AOL Instant Messenger is installed when you download and install Netscape Communicator (since Netscape is now owned by America Online). However, it can be VERY annoying since the little yellow "running man" icon will load every time your system is connected to the Internet.
Follow these instructions to rid your system of the AOL Instant Messenger:
If you simply would like to disable the Instant Messenger icon from activating do this:
Start AOL Instant Messenger (AIM).
Click on Setup.
Click the "Misc." tab.
Uncheck "Start Netscape AIM when Windows starts".
Click OK.
However, if you'd like to completely remove it from your system, you'll have to follow this more complicated procedure (BEWARE: this involves editing the registry - PLEASE do not do this if you are not comfortable with the Windows registry and are willing to accept the consequences if something goes wrong).
Remove AIM from Personal Bookmark folder as follows. In Netscape Navigator, go to the Communicator menu and click "Bookmarks". Click "Edit Bookmarks" and then select and delete the "Instant Message" reference.
Using the FIND command under the Start Menu, delete the file "launch.aim" from every user profile directory on your hard drive. You'll likely find it in c:\program files\netscape\users\yourname, where "yourname" is the name of your user profile.
Next, close all Netscape windows that you are currently running. In Windows Explorer, find the "AIM" folder, likely in c:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\Program\". Delete the AIM folder.
Run the program Regedit, by going to START/Run and type regedit. This will start the Registry Editor. Be careful, one wrong move will destroy the registry.
Click on Edit, then "Find" and type in "AIM" (no quotes). Delete all references to AIM that are found..
Now, exit Regedit and restart your computer.
Once the computer is restarted, you should be rid of the AOL Instant Messenger icon.
