The AOL toolbar may have a garbled display or some icons missing if your computer doesn't meet the system requirements of the AOL® software installed on your computer. The AOL toolbar may also have issues if the toolbar files are damaged. Listed below are some solutions to resolve these issues. After trying the first solution, check whether the AOL toolbar is functioning properly. If the issue persists, continue using the suggested solutions until the problem is fixed.
You may wish to print or save a copy of these instructions as this page may not remain visible as you go through the suggested steps.
Information you need
You will need to know the version of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system and Internet Explorer® browser installed on your computer. You will also need to know the version of AOL® Connectivity Service (ACS) that your AOL software (AOL® 9.0 or higher) uses to connect to the Internet. You can find this information by following the instructions given in the online help articles mentioned below:
Note: If you are using AOL 9.0 VR or higher, you have ACS 4 installed on your computer.
Solutions
Check the system requirements for AOL toolbar
Check whether your computer meets the system requirements for the AOL software installed on your computer. If your computer doesn't meet the system requirements, you may experience problems with either the AOL software or your computer. To know the system requirements of the AOL software you have, please read our online help article System requirements for the AOL software.
Note: If your computer doesn't meet the system requirements for the AOL software installed on your computer, please contact your computer manufacturer to upgrade your computer to meet the system requirements.
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Rebuild AOL toolbar
Damaged toolbar.ind and toolbar.lst files may cause such issues. Deleting these files and then signing on to the AOL® service will create a new, undamaged toolbar. However, if you are using AOL 9.0 Optimized, you don't have to manually delete these files; instead, you can fix the toolbar by going to AOL® Keyword: Toolbarfix. Click the appropriate link given below for instructions on how to rebuild the AOL toolbar
To delete toolbar.ind and toolbar.lst in any version of the AOL software on Windows 7/Vista®
1. Click Start. In the Search box, type system, and then click AOL System Information. If prompted by the User Account Control window, click Yes or Continue. The AOL System Information 2.0 window appears.
IMPORTANT If the AOL® System Information window doesn't appear, look for a flashing tab on the Windows taskbar. If the flashing tab is displayed, click the tab. The User Account Control window appears. Click Yes. The AOL System Information window appears.
Note: If you are unable to open AOL System Information, go to our online help article Open Data Folder to find out how to manually open the Data Folder. Click the Back to previous page button of that online help article to return to this article, and then continue from Step 3.
2. Click the AOL Software or AOL tab, and then click Open Data Folder.
3. Double-click the idb folder.
4. Double-click the folder of the screen name that you are having issues with.
5. Click the toolbar.lst file to highlight it, click the Organize drop-down menu, and then click Delete.
6. Click Yes to confirm.
7. Click the toolbar.ind file to highlight it, click the Organize drop-down menu, and the click Delete.
8. Click Yes to confirm.
9. Close all open windows.
10. Start the AOL software to get a new, undamaged AOL toolbar.
To delete toolbar.ind and toolbar.lst in any version of the AOL software on Windows XP/2000/Me/98
1. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type sinf, and then click OK. If prompted by a caution window, click OK. The AOL System Information 2.0 or AOL System Information window appears.
Note: If you are unable to open AOL System Information, go to our online help article Open Data Folder to find out how to manually open the Data Folder. Click the Back to previous page button of that online help article to return to this article, and then continue from Step 3.
2. Open Data folder.
- If you are using ACS 4 or ACS 3, click the AOL Software or AOL tab, and then click Open Data Folder.
- If you are using ACS 2, click the WAOL tab, and then click Data Folder.
- If you are using ACS 1, click Data Folder.
- If you are using AOL 8.0 or lower, click Folder.
3. Double-click the idb folder.
4. Double-click the folder of the screen name that you are facing issues with.
5. Click the toolbar.lst file to highlight it, click the File drop-down menu, and then click Delete.
6. Click Yes to confirm.
7. Click the toolbar.ind file to highlight it, click the Organize drop-down menu, and the click Delete.
8. Click Yes to confirm.
9. Close all open windows.
10. Start the AOL software to get a new, undamaged AOL toolbar.
To run ToolbarFix.exe on AOL 9.0 Optimized
1. Go to AOL Keyword: Toolbarfix or ftp.newaol.com/aacd/ToolbarFix.exe.
2. Click Save or Save File to save the ToolbarFix.exe file.
Note: If prompted, navigate to the location (for example, Desktop) where you want to save the ToolbarFix.exe file.
3. When the download is complete, sign off and close the AOL software.
4. Navigate to the location where you saved the ToolbarFix.exe file, and then double-click the saved file.
5. Click Run.
6. Click OK.
7. Click OK once again.
8. Restart the computer, and then start the AOL software to get a new, undamaged AOL toolbar.
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Deactivate graphic compression
Graphic compression improves the time taken to download an image but deteriorates image quality. You can improve image quality by deactivating graphic compression, but the deactivation may increase the time taken to download images.
Note: You cannot deactivate graphic compression on AOL 9.5 and AOL 9.1. If you are using AOL 9.5 or AOL 9.1, skip to the next solution.
Please click the link corresponding to the version of the AOL software installed on your computer for instructions on how to deactivate graphic compression.
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Lower hardware acceleration and set color depth to 16 bit
Hardware acceleration is the concept of enhancing the processing speed of a software application such as an advanced computer game or a graphics program. If the hardware acceleration of your Windows operating system has been changed or set to high, the toolbar may not work properly or may have missing icons and/or a garbled display. Lowering the hardware acceleration of your Windows operating system may resolve this issue.
Click the link corresponding to the version of Windows installed on your computer to know how to lower hardware acceleration.
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Clear AOL Artwork Database
Note: If you are using AOL Desktop, please skip to the next solution.
The AOL software stores online graphics on your computer to speed up the loading of AOL images. Over time, unwanted graphics from pages that you no longer visit or pages that have changed can fill up your artwork database and reduce the efficiency of the AOL software. You can store and speed load new graphics by first reducing, and then resetting the size of the artwork database. Click the link corresponding to the version of the AOL software you have on your computer for more information on clearing the artwork database.
Uninstall Viewpoint Media Player
Uninstalling Viewpoint Media Player may resolve this issue. Click the link corresponding to the version of Windows you have on your computer for instructions on how to uninstall Viewpoint Media Player.
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Run Quick Restore
Note: Please close the AOL software before running Quick Restore.
The Quick Restore feature allows you to reset the AOL software to the default state by deleting all the updates downloaded in the past. It can help resolve issues that you may have with your AOL software without having to reinstall the software.
Once Quick Restore is completed, you will receive a series of AOL software updates, also known as AOL TOD (Tools on Demand) updates. To learn more about AOL TOD updates, read our online help article AOL TOD update.
Please click the link corresponding to the version of ACS installed on your computer for instructions to run Quick Restore.
Note: If you are using AOL 8.0 or AOL Desktop, skip to the next solution.
Uninstall and reinstall the AOL software
If the issue persists, we recommend that you uninstall and reinstall the AOL software. Uninstalling the AOL software removes all damaged and non-repairable files, and reinstalling the software installs new, error-free files.
Please click the link corresponding to the version of Windows on your computer for instructions to uninstall the AOL software.
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