AOL instant messenger 5.9 startup issue

WOrked fine for a month, then on startup of AIM, a small window came up saying AIM was not my default messenger program and asking if I wanted to make it so.
The small window freezes every time and eventually (1 minute) says it is not responding.
I've uninstalled and reinstalled twice with same result.
Ideas?
Blessings,
Port-o-san
P.S. If there is a better program, I'd use it - but I was told that others are "full of bugs", i.e. spyware, etc. Your opinions?

 

Fixed it by osmosis, sort of.......... I downloaded AIM PRO and the issues went away. AOL is crap for support.

 

agree 100% with that statement

 

agreed, aol support is not that great...just use meebo, that's what i use, you can put all your g chat, msn and yahoo contacts in one place on a web browser.

 

Pidgin is so much better than a web based client. It supports more IM types, and it has far more features.

Meebo is good to use if its not your machine.

 

Troubles started again after a week with AIM Pro.
AOL "support" has juggled this ball for months, along with another failure of same program.
Donedeal - am trying two of your advised messengers.
Thanks and Blessings All,
Port O San