- 1). Choose and purchase an AOL dial-up access plan. AOL's dial-up plans range in price from $9.99 to $25.90, as of March 2010. The more expensive plans include extra features like security software and hardware insurance for your laptop.
- 2). Install either the AOL Desktop software or AOL's client software. The latest version of its client software was 9.5, as of March 2010. The software can be installed using the free AOL discs available at many retail stores or directly mailed to your home, or by downloading the free software from AOL's website.
- 3). Connect your laptop to your 56K dial-up modem using a standard phone cord with one end plugged into the modem and the other into your laptop's phone port.
- 4). Launch the AOL software. You'll be greeted with a sign-in page. Enter the username and password you setup when you purchased the dial-up service in Step 1, and press "Sign In."
- 5). Wait for the laptop to connect to AOL's Internet service. The AOL Desktop or AOL client software will dial an access number through your 56K modem. This process may take several minutes, after which you'll be shown a welcome screen and can begin surfing the web.
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