Downloading Programs on the Internet and 
Using AOL Instant messenger  - Lesson 3            
 - copyright 4/99 by Chas Campbell

It's time to READY - AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) - FIRE! (Thanks Tim!)

If you have completed lessons 1 & 2 successfully, you should now have an
icon on your main windows screen that looks like a little yellow running
man. This is AIM. 

Double Click the icon.

The "Sign On" screen appears. It should say  for a Screen Name if
you have not yet registered a name.... (Those of you who have already
registered a screen name can skip ahead to setup options...)

Click the [Sign On] button with the little green man (No, I'm not seeing
flying saucers....)

A box pops up - If you are already an AOL user, click [Use AOL screen name]
If you are not on AOL, or do not like your AOL name, 
click [Register New Screen Name]

Your web browser will take you to a page to sign in. Fill out the form
accordingly, write down your screen name and password. If you choose a
screen name that is taken, the program will take you back to fill out
another choice. Keep trying until you get one...

*Notes on Screen Names. - When you chat, your screen name appears next to
your comments, so it's advisable to choose something that is easy to know
is *you.* Since you might have this name for awhile, and you might print it
on your bus cards someday, choose something appropriate.

When you have finished the registration and do not get any errors or
requests to change something, you will be taken to a Download page. But You
have already done this. STOP. Just close the window by clicking the "X" in
the top-right corner.

Now you can go back to the AIM window. If you can't see it, look for a
button on the bottom of your screen with the yellow man and click it....

Now fill in the Screen Name and password you selected.  Check the
"Autologin" and "Save Password" boxes.

Next Click the little wrench icon called [Setup]

A box appears. Click the tab near  the top that says [General]

Next, UNcheck the box 3 down from the top that says "Start AIM when Windows
Starts". There should NOT be a check in this box. Very Important!

Click [OK] when done.

Now you are ready to "log on"!!!!

Just click on [Sign On] and you will be automatically connected!

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Now what? Well, now you're on the chat network, but it won't do us much
good unless either you know someone to chat with or else someone knows you...

The system of saving screen names of people you want to chat with is called
"Buddies." Our next class with be on this....

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Shutting Down:

When you are using AIM, you can see the little yellow man in the lower
right corner of your screen. This means you are also on-line and using your
phone line, just like any other internet program.

So when you're done "chatting," you need to "shut down" both AIM and your
net connection the same as when you're done with e-mail or the web. - To
shut down, just click ONCE on the small yellow icon in the corner, then
click [Exit] when the menu pops up.

Then shut down your internet connection the same way you usually do.