In aol.com, I cannot get a sound when email arrives -- the settings are the same as in Internet Explorer, which works
When accessing mail with Firefox in aol.com, I do not get a sound when new mail arrives. I get the sound when using Internet Explorer, and the settings are the same for aol mail in both browsers.
I got the sound with my previous computer, but bought a new computer about a week ago, and no sound when email arrives.
Since it works in Internet Explorer but not Firefox, I assume there's some setting for Firefox.
Any ideas?
All Replies (4)
Hi tedinidenver,
Does sound work for videos and music in Firefox? It could be a couple of things. You might have accidentally muted audio for Firefox. The article Knowledge Base article What to do if Firefox won't play any sounds will show you how to check.
If that doesn't work, you should look at Fix common audio and video issues. This will show you how to troubleshoot any plugin/extension issues that might be impacting your system.
Hopefully this helps!
Hi Matt. Thanks for your advice. It seems that my detailed explanation did not get posted, or your response might have been different.
All expected sounds work in Firefox except the single omission of a sound when email arrives in my aol mailbox accessed through aol.com
I even hear the announcement "You have mail" when I sign in to AOL.
Videos and music play just fine in Firefox.
In the aol "Settings", there is a box to check labeled "Play a sound when new mail arrives Preview" That box is checked and clicking on the Preview provides the sound that I hear when I login in to aol through Internet Explorer.
Unchecking that box in Internet Explorer turns off the sound; checking it turns on the sound!
In Firefox, with all the same settings as in Internet Explorer, I get all the expected sounds except that sound when mail arrives.
Everything else in Firefox seems to work as expected.
I've tried online support with aol, but that's hopeless. I spent 1/2 hour chatting with a "Joyce" who would repeat questions that had already been answered. I suspect Joyce was a foreigner in a foreign country -- I've dealt with her types before. She couldn't seem to understand what's going on, and offered me an 866 number to chat on the phone. I tend to avoid telephone conversations, when possible, due to a hearing loss (thanks to the rockets and mortars in Vietnam). However, I have tried a few telephone support facilities (like with Bank of America and Comcast) and the foreigners that I get connected with are incompetent and have an irritating accent and their English is sub-standard (in spite of claims that it's their main language). But I don't want to get started on one of my tirades. Bottom line, AOL has not helped.
It's very strange, because AOL seems to work fine in Firefox (my browser of choice) except for that one sound ! ? ! ?
I was hopeful that some expert in Firefox might have encountered the problem along the way and could point me in the right direction.
Any other ideas, Matt?
Thanks
In my previous response to Matt's advice, I failed to mention that AOL worked fine on my previous computer, in Firefox, including the sound when new mail arrived. That computer died and I've bought a new one. Might a fresh download of Firefox help?
Guess what? The sound of arriving emails has suddenly started working! The only thing that I'm aware of having changed is: I enabled downloads to RealPlayer in Firefox. I don't know how that could have made the difference, but my problem is resolved. Thanks to Matt for his contribution. :-)