The AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) Windows client (not the America Online dial-up software) displays two separate ad windows that you may find annoying. This tip prevents those ads from appearing:

1. Exit the AOL Instant Messenger Windows client if its running. 2. Open your AIM program folder and create the "AIM with Ads" folder. 3. Copy the aim.odl and advert.ocm files to the Aim with Ads folder.

(If you ever want to reverse the tip, copy these back.)

4. Use Notepad to open the aim.odl file in AIM program directory. 5. Search for "advert" entry. You'll find two instances. 6. Delete the word "required" after each advert entry. 7. Save aim.odl and exit Notepad. 8. Delete the "advert.ocm" file in AIM program directory.

The tip does not reclaim the space the ads used in the AIM client window, but the ads disappear for good.