There are three primary ways to begin using AOL: You can sign up on the Web site at www.aol.com, insert an AOL CD into your computer, or you can use preinstalled software that comes with some new computers. Regardless of which method you choose, you’ll need to create a new user account. Although each method of signup and installation may differ, many of the steps should be similar. For the purposes of this article, we’ll step through installation and sign up using the AOL Web site.

First, open your Web browser and navigate to www.aol.com. Look for a link called Join AOL in the upper-right corner of the screen. After clicking the link, you’ll go to a sign up page where you can enter your information. You’ll then need to choose a Screen Name and Password for your account. After finding an available name, agree to the terms and conditions and enter your billing information. Next, you will need to download the software in order to begin using AOL.

After downloading and installing AOL 9.0 Security Edition, you’ll need to create a connection between the software and your AOL Screen Name. The first few screens of AOL 9.0 Security Edition will display a wizard to walk you through the process.

Navigation

When you first startup AOL 9.0 Security Edition, you’ll notice two menu bars across the top, your Buddy List to the right, and an AOL Welcome screen in the center of the screen that partially covers the Buddy List. If this sounds overwhelming at first, don’t let it trouble you; even though there are many options available at the onset, everything is well organized.

In examining the uppermost menu, you’ll discover many of the traditional commands found in a menu: File, Edit, Windows, and Help, along with Mail, Community, Services, Safety, Keyword, and Sign Off. Just below this menu, you’ll find a lineup of icons that includes links to your email, IM (instant message) communications, safety and security settings, and more. You can customize this graphical menu to fit your uses so that the icons you use most are readily available.

The large Welcome screen that appears in the center of the screen when you start AOL 9.0 Security Edition may be disruptive for certain tasks. If you like, you can close this window. In turn, a smaller AOL Channels menu will appear in the left portion of the screen. This menu provides one-click access to popular content within AOL. After closing the Welcome screen, you’ll have a better view of your Buddy List, which lets you see who is online and who is not.

Use Paperclips

Even though AOL offers a vast array of functionality, we’ll focus on the email capabilities for the purposes of this article. To compose an email, click the Write icon in the second menu bar; you’ll then see a new mail message appear. In this window, enter your recipient’s email address along with the subject and body of the message in the appropriate fields.

Near the bottom of the new mail message window, you’ll see options for attaching a file, removing attached files, requesting a return receipt, spell checking your email, and adding a signature. When you click Attach File, a new dialog box will appear that asks you to locate the file you want to include with the email. Once you have selected the appropriate file, click Open. If you want to attach multiple documents, you can do so by repeating this process. If you accidentally add an extra file, click the Detach File button to select the file you want to remove from your email message.

After composing your email and attaching any relevant documents, use the Send Now or Send Later buttons in the right column of the message dialog box to transfer your message to its recipient. In this column, you’ll also find icons that let you access your address book and print the message. If you select Send Later, your message will go to an outgoing queue for later delivery. In addition, a dialog box will appear to remind you that the sending of your message is delayed and give you the option to schedule a specific delivery time.

Save Your Messages

Because many of us rely on our computers and emails for a variety of tasks, it’s important to remember that things can go horribly wrong without warning. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the worst with a backup of any emails you find valuable. But before we discuss how to back up your AOL email, it’s important to understand the file structure AOL 9.0 Security Edition uses.

All new messages that you have not read (or have read but marked as unread) will stay in your New Mail folder for a limited time. After you read an email message in the New Mail folder, it will move to the Old Mail folder, where it will stay for a limited time. Both of these folders are stored on AOL servers, which means you can access the messages from anywhere. Because AOL limits your email storage capacity, move your messages to a location on your computer for long-term storage. You’ll find all messages saved on your computer in the Saved On My PC folder, otherwise known as a Personal Filing Cabinet. In the Manage Mail tab of your Mailbox, you’ll find the Saved On My PC folder.

When backing up email, you’ll want to back up your Personal Filing Cabinet because these are the messages that will be permanently lost if something should happen to your computer. To back up your Personal Filing Cabinet, navigate to C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\AOL\C_AMERICA ONLINE 9.0. Here, you will find a folder called Organize. Copy this entire folder to removable media, such as a CD or flash drive. If you need to restore your backup, copy the full Organize folder back to the C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\AOL\C_AMERICA ONLINE 9.0 location.

A Friendly Address Book

Even though you should backup your email messages for safekeeping, you don’t have to worry about your Address Book because AOL stores your full Address Book (up to 1,500 contacts) on its servers. This way, you can access your Address book by signing into AOL on any Internet-connected machine.

If you have an address book from Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, you can import the information into AOL versions 6.0 and above using the Address Book Import Assistant. Visit AOL Keyword Import Assistant and then click Get It Now! to download and install the Address Book Import Assistant. During installation, you’ll need to agree to the Software License Agreement by clicking the Accept button. NOTE: In the License Agreement, it states that AOL does not provide support for this importer. After installation, AOL will walk you through the process of importing an address book. In the case of overlap, exact duplicates will not be imported.

You’ve Got Mail

Once known for the line, “You’ve Got Mail,” AOL email has come a long way since its inception. Now, you get a variety of other useful software utilities to help protect your computer from outside threats in addition to Web browsing and email connectivity. For users on the go, it’s also helpful to know that you can check your mail from any computer using the AOL Web site, in addition to using the AOL 9.0 Security Edition software installed on your computer.

by Jennifer Johnson