Valkyre

Getting Rid of AOL is a PITA

So AOL comes pre-installed on my new Dell. Along with some trial versions of Net Zero and Earthlink. I don't mind, as long as they sit there quietly. I'll get around to deleting them. Except that AOL keeps having a stupid screen pop up telling me I need to get updates in order for the program to run smoothly. Since I am not even using AOL and have no intention of using it, I could give a rats ass whether or not is runs smoothly. I clicked the "later" button on the pop-up. The other option was to install the damn updates. Well, this morning, the pop-up kept appearing about every 5 minutes. It didn't even give me that "later" option anymore. My choice was to install or hit the little red "x" in the upper right corner. So, I would do that. Only to have the damn thing pop up minutes later. So, I have been trying to remove all the AOL shit from this computer. I would have better luck trying to rebuild an engine on a 2006 Volkswagen Toureg. I went through the control panel and tried to remove the files through the trusty add/remove file option. But, that didn't remove everything. I thought that maybe that would be at least enough to stop the pop-up. Nope. There it was again. I did, however, see an AOL add/remove file thing within their own program, while I was deleting files through the control panel. But, I couldn't find the thing anywhere in any of their folders. So, I am now removing what's left through Windows Explorer. However, several of the files are refusing to budge, claiming that I don't have access to the folder, or the file is in use. Shit! I just want this damn program off. I think I removed enough things to stop the damn pop-up. I am going to reboot and immediately try to remove these files that claim they are in use and see if I can get rid of them. Damn AOL! I wish that they wouldn't pre-install this shit on the computer. If I want AOL, I will go get it. Ah shit! As I am typing this, the pop-up window just appeared.