active update-aol core services – software update -Is this from AIM?

Wow that pop up window has been bugging the %!@* out of me, it is nice too see that i am not alone. I hate AOL and never trusted them and avoided getting aim for as long as i could, untill it was all but necessary to talk with my peers. Anyways, i recently tried just searching for the install number and deleting all the files it found (like other people here have), so far it seems too be working. If it comes back i may just go ahead and delete all traces of AOL on my computer and resort to using AIM express.

I did some digging trying to find a registry entry to disable the ActiveUpdate. Well there is no registry entry that I could find.

Here is what I did learn.

1. The ActiveUpdate process is part of the AOLSoftware program. That is why some people have been able to get the popup window to go away when they stop the program in the task manager. However the AOLSoftware.exe program starts right back up after you stop it in the task manager.

2. AIM needs the AOLSoftware.exe program to function properly. I found the exe file and renamed it to see if that would stop the popup. However AIM would not work after I renamed the file.

3. The ActiveUpdate is definately part of AIM and if AOL is claiming it is not then they are feeding people a load of you know what.

There is a file usually located in the documents and settings/all users/Application Data/AOL/User Profiles/All Users/SUDS/METRICS called Stic. This is an AIM log file that can be opened in note pad.

This shows entries where the AOLSoftware program checks the NagDelay to see if it is time to open the popup window. There are also entries refering to the 3899.1.16 and 3881.7.19 updates people have mentioned. The entries for this show they are forced downloads. That is why people are finding entries on their hard drive as one person had mention. They do not install until you execpt them but they are downloaded without your permission.

From what I can tell all of this is executed from the Stic.dll and is an embedded part of AIM.

I also found several XML files that show the code for display perametters for the popup window.

AOL can denie all they want that this is not something from them, but this stuff is all over AIM files.

Okay, enough on the cause what about a fix.

Well I cannot guarantee this will work for everyone but so far the popup window has not return and I am not seeing any ill effects to AIM so far.

Do a search on the file name Strings.XML. You should find it in the Program Files/Common Files/AOL/1137608115/ee/services/softwareUpdate/ver1_14_2_2/resources/en_US

Others might have a different path to the file. Just be sure you are in the AOL directory. Rename the Strings.XML file. I renamed mine to renameStrings.XLM. That way I could undo the change should I find out later things are not working right.

I also deleted any reference to the 3899 and 3881 updates since these are what were downloaded originally. That way I could see if my change worked or not if these files were re-downloaded.

I cannot promiss this will work for everyone but so far this has worked for me.

i don’t know about others, but for me, none of the suggested things worked. i couldn’t find any “persistence” file (or whatever it was) anywhere on my computer, but found a zipped file named “ActiveUpdate”. I deleted that, the popup hasn’t come back YET, but it’s only been like half hour (it used to come up every 5-15min, and even if it was already up, it’d close and reopen itself, minimizing my fullscreen game). I’ll tell you if it comes back for me or not.

EDIT: alright, it came back up, so i decided that since nothing else is working, i just deleted the stic.dll file. if that doesn’t work, i’m just going to restore stic.dll and deleting sudsConfig. and yes, at this point in time, i’m just guessing, i could really care less if i screw up my AIM.

EDIT (July 19): Deleting stic.dll seemed to work for me. It’s been almost 24hr and no pop-up yet. And everything seems to be working correctly too.

i don’t know about anybody else, but on my computer the only thing in the add/remove progs from AOL was AIM. but if others have it, that should help a lot. dunno, my computer has been a lot different from other peoples. 😛

SOLUTION #1

Help–I found the file–‘stic.dll’ but I cannot delete it. I keep getting a message telling me that access is denied….how can that be? I have this pop up and would love to get rid of it but I need to keep aim for my daughters. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks
jesbrakel

Thank you, dobalu, thank you! I found and deleted the “stic.dll” file two days ago, and the annoying popup has not reared its ugly head. And my Aim Triton is working just fine. Whew.

I am an AOL subscriber and I too have been receiving this pop-up. Like most of you, I am skeptical of it’s legitimacy and have yet to click the install button. It popped up again as soon as I got online this morning, so I decided to contact AOL’s live support. Here is a copy of my conversation with the tech, who says it is legit. I am still, however, skeptical about installing it and I’m not sure that I will based on what I’ve read posted in this forum. Any feedback will be appreciated!!!!~~~Mel

~~~~~~~~~Conversation With AOL Tech~~~~~~~~~
System Hello, MELCROSSWHITE. Welcome to AOL Security Live Help Support. My name is James.
AOLTechJMV Thank you very much for allowing me to assist you.
AOLTechJMV Melanie, I understand you are receiving an Active Update Pop-up online. Do I have it correct?

MELCROSSWHITE Yes. This is what it says: The following update is ready to install. AOL Core Services – Active Update: This update is necessary to enhance AOL’s ability to resolve potential problems with your online experience. AOL applications will be automatically shut down.

AOLTechJMV Thank you very much for the clarification. I appreciate the time you’ve taken and this excellent opportunity to handle this for you. I am going to do my best to make sure you receive all the help you need.

MELCROSSWHITE I appreciate that.

AOLTechJMV Please allow me to explain to you what that popup is all about.

MELCROSSWHITE Thanks….please do.

AOLTechJMV The Active Update popup you are getting is Legit.
AOLTechJMV Active Update is a part of the Software Update and Delivery Service (SUDS) technology available for AOL 9.0 users. It allows you to download necessary updates to your AOL® applications to resolve and prevent issues and enhance your online experience.
AOLTechJMV When an update is available, a notice opens on your screen, telling you exactly what AOL application the update is for and what component will be updated. You will be notified of these changes, and AOL only makes changes to the actual application itself.
AOLTechJMV Please click the INSTALL NOW button on the window to download the update. Don’t turn off your computer or disconnecting the phone or modem while the updates are taking place. Doing so could result to an incomplete update.
AOLTechJMV This will not damage your computer in any way, but could keep you from enjoying the best and most up-to-date service AOL has to offer.

MELCROSSWHITE Why is it in pop-up form instead of being automatic like AOL updates have always been?

AOLTechJMV Ok please allow me to explain …
AOLTechJMV If the update will be done automatically, it would possibly create a problem or conflict. That is why they just did it through popup.