Fixing Bad Looking Images in AOL

If you use America Online and notice fuzzy images and/or colored bars through pictures, then your browser is probably set up to use compressed graphics, which might make images load faster but it also might make them look terrible. Try the instructions for your version of AOL. If your version doesn't match the instructions, check the instructions for the other version.

AOL 4.0

Fix Viewing Images

To fix the problem make sure you are not using compressed graphics. Here's the basic way to do it in Windows 95/98 and AOL 4.0.

a.. You don't have to be logged on, but it's ok if you are.
b.. Click on My AOL in the menu button bar.
c.. Click Preferences in the menu list that drops down.
d.. Click the WWW icon (picture of the yellow W in a circle).
e.. Select the Web Graphics tab.
f.. Make sure the Use compressed graphics checkbox is NOT checked.
g.. Click OK to accept the changes and close the window.

View Images Again

NOTE: This probably won't change images you've already viewed. The images are kept as temporary files on your computer in the format they were originally viewed. To view the images with the new setting (not compressed) you must delete the temporary image files on your computer. This is easier than it sounds. Here's how in Windows 95/98 with AOL 4.0.

a.. You don't have to be logged on.
b.. Click on My AOL in the menu button bar.
c.. Click Preferences in the menu list that drops down.
d.. Click the WWW icon (picture of the yellow W in a circle).
e.. Select the Advanced tab.
f.. In the section labeled Temporary Internet files, click Settings.
g.. In the window that appears click Empty Folder....
h.. Click Yes to confirm the delete of the Temporary Internet Files.
i.. Click OK to close the Settings window.
j.. Click OK on the AOL Internet Properties window to close it.
k.. You can now click the X in the upper right-hand corner of the
Preferences window to close that too.

AOL 3.x:

Fix Viewing Images

To fix the problem make sure you are not using compressed graphics. Here's
the basic way to do it in Windows 95/98 and AOL 3.x.

a.. You don't have to be logged on, but it's ok if you are.
b.. Click on Members in the menu bar.
c.. Click Preferences in the menu list that drops down.
d.. Click the WWW icon (picture of the World).
e.. Select the Web Graphics tab.
f.. Make sure the Use compressed graphics checkbox is NOT checked.
g.. Click OK to accept the changes and close the window.

View Images Again

NOTE: This probably won't change images you've already viewed. The images
are kept as temporary files on your computer in the format they were
originally viewed. To view the images with the new setting (not compressed)
you must delete the temporary image files on your computer. This is easier
than it sounds. Here's how in Windows 95/98 with AOL 3.0.

a.. You don't have to be logged on.
b.. Click on Members in the menu bar.
c.. Click Preferences in the menu list that drops down.
d.. Click the WWW icon (picture of the World).
e.. Select the General tab.
f.. In the section labeled Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files.
g.. Click OK to continue. (It doesn't matter if you delete subscription
content or not.)
h.. Click OK on the AOL Internet Properties window to close it.