I need some assistance with AIM. EDIT: Solved! Jubilations!

[Twilight Wolf]

Well, long story short, I've been stuck without AIM for months now and have had to rely on Meebo to communicate with my AIM contacts. I'm getting tired of using a browser-based IM client because it takes up room on my browser and won't log my conversations. I've tried Pidgin, too, but I disliked it. No version of AIM past 5.9 (which is way too old for me) will install on my computer; every time I run the installer, it tells me to restart my computer to install AIM. Well, no matter how many times I restart my computer, the same message pops up whenever I try to run the installer. I've tried deleting the AIM folder from the "Program Files" folder on my hard drive, I've tried running it as an administrator, I've tried running it in Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode... I've tried a lot of stuff.

What should I do? I want AIM back. I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium, if it makes a difference, but I've had both AIM 6.2 and 6.8 running without a hitch on it before. Help?

[Rekarp]

Uninstall AIM and run CCleaner on your registry files. Then reinstall.

[Twilight Wolf]

CCleaner? Thanks, I'll give that a try.

EDIT: No dice, it's giving me the same old crap.

Also, I thought it might be helpful to mention that it never asked me to restart my computer when I was able to install it successfully before.

[Rekarp]

Did you just "run" CCleaner? You have to manually scan the registry.

If you can't get it to work you can just try calling AIM.

[Bibin]

Miniaim.net

it's a very basic but nice AIM client.

[palmertech]

If you dislike pidgin, try using Trillian. I am not a huge fan, but some people swear by it.

Personally, I use the AIM chat feature in my gmail. I can chat with my gmail homies and AIM homies, AND keep a tab on my email!

[Rekarp]

I personally love Pigin. Works very well and I have all my accounts in one easy light weight program. No ads included.

AIM
Yahoo
MSN
Jabber

Everyone that "hates" pidgin never gives a good reason. /glares at Triton

[ghosstt]

Try trillion.

OR

Just download an older version of 5.9. It's not like the new AIM has anything new except a bunch of bullcrap like plugins and games.

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

I personally love Pigin. Works very well and I have all my accounts in one easy light weight program. No ads included.

AIM
Yahoo
MSN
Jabber

Everyone that "hates" pidgin never gives a good reason. /glares at Triton

Agreed, Pidgin is quite excellent. I also make it a point to avoid all software by AOL; it's just way too intrusive and bloated (also, ads suck).

[vskid]

Meebo can log conversations....
Go to IM Settings and enable IM history.
The main thing I like about Meebo is I can use it on any computer without having to transfer settings.

[Twilight Wolf]

Did you just "run" CCleaner? You have to manually scan the registry.

I'm pretty sure I scanned the registry, but since nothing happened, could I possibly have done something wrong?

Miniaim.net



it's a very basic but nice AIM client.

I might try that one if I can't get AIM working properly.

If you dislike pidgin, try using Trillian. I am not a huge fan, but some people swear by it.

I've used Trillian before, as well. I just don't like multi-client IM programs; it seems it's only the basic version of each program all in one not-as-convenient package. That's why I didn't care for Pidgin.

Just download an older version of 5.9. It's not like the new AIM has anything new except a bunch of bullcrap like plugins and games.

I don't like 5.9; way too old-looking and ugly. I'm running Vista, so I don't want a program that looks like it better belongs on Windows 98.

Meebo can log conversations....
Go to IM Settings and enable IM history.

I'm fairly sure you have to have a Meebo account for that. I don't like it that much.

EDIT: Never mind, I figured it out. I tried switching to the Administrator account and installing it from there, and it worked!