IChat communication issues (i Think...)

Question

Hello iChat forum,
So, I've been having a lot of trouble with my ichat recently.  Not sure if there's been a recent update or something, but in general things seem to be completely haywire. 
I used iChat to connect to my already existing AIM and GTalk accounts.  Some days it works, and other days it doesnt.  Today nothing is working at all.  
There are no password issues.  I have been able to log in in the past with no problem.  In fact I was online on both accounts yesterday.  Today the application will not even respond to my request to sign on. 
I went ahead and deleted all the accounts in my iChat preferences, and re-added them with the + symbol, to see if that would trigger anything.  Unfortunately not.  I'm going to re-boot now and see if that will do anything, but I'm guessing probably not. 
Does anyone have any ideas why this might be happening?  My accounts are all there, but when I ask iChat to "Log in to Gmail" or "Log in to AIM," the little grey window with my username, photo, and status simply sits there and does nothing.  I have also tried changing my status on this little grey window to "Available" with the green circle beside it, but no luck there either.  I would really like to be able to log on to gchat and AIM on a regular, reliable basis, as I speak to my developer, friends, and other business associates via these programs.  I don't like to leave the browser windows open all the time, which is currently how I'm accessing GTalk. 
Maybe, if iChat is just not doing well, there is another application someone could recommend as a GTalk + AIM client all in one.  I really like that I only have to have one window open and all of my contacts are there for me to chat with in one window. 
Thanks for any help or advice!
-- Erin

Answer 1

Hi,
Open Applications/Utilities and open Keychain Access.
Make sure the Login account is selected at the top left panel.
Select the Password section in the lower left panel.
Check these for your AIM Name.
If you have changed you password they may be two entries.
(As you Deleted and Recreated the iChat Accounts consider typos).
Double click the line to bring up the info panel.
Click the Show Password box (this brings up a dialogue Box for your Account Password and to use the Allow Once Button).
Does the Password show what you expect ?
Old Names/passwords are not deleted or changed but new ones are created which may mean there are several entries for the same "Name" (AIM ID)
You can delete one of multiple entries.
You can also change the password shown and save the result.
It sounds if iChat is either not allowed through the Mac Firewall or possibly not through the routing device.
Also do you have a DNS server listed in System Preferences > Network > Advanced Button > DNS tab ? (A local IP like 192.168.0.1 that points to your router does not count).
As you say you are logged in via the Google Web Pages to access the chat option there, then we can presume the Password works for Google.
Have you logged in to AIM Express to find out if the (AIM) password works for AIM ?
8:55 PM      Tuesday; December 6, 2011
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