Problem with ichat 3.1.9 and os 10.4.11 and aim logon for a/v chats

Question

Hello all. Please help. I have been trying to help a family member with their mac laptop, os tiger 10.4.11 and ichat 3.0. When trying to logon to start an a/v chat with anyone the program keeps defaulting to AIM. We have repeatedly deleted the "com.apple.ichat.aim.plist" file from the computer. This was done in the home/user/preferences/library folder and then in the documents folder. We have deleted all AIM accounts from the computer in iChat and all AIM associations in the keychain access. We have unchecked all boxes for the bonjour account in preferences in ichat and checked only "use this account" for the ".mac" account. We have tried changing the port to 443 from 5190 with no results. Short of reinstalling the ichat program from the installation cd, I am at a loss for what to do next. All replies helpful. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,
Welcome to the    Discussions
Can I check a couple of things ?
You are on 10.4.11 ?
And the iChat version reads iChat 3.0 ?
This would suggest iChat has been Reinstalled and the 10.4.11 COMBO Updater for your Processor type has not bee installed (Again)
Software Update will think this update is done and not ask for it again. However the reinstall of apps will override this and need the COMBO Installer to be downloaded and run.
With the OS at this time there were separate Intel and PCC Downloads.
See this List
Next.
iChat 3 can login to AIM with AIM Names, Apple IDs (@mac.com and MobileMe @Me.com names) and to various Jabber servers also in an email type name style (as in [email protected]) and can be made to login to GoogleTalk.
Previously in iChat 1 & 2, iChat Only logged in to AIM.
In the Start Up Screens which you can return to be deleting the com.apple.ichat.plist and the com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist at the same time it will offer AIM as the first choice (With @mac.com as the alternative option).
MobileME names have to be entered as if they are AIM names and entered in full as in [email protected].
iChat is therefore a Multi-service client. An AIM Login with an AIM name or an Apple ID is the first choice in entering a Screen Name in the Start Up Screen.
From there it will appear first in the list in iChat > Preferences > Accounts (And the Window Menu). In the server Settings tab it will list the AIM server as the login server (login.oscar.aol.com) whether you use an Apple ID or an AIM one.
Apple have an agreement that lets AIM (Or it's servers) query the MobileMe and @mac.com name databases to check a name is valid.
There is one drawback with this method. AIM only allow passwords up to an including 16 characters where as Apple allows longer.
They need to be shortened to 16 characters or less if they are longer at Apple.
There is NO Apple or Mac IM service.
Reinstalling iChat will not change this behaviour.
There is no option in the General Section of the Preference to Set iChat as the default app See Here in iChat 3
This has a direct effect on using Web Page Links to start Group Chat/Chatrooms.
This is changed in Firefox 3.x in the MIME settings or this Method in Internet Explorer.
Shiira and Safari cannot change this but changing in the others seems to help them as well.
Summary.
It looks like you need a COMBO Install to bring iChat up to date with the OS based on the info posted. Links provided.
iChat is first and foremost an AIM client and Apple IDs log in to the AIM Servers.
iChat cannot be set to be the default App in iChat 3 (It can in iChat 4 and 5).
However you can use a Web Browser to change this behaviour for Web Links to Chatrooms/Group chats.
I think I have covered almost everything I can think of raised by your post but I am still unsure which of these you were really asking about.
If I have missed the point could you re-post with some different info or describe what it is you are trying to do ?
10:36 PM Saturday; June 5, 2010
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"