This is in printer friendly format because you'll want to print it out and go step by step with it next to you.

There are two ways to do this:  You can go to start/open/accessories/notepad and type this out, or you can download my bat file.  My bat file is specific to my system so it may not match your setup.  If you use the AOL install defaults, it'll work fine.

I'll show the code to you and explain each line.

The first thing you must realize is DOS is different from Windows.  DOS can't do the long file names that windows can so it shortens them with a "~" (no quotes, and no quotes from here on out.)

These shortened names can be quite confusing but you'll get it.  The best way to do this is to use my name.  All the entries for AOL itself are AOL 8's default so if you install it to the defaults, my script will work fine.

This bat file is code that instructs the computer directly, it doesn't go through Windows at all, it's at the command level.

Here's the actual code in the bat file:

cd..
cd progra~1
cd americ~1.0
copy organize c:\danorg
cd..

The code, as you can see, is very simple.

"cd.." tells DOS to change the directory back.  This takes it back to the C prompt.

"cd progra~1" tells it to go to c: programs file

"cd americ~1.0" tells it to go the the america online 8.0 folder. (that's the default installation)

"copy organize c:\danorg" tells your computer  to copy the organize folder to a folder called "danorg" on your C drive.

To use this code/bat file, just go to "My computer/C" and click on "file/new/folder"  When the new folder is created you'll see the "new folder" is blue and highlighted.  Just type in danorg and it will take that name.  No capitals.  Or, just right click on it and click rename.  Once you have this folder, the bat file will work without any problems.  That's it!  Really

Now, when you download the bat file, remember where you put it, I'd recommend putting it in the actual danorg folder.  When it asks where you want to put it, just click browse or click on C and double click on the danorg folder.  Click "save."  Once it's there, right click on it, one of the options on the right click menu is "send to."  Hold your mouse over the "send to" bar.  Another menu will pop up and you'll see desktop as one of the options, just click on it and it will copy an icon to the desk top which is a shortcut for this file.  It'll even have it's name.  Now exit this and go back to your desktop.  There it is:  If you double click on it, you'll see a little DOS window pop up and zoom, you'll see all the files it copies.  Then it will stop.  "X" it out and that's all there is to it.

Go to the "danorg" folder from "My Computer/C" and double click on it.  You should see all the files from your AOL organize folder in there.  You see?  It works!  It backs up every screen name you have and all the address books, favorite places, and filing cabinets.  Pretty neato huh?

To verify it, just click on "My Computer/program files/america online 8.0/organize" they will all be there including a "cache" folder.  This won't be in the "danorg" folder because you don't need it.

Anytime you change your address book, just click on your new desktop icon and it will automatically rewrite over all the previous files giving you the newest changes you've just made.

Once on the desktop, you can right click on it and rename it to whatever you like.  You can't change the MS/DOS icon though.

If you're running anti-virus software, you may have to shut it off to download this file.  Bat files are executable/program files and your anti-virus software might not let you download it.  To shut it off, hit control/alternate/delete on your keyboard.  This will give you a list of all running programs, highlight your virus software and click "end task."  That will shut it off.

If it downloads with any name other then "organize.bat" right click on it and rename it to "organize.bat."

To download the file, Click Here

Or right click on the above "click here" and choose "save target as"

If you use notepad to write it because you want to change parameters, just save it as organize.bat or any bat file name you pick.

If you ever have to do an AOL 8 installation again, you can install the program as a blank/dumb.  Go to your danorg folder, click on "edit/select all" you'll see all the files highlight.  Go back to "edit/copy" and all the files will be copied to your clipboard.  Then go to the organize folder of the new version of AOL 8, right click on a blank area and choose paste.  It'll ask you if it's OK to rewrite any files in there.  Tell it yes.  The next time you open AOL, it'll be just like you hadn't left it.  Simple, huh?

That should do it for ya gang!

Oh, by the way, congrats!!!  You just did something that almost NOBODY knows how to do.  20 year old technology folks, and it still runs your computers today.  How about that?

When you get this working, I expect all of you to write and tell me.  OK?  OK.

Perks, you get perks gang!!!