Home › Forums › Archives › Instant Messaging › AIM Support › Skimming AIM 5.5 (What to remove!)
- This topic has 37 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 5 months ago by x7blackandblue.
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February 25, 2004 at 10:22 pm #50096cubanraulMember
Hey everyone this is my first post, I just was looking for people that might be interested in a project I joined this month.
I found one of the modified AIMres.dll’s that has ads pre removed that floating around everywhere and noticed (just like everyone else noticed) getting rid of just the ads isn’t enough, so I made an installer for it that also gets rid of all the vile stuff AIM installs. Once I had it working perfectly (or as far as I can tell right now) I contacted the “author” of the modified DLL and we joined forces so to speak.
I used a program called “InCtrl5” to fully know everything AIM installs (it looks at the registry and files before install and after and compares them basically)
Then I used a few programs to scan the registry for things left behind by their respective uninstallers.
Then something to scan for left over DLL’s and well, a whole lot of checking and double checking.Anyway to make an already boring post short it removes everything in 1 simple step.
All Features in Current Version
*Installs AIM Ad Hack based upon AIM registry entry
*Uninstall function
*Adds link to free encryption/security certificate
*Adds ability to resize AIM buddy list to any size
*Adds new About box
*Adds new icon
*Adds new logo
*Removes ads
*Removes AOL favorites/desktop/start menu links
*Removes Wild Tangent registry enteries
*Removes AOL On Desktop (AOL installer) registry enteries
*Removes Viewpoint Media Player registry enteries
*Removes Wild Tangent files and directories
*Removes AOL On Desktop (AOL installer) files and directories
*Removes Viewpoint Media Player files and directories
*Removes games buttons and games bars
*Removes AOL.com/Today window
*Removes AOL.com links from buddy list and menusI totally missed “C:WINDOWSApplication DataAim*YOURSCREENNAME*urlcache” I think removing that for every current name can be done, who should be given credit for finding that folder when I add it to the program?
Also, what are imagehlp.dll & msvcr70.dll needed for? I removed them and everyone else (around 1500 people) that have installed it have not had any problems.
Anyone can help out with the program and will get credit for any contributions.
The current version can be downloaded here: http://aimadhack.webhop.net
Stuff that will be added in the next version:
much improved uninstall
better compression of setup
license agreement
information dialogIf I can’t link to modified AIM DLL’s please remove the link and I can just post a version without the modified DLL.
March 16, 2004 at 8:41 pm #50088f0rbezMembernew build out, this may need some updating.
March 16, 2004 at 11:01 pm #50083TigerbladeParticipantQuote:quote:Originally posted by ladie_vennomSerriously if you guys hate 5.5, just stick with 5.2. Everyone keeps copmplaining off all the spyware in 5.5, then dont use and go back to 5.2 and you dont have to worry about wild tangent.
yeah I plan to stick with 5.2 as long as possible, although i’m noticing that file transfers and direct connects dont work anymore, at least the only ones i’ve tried are with people that immediately upgraded to the new versions…
oh well, i’m sticking with it
March 19, 2004 at 2:16 am #50097RadioPunkerMemberthis is very interesting, how are you making this program? I would like to join, I program in VB6
March 19, 2004 at 8:16 am #50080.ParticipantQuote:quote:Originally posted by f0rbeznew build out, this may need some updating.
Yawn.. I would update it if I was even interested in downloaded AIM again installing it on my computer. Just did a format and its the scum so…
March 19, 2004 at 8:39 am #50087f0rbezMemberQuote:quote:Originally posted by WhiteMateriaQuote:quote:Originally posted by f0rbeznew build out, this may need some updating.
Yawn.. I would update it if I was even interested in downloaded AIM again installing it on my computer. Just did a format and its the scum so…
haha I hear you. I installed it and didnt notice anything new. wildtangent never seems to install itself anymore. could be my firewall thats blocking it but I get no alerts.
