The switch to aol
Harro1
Newbie

Verizon sold its e-mail system to aol.com. No matter how I tried (and I am reasonably computer-savvy for my 85 years, I was not able to place a shortcut to "mail.aol.com". Help - how can I do this?

John

{edited for privacy}

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TomH121
Community Leader
Community Leader

Please provide more information so someone can help you.
DO NOT INCLUDE PRIVATE ACCOUNT INFORMATION

Software ?
PC Operating System
Browser

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Harro1
Newbie

The operating system is Windows 7 on a Dell XPS 8500, running Google Chrome browser. (I also have IE 11 on my machine, but whenever I try to use it, it crashes - so to the heck with it.)

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Harro1
Newbie

The operating system is Windows 7, browser is Google Chrome.

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TomH121
Community Leader
Community Leader

Once you have signed in to your AOL acct.

On the Far right of Google Chrome click on the 3 dots and then click on Bookmarks.

i don't run Windows 7 but see if you can Search for Desktop icon Settings Settings


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Harro1
Newbie

Yes I can make it a "bookmark," but it is a slow and painful solution compared to an icon on the desktop. Over the many years I have been using computers I accumulated too many bookmarks, so "bookmarking" it is not really helpful. I also have an other e-mail address (@twc.com), there was no problem in placing a shortcut on the desktop. And while the mail was handled by Verizon, the desktop icon worked. Of course trying to contact AOL for a solution is like trying to contact the president of a very large corporation - at their size, they don't really care about an individual consumer. Case in point: I tried to contact my NYC Councilwoman, got a response when I threatened to start a campaign to unseat her at the next election. Anyway, thank you so much for trying to help me. Obviously, you are not a congressman, they (like my councilwoman) care only about reelection and fund-raising. So, THANK YOU!

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TomH121
Community Leader
Community Leader
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TomH121
Community Leader
Community Leader

I'm running Windows 10 Pro and Google Chrome

This is what I just did

Signed in to AOL email

Right clicked on the AOL tab

Pinned it.

Closed down all windows

Called up Google Chrome

AOL mail was now a tab in Google Chrome

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Harro1
Newbie

That was the first thing I tried, it seems it doesn't work in Windows 7.

(IMHO the constant changing of operating systems is simply an excuse for Microsoft - or Apple - to generate income. I did not see any great improvement when Windows 7 replaced XP. Yes if you like touch screens Windows 10 may be the apple of your eyes - I am 85 years old and am getting tired every few years learning the quirks of an "improved" operating system. And it is not only the IT people - it seems suddenly the world forgot the adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Best,

Harro1

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james_marshall
Contributor - Level 1

Harro1,

Try this:

  1. Right click on your Windows desktop, select "New" from the menu and from the flyout menu choose "Shortcut."
  2. For the "location of the item" enter  http://mail.aol.com/
  3. Click "Next"
  4. Type a name for this shortcut that makes sense to you, like AOL Mail.
  5. Click "Finish" and Voila!  You should have a shortcut on your desktop that launches your default browser and goes to AOL Mail. 
  6. If you want to make it prettier, you can download an icon at:
    1. https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/57807/aol_icon or
    2. http://findicons.com/search/aol
  7. Download the icon to a known place on your computer.  Make sure you get an ".ico" file, not jpeg or png.
  8. Right click on the shortcut you created and click "Properties.'
  9. On the Web Document tab, click Change Icon . . .
  10. Browse to wherever you saved the .ico file, select it and click Open.
  11. Click OK to close the Change Icon window and OK to close the Aol Mail Properties window and you should be good to go. 

For the record, I also remember MS-DOS and PC-DOS.  The first computer I used regularly ran on CP/M.  (But I'm not quite as old as you . . . )

j_m

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Harro1
Newbie

In the words of the people of Brooklyn in New York City, "Fuhgeddabawdit." It is not worth the effort. I can always type in the search bar "mail.aol.com" and get to my @verizon.net mail. It is almost like going back to MS-DOS days, if you are of a certain age to remember them. Anyway, thank you very much for your kind efforts.

Best,

Harro1

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Harro1
Newbie

James - you are pure genius. It worked like a charm, thank you so, so much!

Harro1

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james_marshall
Contributor - Level 1

We old f@rts need to stick together!

"The only surce of knowledge is experience."  Albert Einstein

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Harro1
Newbie

@james_marshall wrote:

We old f@rts need to stick together!

"The only surce of knowledge is experience."  Albert Einstein



Unfortunately, many people deny experience - they keep doing the same things over and over and expect each time a different result. This is a clear sign of insanity....

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