Fix for AIM 6.5 and Vista

I've never seen this posted on here, so I might as well stick it up here. Searched and everything.

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There. Now that I'm safe from the possible moderator wrath, cool I'll get to the subject.

I'm sure you've all noticed how every since installing AIM 6.5, Vista has been acting up strangely. The biggest notice is a connection to the internet even when the indicator reads "server execution failed". What's more:

List compiled by WBMike of bumped.org

1. Vista Displays a Red X saying that its not connected to a Network even though it is.

2. Connection may say "Connection status: unknown. Server execution failed."

3. WMI Problems or is Corrupted

4. Windows Media Player won’t be able to play Mp3s

5. No sound can be heard from computer

6. Windows Security Center reports errors

7. Windows Security Center may not find your AntiVirus Program

8. No Network Activity is reported even though it exists

9. Windows Zero Configuration Problems

10. Steam Apps from Valve Software (i.e Half Life 2) will not download

11. Windows Media Player cannot access the file. The file might be in use, you might not have access to the computer where the file is stored, or your proxy settings might not be correct.

12. iTunes stops working.

13. Portable devices such as PMPs and DAPs stop being recognized by your computer. (That one's mine )

14. I must say this list is freakin long…

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There are two ways to fix this:

1. System Restore. Really simple

2. Delving into the guts of your system. (well, sort of)

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System Restore should be fairly self-explanatory.

However, there is a workaround that is rather risky unless you really watch yourself online ( THIS IS EXTREMELY RISKY. WHETHER OR NOT YOU DO THIS IS YOUR DECISION)

Solution Provided by Silver6477 on Microsoft forums

1. Click the Start Button

2. Type "CMD" without quoations

3. Right click on CMD that shows up and click Run As Administrator

4. Type the text below:

net localgroup Administrators NT Authority\Local Service /add

5. Reboot computer.

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If you have Enterprise, Business, or Ultimate, you may use this method instead

Solution Provided by blueshot

1. Click Start Button

2. Right Click on "Computer"

3. Click Manage

4. Under System Tools Click Users & Groups

5. Click Group

6. Click Administrators

7. Click Add to Group

8. Click Add

9. Click Advanced

10. Click Find Now

11. Double Click Local Service

12. Click OK

13. Click OK, and Close Computer Management and Reboot

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Unfortunately, this grants administrative rights to your IM programs, which is opening up a security hole. Again, this is very risky.

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This is how to undo that workaround: Credit goes fully to Gary.

1. Click the Start Button

2. Type "CMD" without quotations

3. Right click on CMD that shows up and click Run As Administrator

4. Type the text below, and then hit enter:

net localgroup Administrators NT Authority\Local Service /delete

5. To verify that NT Authority\Local Service is no longer in the administrators group, type the text below and hit enter:

net localgroup Administrators

This should give you a list of the Members of the Administrators group. like this:

C:\Windows\system32>net localgroup administrators
Alias name administrators
Comment Administrators have complete and unrestricted access to the compu
ter/domain

Members

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrator
Gary
The command completed successfully.

6. Reboot computer.

Hope that solves your AIM worries!

I have been rather negligent and far too eager to get AIM working. I fully knew the implications of this workaround, but in my haste, I have unfortunately neglected to type down the risks in the original posts. I read the original post again, and I have cleaned it up. I would not have noticed my mistake if it weren't for the very helpful posts of many observant forum members. Thank you to all who helped and sorry to all I "fooled."

-Kierkes

 

i totally had that wmp not playing anything. i thought it was just wmp, so i installed itunes, turns out aim 6.5 pwned that too. ill try that second fix. which did you use?

 

that second fix works...i did it on vista biz. i've read that adding "Local Service" to your Admin group is opening up a whole lot of security vulnerabilities. after AIM went nuts on my laptop...i reloaded an image that i had taken a while back. now everything is back to normal except that i can't use system restore because the image is from an old HDD (physically)...so i think it's looking for the old drive.

 

i tried the second fix. works. thanks a bunch.

 

I just did 3 reinstalls of vista and media direct because of this problem! thank you, i was going for the forth.! wowowowowow

 

With so many other choices in chat clients out, why in the world would you people choose AIM?

 

AIM AD HACK FTW!! lol, I've had aim 6.5 installed with aim ad hack, and I have never had any of the problems listed above =D.

 

Good god, there's a reason people use Trillian.

 

Pareach on my brutha!

 

or just use www.meebo.com =D...with a meebo account you can log into MSN, Yahoo, GoogleTalk, AIM, ICQ, and one more(i forget), all with one login name and password =D

 

CLARIFICATION:

what the OP posted here is a workaround, not a fix. this will solve part of your problem, but there are still WMI access issues that most users won't see, but are still there.

from what i've been able to find, the only 100% to actually fix the problem is a reinstall.

