To edit the programs that run on startup of a Windows 9X / XP installation (this doesn't work on Windows 2000), go to Start -> Run and run msconfig. Click on the Startup tab and check or uncheck items to add or remove them from your startup sequence.

If AOL still remains on your computer after removing each of its entries from Add or Remove Programs in XP's Control Panel, then follow these steps to remove in manually:

1. Reboot your computer into Safe Mode by repeatedly pressing F8 before the Windows splash screen and log-in
2. Open My Computer and double-click your home drive, which most likely C:
3. From Explorer, select Tools, then Folder Options, then View, and check the bubble for "Show Hidden Files and Folders"
4. Open the Program Files directory and delete any folders named AOL
5. From there, open the Common Files directory and delete any folders named AOL
6. Navigate back to the root of your home drive and open the Documents and Settings directory
7. In each user's folder, including the one for All Users, open the hidden Application Data directory and delete any files named AOL
8. In each user's folder, including the one for All Users, open the hidden Local Settings folder and delete any files named AOL from the Application Data directory stored there
9. Open the Registry Editor by clicking Start, Run, typing "regedit" without the quotes, and clicking OK
10. Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive, then the sub folder for Software, and delete any keys named AOL
11. Open the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive, then the sub folder for Software, and delete any keys named AOL
12. Reboot your machine and cross your fingers