AOL disconnects on Verizon broadband

[wags2272]

I'm helping a friend with her computer problems. She's using AOL over a Verizon DSL connection and keeps getting disconnected. She used to have AOL for broadband and everything worked fine, since switching to Verizon the problems started.

She's running XP Pro, AOL 9.0 SE, and a McAfee firewall. She's tried uninstalling and reinstalling AOL and the firewall. I had her remove all dial-up connection information from internet connect, made sure the WinXP firewall was off, etc. I don't know much about McAfee firewall, but it seems to me that if she can connect to AOL at all, the firewall shouldn't be shutting her down.

Any thoughts? Suggestions on what the problem might be? Also, any suggestions on a software program (freeware or shareware) that can be used to monitor the connection so that I can tell whether it's AOL or Verizon that's dropping out?

Thanks
Wags

 

[bygeek]

What happens when she uses Internet Explorer instead of AOL?

 

[wags2272]

Only used it once, attempting a windows update. It timed out on the first attempt, then worked normally.

 

[bygeek]

If Internet Explorer works normally, then the problem is not with the dsl or the computer, but the AOL software. I've seen numerous problems with the 9.0 SE version of AOL. I recommend you uninstall it and go back to the previous version.

 

[bcastner]

You need to set on the router and at each client workstation a lower MTU value.

http://www22.brinkster.com/aznmafia415/networking/index2.html

 

[wags2272]

She's not running a router. She only has the one computer.

She has gone back to the optimized version of AOL. Will see how that works for her.