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Comment#2 - How to read very old emails using AOL GOLD

Per earlier response to my 1st comment, I called Tech Support who told me the provision that I need, is not available. I was told I needed an old computer to read old emails using old AOL 9.8.2 . My old computer crashed. I now have AOL GOLD on a new computer and need to read old emails from old PFC organize files that are backed up on a flash drive. There is no provision to import old emails from old PFC organize files from a flash drive to AOL GOLD. I don't want these old emails converted to AOL GOLD. I and many other long-term AOL users, just want an option with AOL GOLD to read old emails from a flash drive. Please keep this comment open.

My precious comment is at this link
https://aol.uservoice.com/forums/908090-aol-desktop-gold/suggestions/34970641-how-to-read-very-old-emails-using-aol-gold

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bluebird01 shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
Completed  ·  Product Support responded  · 

The option to import a personal filing cabinet (PFC) file from an older version of the AOL Desktop, into the AOL Desktop Gold, is now available. Before following the steps below, make sure your AOL Desktop Gold is up to date.

Go to the Help menu on the top right, select ‘About AOL‘ from the drop-down menu, and make sure you have the 11.0.2102 Revision. In case you have a lower revision, click ‘Check for Updates’ from the Help menu, and after 15-20 minutes close and reopen the AOL Desktop Gold.

The ‘PFC Import’ feature allows you manually navigate to a PFC file on your computer and import data from that file. To use this new feature follow these steps:

1. Sign in to AOL Desktop Gold.
2. Click the Settings icon.
3. While in the General settings, click the ‘My Data’ tab.
4. Click ‘PFC Import’.
5. Select your file.
6. Once your personal data is imported, you’ll have access to it in Desktop Gold.

There are two types of PFC files from the old AOL Desktop software:

1) Automatically created files:
-Exist in the old AOL Desktop’s installations “Organize” folder, with a name matching
the user’s screenname/account.
-Do NOT have the .pfc extension and are associated with a screensname/account
-If you are unsure which file, from the “Organize” folder, is the PFC file, select all the files. There is a built-in logic that will automatically select and validate the PFC.

2) Manually exported PFC files:
-These contain the .pfc extension but are NOT associated with a SN/account
-Are imported into the current AOL Desktop Gold user’s account to the “Imported on
” mailbox folder (e.g. Imported-12/12/2018).
-Are typically named Mail.pfc but can be renamed by the user.
-You can merge PFCs from one account to another account by adding the .PFC extension to the selected file. This will import the file into the currently signed in AOL Desktop Gold user’s account under the folder: Imported on .

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  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    when will aol 9.8.2 be available for download on a read only basis so all of us can retrieve are old emails??? A response would be appreciated instead of UNDER REVIEW!
    theotedpat@aol.com

  • bluebird01 commented  ·   ·  Report

    There are many who need access to read our old emails in the PFC organize folders via V 9.8.2 that are stored on flashdrives. What is the status of the AOL programmers working on this important issue? Thank you.

  • bluebird01 commented  ·   ·  Report

    Still waiting for a response from AOL. Please contact us with an update, thank you.

  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    Your comments are right on, I can't understand why AOL is not responding to you, me, or all the others that are having similar problems.

  • bluebird01 commented  ·   ·  Report

    Many long-time AOL users have old mail from their personal filing cabinet organize folders, that are backed up on flash drives or elsewhere. Their computer crashed that accessed the old AOL platform version 9.8.2. Thus there is no option to read the old mail.

    Could AOL programmers develop a solution using the new AOL gold platform to read the old mail that is stored in the PFC organize folders directly from the flash drives?

    Or could the programmers convert the old PFC organize folders to new folders using the new AOL gold platform to be able to access and read their old mail?

    Or could AOL send a CD with the old version 9.8.2 to download to access and read their old mail?

    Refer to additional comments on this thread
    https://aol.uservoice.com/forums/908090-aol-desktop-gold/suggestions/34971304-comment-2-how-to-read-very-old-emails-using-aol

  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    You are absolutely correct. Enough time has passed that a response from AOL is appropriate. We will keep asking for a response and I wonder if AOL Corporate knows what is going on!!

  • bluebird01 commented  ·   ·  Report

    To AOL Product Support: There are many who need access to read our old emails. What is the status of the AOL programmers working on this important issue?

  • bluebird01 commented  ·   ·  Report

    @Kathleen Schneeloch - Totally agree with you.

  • Kathleen Schneeloch commented  ·   ·  Report

    Bad enough that our PFCs can't be read by any other program. The least AOL should do is to make sure we still have some form of access to those emails. Thanks in advance for "fixing" this! :)

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    thanks Theo... this is really an important issue. i need to get to my old e mails and can't ... AOL needs to do something so that they are available to all of us. yout help is most appreciated and i thank you for taking the time tor reply to me. if there is a solution am sure you'll let us all know,. but AOL needs to fix this problem for all of us.

  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    This was a reply to luni13@aol.com who is having similar problem

    Hi Luni

    AOL is not very understanding and it is very frustrating. I believe that there are many people out there with the same problem but haven't voiced their opinions. The forum that AOL provides is not very effective as you can see from the number of responses from various problems. I do not due social media but something like facebook or a blog of some sort might be more effective. The more people that speak up the more pressure that can be applied to AOL Tech support as well as AOL Corporate. I do not know of any applications that would convert the old files to a readable format however I have hired a Systems Engineer who is helping me and she is currently exploring software engineers that might have another approach. In the meantime still trying to get 9.8.2 software. Please keep in touch and I will also.
    Theo

  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    How long is UNDER REVIEW UNDER REVIEW!!! Aol techs, you have many comments that deserve a review, especially getting 9.8.2 back on for download. We know we can.t use it like AOL Gold, we just want to read our old emails that we have backups for.

  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    Why doesn't AOL take care of all these people with similar problems and reintroduce 9.8.2 for download so all these emails can be read on a read only basis????Just think AOL you could even charge for this and people would be willing to pay!!!

  • theotedpat@aol.com commented  ·   ·  Report

    Last April AOL Tech reinstalled AOL Gold because of a welcome screen problem. I told her to back up my emails so I don't loose them. She said no problem. WELL I LOST 15 YRS OF EMAILS AND WAS TOLD SORRY CAN'T GET THEM BACK BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE 9.8.2 still on your computer. Thanks for telling me that...........I have retrieved my emails from a backup program on my computer and have them on my desktop. AOL tech now says they cannot import these files to AOL Gold because they are incompatable with Gold software. They said I need to get aol 9,8,2 reinstalled on my computer and then they can import the files on a read only basis which is fine with me. The only problem which is huge is getting a CD copy of 9.8.2 or place to download it. I have a computer engineer working with me and she got my files back but unable to get 9.8.2,,,Maybe we both need a copy??Best of luck, AOL only says SORRY No help with 9.8.2 and 15 years of email memories my wife had stored . If you or anyone has a way to get 9.8.2 please email me at theotedpat@aol.com

  • bluebird01 commented  ·   ·  Report

    Thank you Anonymous for your email, I have responded to you.

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