AOL FTL

 

Hehe I'm still on AIM 6.5 Beta w/ the AdHack. No problems whatsoever =P

 

Oh wow what an absolutely TERRIBLE "fix" that is. As someone suggested, this does indeed open up your machine to all manner of vulnerabilities. If you are going to do this, why not go ahead and also disable your firewall, turn off your antivirus and enable the "guest" user account on your machine. This supposed "fix" is just about the equivalent of those things. Elevating the "local service" to administrator status is a VERY VERY bad idea.

Find a replacement for AIM or demand that they fix their STUPID software if it requires this sort of measures. ... shakes head...


Gary

 

Pretty much the same thing with Trillian. They're both free, so you're free to choose.

 

When I run the CMD prompt and try to type that stuff in, what should the computer say in response to let me know I typed it in right? I don't think I am doing it correctly, can someone clarify? Do I just type in exactly what it says to all at once or what? Thanks.

 

I put a link to AIM 5.9 someplace. That still works.

 

HELLLLLOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is anyone home?

You all realize that by doing this you are granting administrator rights to your machines to AIM and any other application that runs under the "local service" profile, right? With all the know exploits of instant messaging apps in the past this is just BEGGING for someone to hijack your machine and turn it into a cog in one of the vast zombie armies of PC's.

Gary

 

I won't even read what everyone has said to me, because I just found a terrible problem with my fix. Please don't kill me. DO NOT DO THIS FIX.

 

Gary, how does one undo this fix?

Although I'm not sure it applied right in the first place, you've convinced me to undo it. Suggestions?

 

1. Click the Start Button

2. Type "CMD" without quotations

3. Right click on CMD that shows up and click Run As Administrator

4. Type the text below, and then hit enter:

net localgroup Administrators NT Authority\Local Service /delete

5. To verify that NT Authority\Local Service is no longer in the administrators group, type the text below and hit enter:

net localgroup Administrators

This should give you a list of the Members of the Administrators group. like this:

C:\Windows\system32>net localgroup administrators
Alias name administrators
Comment Administrators have complete and unrestricted access to the compu
ter/domain

Members

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrator
Gary
The command completed successfully.

6. Reboot computer.

 

Thanks a lot, Gary. Your posts are always helpful.

 

I have edited the post. I'm sorry I didn't type the risks. I was in a rush. (not an excuse)

 

Well done!! I would ask ONE favor though. Please go back and add the bold text I used for the two commands and the courier font I used for the sample output from the second command. It makes it MUCH easier to understand what is typed, what are instructions and what is displayed output.

One other point, this "fix" does not open up a security hole just for AIM! It opens up a hole for ANY application that runs under the "local service" profile.

Gary

 

update

i reinstalled vista over my existing installation and i think it may have fixed it. i ran into some other problems. specifically, daemon tools is jacked and i got a weird "this copy of windows is not genuine" message on my display after the reinstall (OS is genuine). found a fix for the incorrect message and currently installing updates.

looks like the reinstall fixed the WMI access issues.

i can't believe AOL released that code to the public. for all the whining people do with dell and microsoft crying about "class action this" and "class action that"... i'd say THIS is a perfectly acceptable target of fury.

 

NotebookYoozer - I have the same problem on my desktop(the windows is not genuine) after reformat. What was the fix you found? I really want to use my desktop again, since it won't let me do anything.

 

my girlfriend installed the new aim last night and now she cant open any programs she keeps getting this message

this file does not have a program associated with it or performing this action.
create an association in the set associations control pannel.

she cant open any programs at all. i think i found a fix.
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/
you download the file association and merge it to the registry I've read this worked ill let you know if it worked later if anybody else has this problem



EDIT
well if anybody else has this problem i found the answer since you cant run any programs not even system restore i tried running things as administrator and it worked. so i ran system restore as administrator and i restored back to before aim 6.5 was installed and the computer ran just fine.

 

i found this elsewhere...

however, i ended doing a complete reformat. there were just too many collateral problems after the "upgrade". fresh install feels good and things are definitely faster.

 

I tried removing the local service since the UAC on / reinstall aim fixed it on a couple of my pcs.


but everytime I go to remove it I get this,



Any thoughts?

TIA!

 

You need a space after the word Service, so it would look like: Service /delete

I hope that helps.

 

Has anyone had any similar issues with Vista and AIM 5.9? If not then just use the older version of AIM until this issue is addressed or use a different chat client.