How do I create a new AIM screen name?I've been using AOL's Instant Messenger for a while, but I really want to create a new AIM screenname. How the $#@$# do I do that?? Believe it or not, the answer is sitting under your proverbial nose! At least, it is if you're using the slick new Triton version of AIM. On the login window notice what you see just under the existing screen name:  You can see it, right? The "Get a Screen Name" link? Click on it! :-) (if you don't have that link, you should be able to request a screen name here too) Now you'll see AOL's new screen name request form, which I'm going to show in three parts here. The first part asks you to specify your new screen name, new password, and a display name:  You'll probably have to dance for a while with AOL to get the screen name you want, though, because, well, there are zillions of 'em already taken. Once you've filled that out, scroll down a bit and you'll see:  Now pay a bit of attention to the question and answer you specify because this is where a lot of people get their accounts hacked, in my opinion. Setting it to your pet's name and then realizing that everyone on your street, in your class, and at your church/temple knows your pet's name means that you have effectively invited dozens of other people to sneak into your account. Not good. With any of these questions, think about whether you talk about that subject or not with friends or, worse, strangers. I suggest something vague like 'favorite book', but then invent a book title and perhaps jot it down in your diary or in a file on your computer that you can reference if necessary. Once you've got that set to your liking, the third section is the anti-fraud captcha system and it looks like this:  These are pretty easy unless you have some color blindness or deficiency, in which case you might try reloading the page a few times since they have different color schemes, some of which might be a lot easier to decipher than others. Once you've filled everything out, click on the "Submit" button. Hopefully you won't get this common error:  As far as I can tell, the error doesn't mean that the screenname hasn't been created on the AOL servers, but it seems to be something else that's going on: when I went back and used a different possible screen name and pressed "Submit" again, it worked fine:  That's good! Now, to actually use your new screen name with the AIM Triton program, go back to the AIM login screen and type in your new screen name. This last step surprised me a bit because somehow I figured that it'd be a pop-up and would show me the new name, just as it does with the regular AOL login, but that wasn't the case. So type in the new screen name, enter your new password, and you should be good to go with your new AIM identity. Hope that helps you out!
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Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader. I want to make a screen name for myself Posted by: millader rahman at February 27, 2006 2:44 PMthis was not very easy to figure out . What does URL mean? Posted by: sammy whitecotten at May 21, 2006 7:40 PMI went to AIM.com and made a new screen name. But I'm confused on how 2 add buddies to my buddy list. can u help? Posted by: Chelsea at June 27, 2006 7:24 PMDave ........................ i tried doing it the second time but then it said something about thank you for trying toobtain a screen name ................. noe what i had to type my thing two time and it said that i couldnt regester at this time umm i did it once and it said how do i get to the sn page? every time i try to get a new screename n i do it like so many times in a row it still comes up with that error message n i really need a new screename... Posted by: Marisa at August 8, 2006 12:40 PMHi Dave, I have the same problem as Jessicah and Marisa (emails 7/14 and 8/8/06). I'm trying to get a screen name since a week and I used every screenname I can think of and I get every time the same error message; that "The service you are trying to reach is currently unavailabe - please try your request again.". I probably tried it about 150 times and I'm getting really frustrated. Can you help me please?? Thank you :) Posted by: Claudia at August 11, 2006 3:52 PMi rock I dont get it my whole family shares the same screename and I cant get my own!! Whenever i try 2 get one of my own it shows. There has been an error thing. How can I get my own if I cant make one if that error thing shows up? Is there another way? Posted by: Amber at January 20, 2007 10:25 AMHey, Thank you, I need to know new screen aim pls let me know how I can put on it thank ya Posted by: brenda wells at March 17, 2007 8:07 AMDear Dave, I keep on trying to get a new screen name but afterwards it always says sorry the service you are trying to register for is currently unavailable - please try again or it says the service you are trying to request is temporarily unavailable and it will then take me to aol.com but I don't want to go there. And then when I try to get back on that site that last message will atomatically pop up. Pleas tell me how to get a screename without this trouble. Oh and I have AIM 5.9 Hey Dave, - Rae Posted by: Rae at April 4, 2007 4:47 PMhow do i get there? thanks for the help i really needed it Posted by: Corey Parks at May 8, 2007 4:27 PMHey i am a young boy who really wants a aim screen name but it want let me. It always comes up this page is unavailable please try your request again or something like this. Can you please help me do this. I will be so happy. Posted by: BK Murray at May 27, 2007 5:56 PMI want to make my own screen name. How do I do that? Posted by: ashley at May 28, 2007 8:50 AMThe error is showing up on mine too!!!! Please help i want to talk with my friends!
