connection" is
selected. Click on the LAN SETTINGS button and make
sure nothing is checked.

5. If any changes are made, click on APPLY then click on OK.
If no changes are made, click on OK.

F. INTERNET ADAPTER
The Internet Adapter is required to access the Internet. A damaged Internet Adapter causes difficulties accessing the Internet. Please remove the Internet Adapter. CompuServe builds a new Internet Adapter the next time you launch the software.

TO REMOVE THE INTERNET ADAPTER, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

1. Click on START, select PROGRAMS, then click
COMPUSERVE 2000.
2. Click on the COMPUSERVE SYSTEM INFORMATION icon.
3. Select the UTILITIES tab.
4. Click on UNINSTALL INTERNET ADAPTER.
5. When prompted to restart your computer, click on YES.
6. After your computer restarts, please launch CompuServe
2000. The Internet Adapter will automatically rebuild.

NOTE: If asked to insert the Windows 95/98 CD to recreate
the Internet Adapter, and the Windows 95/98
installation CD is not available:

a. In the Copying Files window type the path to the
CompuServe NET folder for your version of
Windows. The path varies according to the version
of Windows as follows:

- Windows 95
C:\CompuServe 2000 5.0\NET\OSR1
- Windows 95b (OEM pre-installed version)
C:\CompuServe 2000 5.0\NET\OSR2
- Windows 98
C:\CompuServe 2000 5.0\NET\WIN98
- Windows 98 Second Edition
C:\CompuServe 2000 5.0\NET\WIN98se

b. Click on OK.
c. Click on YES when asked if you would like to restart
your computer.

NOTE: If you installed the CompuServe 2000 v5.0 software
somewhere other than the C: drive or the CompuServe
2000 5.0 folder, please adjust the path above
accordingly.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your patience and continued support. I do hope that the information I provided will somehow help. Kindly update me of your progress.

If you have any other inquiries, suggestions or comments regarding Compuserve, please feel free to write back. You can also contact customer support at 1-800-848-8990.

It has been a pleasure assisting you.


Marc Anthony M. Danting
Customer Care Consultant
The Techmail Department
CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc.

Thanks for looking into it guys. I'm not sure if the problem still exists. I haven't had any other complaints from the AOL side.

Brandon.. interesting form letter reply you got. None of those would be the cause, as they would only affect individual users.. not everyone from an entire domain. Oh well.

Thanks again.