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Can I retrieve old AOL instant messenger conversations?
That means I know of no way to retrieve an old conversation or an old instant message. As soon as you close the AIM chat window, the conversation is no longer accessible to you.
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50 comments on “Can I retrieve old AOL instant messenger conversations?”
Question??
I am using a friends computer and they have AOL instant messanger. I would like to change user names from time to time, so that I can stay incontact with my friends while on line. Could you please tell me the process for switching between IM users???? thanks for the help
Somehow yesterday my old aol screen name was not in service anymore when I just used it the day before. That same day I got my aol name changed to Llchrs227…it used to be Lilchris227. Is there anyway to retrieve my old aol buddylist from my “Lilchris227” screen name?
I honestly don’t know. I’d contact AOL technical support as soon as possible. If they have a way (and they might), I’m sure the sooner you contact them the better.
If they have physical access to your machine, probably. For example a parent could install monitoring software or a keylogger. (See http://ask-leo.com/archives/000071.html )
Hi! I’m just curious as to how secure IM through Compuserve is. Is there anyway to go to review, history, or archives and see your old conversations, and can anyone do that? I’ve been told it’s not safe to discuss personal things. True? Thanx
AIM’s main drawback is that it doesn’t do the little things as well as the competition. You can save conversations manually, but you can’t archive them automatically. You can send and receive files, but only one at a time. You can’t log on as “invisible,” hiding your online status from buddies, nor can you send an IM to someone who’s off-line.
isn’t it true that most computers save pretty much anything for a certain amount of time in an internet file..so wouldn’t old messages be on that for a certain amount of time?
Not an “internet” file, no. There are temporary files that programs may, or may not use. (I don’t beleive that the IM clients use them.) And once deleted those are often quickly ovwritten by other programs writing to the hard drive.
I know there is no way to retrieve IM conversations when you are using AIM. But what if you are using AIM through AOL? I’ve heard that there is some way to access emails and IM conversations even if those emails are not AOL ‘mails and the person is no longer signed into the email website, or signed into IM. Is this possible, and how would I delete those records? Would clearing my cookies and temp files do the trick?
There are several programs and addons to AIM that support logging conversations. DeadAIM, AIM+(if that still exists) and Middle Man are a few. You won’t be able to retrieve conversations from before you installed it but if you enable logging you should be able to go back to any conversation you have afterwards.
Well, I believe Google Desktop Beta provides a way to search your desktop, websites you’ve visited, emails, and old chats. I’ve never tried it, but it might work.
I can be done. My parents did it and came up with a whole bunch of dirt on me. They even printed out the past conversations. I have yet to figure out how they did it.
To all of you that need a message retrved try contacting the sevices you are use such as AOL Yahoo MSN. If it is a life or death thing they should be able to retrive the messages for you. It may cost but they keep alot of messages on file due to the fact a message does not take alot of space. Also go to tools and select the messanger service to auto save the messages. That way you will have them even if the service closes on its own. That is something parents might want to do and they can keep a log of who the child is talking to.
How do I find unsaved old Aol Instant Messenger Conversations? I really need to find an old one that I had with my best friend and idk how i need you to help me today thank you
In newspapers, when there is a kidnapping or murder, police can usually trace conversations on AIM. How can they do that if there is no way to retrieve the convos?
Newspapers? Or TV? Television has done a lot to seriously give people the wrong
impression about what’s possible, or how quickly.
That being said: you’re talking about law enforcement, and then can go directly
to AOL with the appropriate court orders and get information that’s otherwise
unavailable to you and me.
Leo
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I just gave my little brother my old desktop because I got a new laptop. Am I able to look at my old AIM conversations that I saved on the old computer through my new one?
I need to please pull up old AOL IM conversations, the IMs were deleted through the IM Logging window and cleared per my boss. Anyone aware of how to get them back?
I was able to find some of my IM’s. When I did a search for Archive and opened it and there was my screen name and I opened it and it had my recent IM’s stored there.
OK so my stupid friend deleted my myspace blogs && my blogs had my deep feelings && stuff but this really old myspace conversation was there too && it means the whole world to me! && i need that conversation back please help me how i can get it!
A) why did you let anyone else have that kind of access? That’s asking for trouble.
If one of my friends and me have got a conversation previously,after i have deleted her contact and after that i readded her again.Will our long time ago previous conversation history stays? In her msn and in mine please?If we use to communicate like a 1-2 years ago? Just would like to be sure please.
Thank you in advance
I don’t think thats entirely true, because I was looking at aim, and I clicked on something, and a conversation from a couple of months ago popped up. I dont remember what I did, but there is a way to recover aim chats
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Question??
I am using a friends computer and they have AOL instant messanger. I would like to change user names from time to time, so that I can stay incontact with my friends while on line. Could you please tell me the process for switching between IM users???? thanks for the help
On the “My AIM” menu, just sign off. Then sign in using the other AIM name & password.
How do I find unsaved old Aol Instant Messenger Conversations? I really need to find an old one that I had with a friend, but I dont know how.
Thanks
As I said in the article you’re commenting on: I don’t believe it can be done.
Somehow yesterday my old aol screen name was not in service anymore when I just used it the day before. That same day I got my aol name changed to Llchrs227…it used to be Lilchris227. Is there anyway to retrieve my old aol buddylist from my “Lilchris227” screen name?
I honestly don’t know. I’d contact AOL technical support as soon as possible. If they have a way (and they might), I’m sure the sooner you contact them the better.
Can someone else hone into my instant mess with another to read or copy or save it for their own use.?