June 30, 2004 at 7:46 am #50076Jeff HesterKeymasterYou said there is a way to get rid of the ads in the aim friends list? Someone said it was in their link but I am not sure which one to use.. If you could please tell me which one to use I would be forever grateful .. Thank you
Wildatheart
July 5, 2004 at 8:10 am #50098KiSsToPeArMemberQuote:quote:Originally posted by f0rbezThe things you can remove include.. wildtangent, viewpoint media player, and aol on desktop (aod). Right after you install, go into add/remove programs and uninstall wildtangent and viewpoint. then use these instructions to remove aod https://bigblueball.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9142
then restart and check for these folders:“c:program filesaod”
“c:program filesviewpoint”
“c:windowswt”also look for a wildtangent folder in program files.. im not sure what its named b/c mine didnt install. you can delete all of those after you uninstalled them.
you can also delete these installation files from “c:program filesaimsysfiles” so that it cant install itself again:
AIMWDInstall.exe
AIMWDUninstall.exe
viewpoint.exebtw, I think viewpoint is possibly part of the ad display system. you know those video/audio ads that they started using.
I believe viewpoint is a search toolbar and has nothing to do with those ads.
Viewpoint Corporation – http://www.viewpoint.com/pub/index.htmlJuly 10, 2004 at 4:20 am #50099graveMemberAre there any programs that read .dll’s so I can see (with other programs too) what is trash and is required for it to run?
By the way, I downgraded to AIM 4.4 (beta with logging). What vaules in Reshack allow me to change the background of the buddylist, make new icons (away, setup, prefs, info, im, etc.) and remove ads?
[Edit: Ooh, I found most of what I was looking for at Aimfilez.com]
September 5, 2004 at 6:58 pm #50100StrikeMemberThere is ONE easy way to block ALL spyware and possibly some worms and virii(provided that they are not highly sophisticated like the ones that can change their names and extentions and exploit Windows flaws)
Under Windows XP Professional (and possibly Windows 2000), that can be done in the Local Policy editor under Software Restriction Policies > Additional Rules section. Add path new path rules by opening the context menu for the key/folder and clicking New Path Rule….
Adding the following will block a lot of what AOL installs that is crap:
C:Program FilesAIMSysfilesC:Program FilesAODremember to replace C:Program FilesAIM with the folder/path/directory you are actually installing it to.
(don’t worry, the DLLs within Sysfiles will run, unless you choose All Software Files for Enforement)Optionally, you might also want to create an empty text file and save it in your “Program Files” folder under the names: “Viewpoint”, “WildTangent”, “AOD”, (without extentions) to prevent them from being written to your disk in the first place. Be sure to delete existing folders/directories that match those names first, then mark the replacement files as “Read-Only”. Under Windows 2000 and XP Professional, you might also want to deny all rights to those files for EVERYONE, thus effectively preventing anything from replacing those files EVER.
The above two tricks can be reused to apply to many other unwanted software/files.
I’d also be glad if anyone could analyze AIM’s installation procedure. I ran AIM Install and Task Manager simutaneously, and I DID NOT like what I saw under the processes tab… This mysterious files known as “Patcher.exe”, and some random TMP files were being run. (Not just one, but many.) What these processes do I’ll never know. (not yet anyway.) After the installation, I could not find any traces of Patcher.exe. (I could find it under Windows 98 though) Those things run during the long pause after imghlp.dll (or something like that) has been copied to Sysfiles.
I have added “*.tmp” and “Patcher.exe” to my restricted list, but I haven’t tested it yet (nor do I know any of its side-effects.)
December 21, 2004 at 1:36 pm #50102rae_raeMemberQuote:quote:It would be nice if someone wrote a program to remove everything crappy with AIM 5.5!Download Fix Edited 07.11.05
It will not be here for long so I suggest someone else host it.December 21, 2004 at 1:42 pm #50103rae_raeMemberPlease reference:
Pirateculture.net for a removal tool 🙂
Edited 07.11.05December 21, 2004 at 2:23 pm #50104rae_raeMemberPlease download at:
Pirateculture.net – AIM AOD Removal Tool
Edited 07.11.05December 21, 2004 at 2:52 pm #50105rae_raeMemberPlease download at:
Pirateculture.net – AIM AOD Removal Tool
Edited 07.11.05
Visit my site for updates :woot:April 10, 2005 at 2:04 am #50109Spyware KillerMemberI actually found the Application Data folder in My Documents
when I install’d aim I unchecked WT and WeatherBug but it installed them anyway
I had to delete the folders and Spybot TeaTimer blocked the REG edits
It also tried to make a bunch of things run at startup (…BLOCK’D! HA!)And I agree w/ everything you posted to delete so good job on the batch, RR
BTW does anyone know how to make it so that when I right-click and point to “Send To” it won’t have the “AIM Buddy” stuff? I’ll figure it out sometime, just wondering if anyone knows how now
ne’er mind. Got it. -
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