Shannon Posted by: Shannon at August 6, 2007 8:35 PMthat erro screen keeps comin uo i tryed a million times help please Posted by: nick at September 2, 2007 6:30 PMThere seems to have been some changes with password verification with AIM lately. In the fact that if the username matches the password somewhat, they will throw up this error message. This is a problem for AIM, as the error message is completely ridiculous with what it is telling you. Try another password for your account to see if it works. I tried with several i was having issues with, and they worked after repeatedly getting "service temporarily unavailable" error. Posted by: Jeff at September 17, 2007 11:27 PMTHIS WAS HORRIBLE, IT DIDNT WORK ON MY COMPUTER OR MY FRIENDS, AND THAT PICTURE THAT SAID, "GET A SCREEN NAME" HOW DO YOU GET THERE, THIS WAS CONFUSING, AND A TOTAL WASTE OF MINE AND OTHER PEOPLES TIME. i DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU TRY TO HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME MAKING A SCREEN NAME EITHER DOESNT WORK OR IS DIFFICULT, BUT YOU ARE JUST MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT. PLEASE TRY AND FIND ANOTHER WAY TO HELP PEOPLE OUT WITH THIS, YOU COULD BE A GREAT HELP. Posted by: dANA at September 25, 2007 2:39 PMdo u have to be 13 years or older to do this??? cause i got it right but it said tahnks for trying a username but u are not eligible for it or something like that Posted by: ............ at October 12, 2007 2:30 PMthis isnt workinq i dont no what happen but when i click make a new s/n in my computer it says its loadinq but nothinq comes up and i leave it there like for 15min and nothinq comes up?? i tried to make a screen name but under the log in section but when i click it ,it says OOOPs we cant find the webpage your looking for What should i do Posted by: fadi at November 12, 2007 8:34 PMi already have a aim s/n but i wanted ti get a different one because i like some one and i want it to be about him Posted by: lexi at December 3, 2007 4:25 PMHey~ can you help me with this ? Posted by: ★Dany at January 28, 2008 6:19 PMplease get my new aim page Posted by: cyrus07 at February 3, 2008 1:55 PMI'm trying to create a screen name and the same messages keep popping up saying "Thank you for your interest in obtaining a Screen Name to use this service. At this time, we are currently unable to permit you to register for this service. We regret any inconvenience." Do you have any suggestions? Posted by: kan74730 at March 10, 2008 3:32 PMI'm still confused,i tryed it and i can't seen to make a new SN!! Posted by: Daniela at March 20, 2008 3:57 PMi wanna make a new screen name but keep my old buddy list can you help me plz... Posted by: tiff at March 23, 2008 11:55 PMi wanna make a new screen name but keep my old buddy list can you help me!!! Posted by: Court at March 25, 2008 6:29 PMok so it will not let me create an aim account it keeps saying error , ive tried a million times, help !!!! Posted by: becky at April 13, 2008 11:00 AMthanks alot now and can chat wit ym peoples Posted by: tella at April 21, 2008 9:28 AMI keep on trying to get a new screen name but afterwards it always says sorry the service you are trying to register for is currently unavailable - please try again or it says the service you are trying to request is temporarily unavailable and it will then take me to aol.com but I don't want to go there. And then when I try to get back on that site that last message will atomatically pop up. Pleas tell me how to get a screename without this trouble. Posted by: Justin at April 25, 2008 8:01 PMhey I have the exact smae problem as rae and it is frustrating whenever I try it it either says the servic u r trying to reach is unavailable please try ur request again OR It thanked me for my interest in obtaining a screen name, but could not process my request or something. Help!!!!!!!!! Posted by: Sapphire at April 29, 2008 7:37 PMI have a lot to say, but ...
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!
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