AIM frequently asked questions

[DJHyperbyte]

This thread deals with the most commonly asked questions regarding AOL Instant Messenger.

Please, before asking any question, read this FAQ and search the forum to see if the answer is already out there. BigBlueBall has been providing answers to IM users for several years now; there's a good chance your question may have already been asked. If you cannot find the answer to your question anywhere on BigBlueBall, don't hesitate to post a new topic.

NAVIGATION:
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1. Installation/Screennames
   • Where can I sign up for an AIM screenname?
   • The screenname I want is already in use. What can I do?
   • I don't remember my password, and I can't get to the email my account is registered to. Can I still retrieve my password and get back into my account?
   • Can I completely delete my old AIM screenname?
   • I've a got screenname. Can I change it without signing up for a new one?
   • How do I disable the AIM Today window?
   • Where can I get old versions of AIM?
   • What is the difference between AIM 5.x (also called "AIM Classic") and Triton/6.0/AIM Pro?
2. Buddylist
   • How many buddies can I have on my buddy list?
   • Is there a way to see who has added me to their AIM buddylist?
3. Messaging
   • Can you send messages to an offline user, so they'll receive it when they go online?
   • Is there a way to retrieve messages I sent or received earlier?
4. Other
   • I have signed on in multiple locations, but I need to kick them off, how can I do this?
5. AIM URL commands

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We will attempt to keep this FAQ as up-to-date as possible. If you think there is an error with any of these answers, or if information here becomes outdated, please contact VvWolverinevV and let him know!

Keep in mind that any questions or answers are subject to the Community Guidelines

[Tigerblade]

Q: Where can I sign up for an AIM screenname?
A: From the official website for AIM, located at AIM.com. Currently (at the time of this edit, 10 June 2009) the actual screenname registration form is located here.

Q: The screenname I want is already in use. What can I do?
A: The short answer is, you can't do anything. Most obvious screennames are already in use. But, since AIM recently added a rule to it's TOS that says that screennames expire after 90 days of inactivity, you could simply keep checking. However, it is important to note that this "rule" doesn't seem to be entirely in effect, at least not yet.
You may want to try as many different variations on your chosen screenname as you can... use different letters, spellings, add numbers, whatever you can do to make your screenname as distinctive as you can.

Q: I don't remember my password, and I can't get to the email my account is registered to. Can I still retrieve my password and get back into my account?
A: The short, usual answer is--no. You can try to retrieve your password using this page; sometimes the option to enter in alternate information is given. The alternate fields are usually only offered if all of that information (zip code, birthdate, gender) was attached to your screen name upon creation, and is still stored on the AIM servers.

Q: Can I completely delete my old AIM screenname?
A: Short answer is that no, you can't. As stated above, AIM's Terms of Service supposedly deactivate accounts that have been inactive for a certain period of time, but this is apparently seldom enacted.

Q: I've already got a screenname. Can I change it without signing up for a completely new one?
A: Only partly. You can only change the spacing and case of your screenname. Go to your 'Edit' menu, then navigate down to 'Screen Name Format...' and format your screenname as you wish. Keep in mind that you cannot go over 16 characters, spaces included, and that the "new" one cannot be spelled differently.

Q: How do I disable the AIM Today window?
A: In AIM 6 go to your 'Edit' menu, then 'Settings...'. Click the "Sign In/Sign Out" tab and under "When I sign in, display the following:", select the radio button next to "None". Finally, click "Save" at the bottom of the window.

Q: Where can I get old versions of AIM?
A: There are two AOL sites where you can download a lot of old AIM installers: AIMgen folder 73010 & AIMgen folder 380462. There is also a large database located here: Jon8RFC's database

Q: What is the difference between AIM 5.x (also called "AIM Classic") and Triton/6.0/AIM Pro?*1
A: Triton was an entirely new program made to provide the most popular requests of AIM users. Triton was renamed to AIM 6.0 in late 2006. AIM Pro is based off of the Triton coding, but aimed at corporations.

*1 Addons/plugins and other programs that worked with AIM Classic are not compatible with Triton/6.0/AIM Pro.

[Tigerblade]

Q: How many buddies can I have on my buddy list?
A: (as of February 28, 2007) You can have a maximum of 1,500 buddies on your buddy list.

Q: Is there a way to see who has added me to their AIM buddylist?
A: No.

[Tigerblade]

Q: Can you send messages to an offline user, so they'll receive it when they go online?
A: Yes. To ensure you have this feature enabled--as well as being able to receive IMs when you're offline--you need to sign on to AIM, go into the settings for that screen name (on buddy list click on menu EDIT, then SETTINGS), click on the "Offline IM" button on the left, then put checkmarks beside options you want enabled.

Q: Is there a way to retrieve messages I sent or received earlier?
A: There is no way to automatically retrieve old messages unless you have enabled IM Archives from the appropriate tab in Settings (Edit>Settings...). If this is the case, your archived conversations are stored in the specified folder; by default, that folder is C:\Users\<your user name>\AIMLogger\<your screen name>\IM Logs.

[Tigerblade]

Q: I have signed on in multiple locations, but I need to kick them off, how can I do this?
A: Send "1" (Without quotes) to the AOL System Msg to sign off all other sessions, except the current one. Clicking this link will create the message for you, providing that you're currently signed into AIM on the computer and account you want to stay signed in: log off other locations

[Tigerblade]

Send a Message
aim:goim
aim:goim?screenname=screen+name
aim:goim?screenname=screen+name&message=message

Adding Buddies
aim:addbuddy
aim:addbuddy?screenname=screen+name
aim:addbuddy?screenname=screen+name&groupname=grou p+name

Buddyicons
aim:buddyicon
aim:buddyicon?src=image_source
aim:buddyicon?screename=screen+name
aim:buddyicon?src=image_source&screename=screen+na me

Check Email
aim:CheckEmail
aim:CheckEmail?Address=what@what.com

Away Messages
aim:goaway?message=Message+Here

Send a chat Invitation
aim:gochat
aim:gochat?roomname=room
aim:gochat?roomname=room&exchange=4
aim:gochat?roomname=room&exchange=4&instance=1

Chatroom
aim:GoChat?RoomName=A&Exchange=4

Get Files
aim:getfile
aim:getfile?screenname=screen+name

Send Files
aim:sendfile
aim:sendfile?screenname=screen+name

Register Users
aim:registeruser
aim:registeruser?screenname=screen+name
aim:registeruser?screenname=screen+name&password=p assword
aim:registeruser?screenname=screen+name&password=p assword&signonnow=true

Adding Games
aim:addgame
aim:addgame?name=Game
aim:addgame?name=Game&hideIMs=true
aim:addgame?name=Game&hideIMs=true&multiplayer=tru e
aim:addgame?name=Game&hideIMs=true&multiplayer=tru e&url=www.url.com

Roll Dice
//roll-dice 15-sides 222

AIM Today
aim:aimtoday?url=http://www.google.com