If they have physical access to your machine, probably. For example a parent could install monitoring software or a keylogger. (See http://ask-leo.com/archives/000071.html )
I need to find my password out. I forgot it so how and where shall I go?
Danielie: Even though your password’s not “stolen” – this article has the best tips to recovery: http://ask-leo.com/archives/000265.html
Hi! I’m just curious as to how secure IM through Compuserve is. Is there anyway to go to review, history, or archives and see your old conversations, and can anyone do that? I’ve been told it’s not safe to discuss personal things. True? Thanx
does aol keep track of im coversations
They now claim not to. This article as more: http://ask-leo.com/are_my_instant_messaging_conversations_private.html
Get Trillian. Trillian logs all your converations in easy-to-access folders.
AIM’s main drawback is that it doesn’t do the little things as well as the competition. You can save conversations manually, but you can’t archive them automatically. You can send and receive files, but only one at a time. You can’t log on as “invisible,” hiding your online status from buddies, nor can you send an IM to someone who’s off-line.
isn’t it true that most computers save pretty much anything for a certain amount of time in an internet file..so wouldn’t old messages be on that for a certain amount of time?
Not an “internet” file, no. There are temporary files that programs may, or may not use. (I don’t beleive that the IM clients use them.) And once deleted those are often quickly ovwritten by other programs writing to the hard drive.
I know there is no way to retrieve IM conversations when you are using AIM. But what if you are using AIM through AOL? I’ve heard that there is some way to access emails and IM conversations even if those emails are not AOL ‘mails and the person is no longer signed into the email website, or signed into IM. Is this possible, and how would I delete those records? Would clearing my cookies and temp files do the trick?
Can aol track an instant message I sent to someone? Can they tell if it has been edited as in her acting like me writing things?
No, not that I’m aware of.
There are several programs and addons to AIM that support logging conversations. DeadAIM, AIM+(if that still exists) and Middle Man are a few. You won’t be able to retrieve conversations from before you installed it but if you enable logging you should be able to go back to any conversation you have afterwards.
Well, I believe Google Desktop Beta provides a way to search your desktop, websites you’ve visited, emails, and old chats. I’ve never tried it, but it might work.
Wait, so theres no way of looking at my old conversations from like a day ago?
As stated in the article: “As soon as you close the AIM chat window, the conversation is no longer accessible to you.”
I can be done. My parents did it and came up with a whole bunch of dirt on me. They even printed out the past conversations. I have yet to figure out how they did it.
They probably installed parental monitoring software.
To all of you that need a message retrved try contacting the sevices you are use such as AOL Yahoo MSN. If it is a life or death thing they should be able to retrive the messages for you. It may cost but they keep alot of messages on file due to the fact a message does not take alot of space. Also go to tools and select the messanger service to auto save the messages. That way you will have them even if the service closes on its own. That is something parents might want to do and they can keep a log of who the child is talking to.
guys use trillian if you want to save your chat history. works great!!
trillian works with aim, msn, icq, yahoo…..nice prog and history
Get google desktop to retrieve old messenging conversations.
How do I find unsaved old Aol Instant Messenger Conversations? I really need to find an old one that I had with my best friend and idk how i need you to help me today thank you
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The answer is in the article you just commented on, at the top of the
page.
You can’t.
Leo
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In newspapers, when there is a kidnapping or murder, police can usually trace conversations on AIM. How can they do that if there is no way to retrieve the convos?
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
Hash: SHA1
Newspapers? Or TV? Television has done a lot to seriously give people the wrong
impression about what’s possible, or how quickly.
That being said: you’re talking about law enforcement, and then can go directly
to AOL with the appropriate court orders and get information that’s otherwise
unavailable to you and me.
Leo
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=vanw
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If you do the “auto save” does that save onto your computer or can you access it anywhere you use aim. If so, how?!?!?
To enable conversation logging in AIM version 6, select Edit -> Settings -> IM Logging -> Log IMs & Log Chats -> Save. Hope that helps.
how can i delete an of my old aim messages?
Would pay $1000 to someone that can help me retrieve chat logs from Sept of 2000.
I was wondering how i could look up an old conversation on MSN messenger
I just gave my little brother my old desktop because I got a new laptop. Am I able to look at my old AIM conversations that I saved on the old computer through my new one?
My boyfriends in touble and the only way to get him out of it is to retieve old aol instant messages. Does anyone know how i can do that? I would pay.
yes there is a way to get the logs i’ll come back later once i find out how, i have to ask my boyfriend
i need 2 retrieve a conversation bitwin my frend n me.but i dnt kno how 2. i am usin MSN messenger 3.0
I need to please pull up old AOL IM conversations, the IMs were deleted through the IM Logging window and cleared per my boss. Anyone aware of how to get them back?
I was able to find some of my IM’s. When I did a search for Archive and opened it and there was my screen name and I opened it and it had my recent IM’s stored there.
need to retrieve my history of conversation from you window live message, can you do that for me …need help , please !
OK so my stupid friend deleted my myspace blogs && my blogs had my deep feelings && stuff but this really old myspace conversation was there too && it means the whole world to me! && i need that conversation back please help me how i can get it!
B) I know of no way to get it back. Sorry.
11-Nov-2008
Can a friend see a message I sent if I closed the conversation and logged off?
If one of my friends and me have got a conversation previously,after i have deleted her contact and after that i readded her again.Will our long time ago previous conversation history stays? In her msn and in mine please?If we use to communicate like a 1-2 years ago? Just would like to be sure please.
Thank you in advance
I don’t think thats entirely true, because I was looking at aim, and I clicked on something, and a conversation from a couple of months ago popped up. I dont remember what I did, but there is a way to recover aim chats