I would advise opening a new browser window and then follow these directions.

i tried to make this walkthrough "lyme-friendly". i know how it is since i have neurolyme and even if this walkthrough is broke down to the point that u feel I have insulted ur intelligence haha well u wouldn't understand neurolyme lol :-D. this is in extreme detail and if u r somewhat computer literate u can skip most of this, but I wanted to give an opportunity to those that don't get around computers very well to be able to chat with other lyme patients.

if there is enough demand for it, I may turn this into a PDF for much easier viewing. lemme know and I will do it

***warning!!! this walkthrough is not dial-up friendly. the pics will load but will take time. I am gonna compress the pics as much as possible, but maintain visual integrity. if u have a 56k modem or slower u may wanna load this page and go fix something to drink or wash some dishes haha. this is gonna take a while.***

In this tutorial, it will be assumed that you are using internet explorer with windows xp and that ur browser will be using default settings.

first off u will need to go to this address! Click Here! it should bring you to a screen that allows you to sign up for your aim screenname. Fill in the spaces as indicated by the arrows and click "submit" indicated by the blue arrow...

***note: there are millions of AIM users, so make sure the screenname you enter is one that u believe will not be used by others... my example from the other thread was "LymeLight"... i am sure someone has that screenname. but something like "LymeLight27858" is probably not in use. adding numbers to the end of ur screenname pretty much guarantees that no one has that name.

***if ur screenname goes through u can skip this next step***

if your screenname is not unique... you will be asked to enter a different screenname. the screen will look like the one below. you can either enter a new one that u think no one will be using in the area (indicated by the red arrow) or u can enter 3 words that describe u as a person in the three boxes (indicated by the green arrows) and the AIM system will generate u a screenname if u go this route. click "submit" (blue arrow). u will be brought back to the screen b4 I believe with ur new screenname once it is chosen. it may take a couple of tries... actually it took me a few tries just making a fake one for this walkthrough

next screen will ask for ur zip code, gender, and country. fill it in and hit submit

now u r ready to download AIM... just click the version you would like to download. which for 90% of u will be windows. if u have dial-up, this could take a few minutes.

if u get a window like the one below... click "save"

another window will pop up asking u where u want to put the file... click "desktop" (as indicated by the red arrow) then click "save" (as indicated by the blue arrow)

then u will have to sit and wait for the download to finish... when it is finished... minimize ur windows... and the file you downloaded should be on ur desktop. it should say something like "Install_AIM" or something of that nature. double click it. here is a pic of my desktop with a check beside it.

hit "next" on this screen.

now this screen u can decide if u wanna install this extra stuff... weatherbug is pretty nifty, but this stuff is definitely spyware and will plague u will pop-ups. I would advise unchecking these. (boxes indicated by the red arrows). I am sure most of you have weatherbug anyway. click "next"

click "next" again

now at this screen you will need to indicate what connection you have... if u have dial-up then u will click the 1st circle (red arrow). if u use cable, DSL, office lan, satelite, ISDN, or any other dedicated service, u will click the 2nd circle (blue arrow). then "next".

at this screen u will need to indicate ur country and zip code (red arrows). u can make a zip code up if u like. i would advise unchecking "make netscape.com my homepage" (blue arrow) unless u want it to be ur homepage whenever u open ur browser. click "next"

next screen I would leave these all checked... it will make aim easy to find. hit "next"

ur screen should look like this! marvel at our computing advances as the program installs AIM for ya :-D

alrighty now go to ur desktop... and look for the little cute aim man icon. i have him checked on my desktop. double-click it.

u will see this screen below. since we have already signed u up for a screenname. put ur screenname in the area indicated by the red arrow and press ok.

u will see the login screen now. this is the screen u will see from now on when u first sign on to aim (unless u leave the "auto-login" box checked). fill in ur screenname and password (as indicated in the red arrow areas) then click sign on... u will hear a weird noise then a dong! this means u r signed on! YAY...

u may have a pop up when u first get on. close those. right now u have no one on ur buddy list... so I am gonna show u how to add ur lyme net buddies to ur list so u can chat with them anytime. close the window with the AIM wizard. it will look like this. just click the "x" and close it.

now to adding buddies to ur list. go to "my AIM" as indicated by the red arrow and then "setup buddy list" as indicated by the blue arrow.

now to access the lymenet chatroom u have 2 options. one is very easy and the other is a little more involved and u have to go through the AIM interface. the easy option is u can just come to this thread everytime and click this link Click Here! or in AIM you click "People" (red arrow) then "Send Chat Invitation" (blue arrow).

this screen should pop up... the way u get into an aim chatroom that u r not invited to... is to invite urself haha. so what u do is put ur screenname in the "Screen names to invite" box (red arrow) then put "lymenet" in the "Chat room" box (blue arrow) then click "send".

you are NOW in the lymenet chatroom. enjoy!

[This message has been edited by lazerorca (edited 05 August 2004).]

here is the pdf that I promised... it is poorly formated... sorry

click here for pdf