I'm guessing I'm not the only one who dislikes them so I figured I'd write up a way to remove them.
Disclaimer: I'm not responsible if this breaks your AIM.
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Step 1: install AIM (try not to install the WildTanget or WeatherBug junkware)
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Step 2: get ResHacker
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Step 3: locate your AimRes.dll (C:\Program Files\AIM\AimRes.dll), make a backup of it, and open it with ResHacker
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Step 4: Now the fun part. I'm using AIM 5.5.3595, so if you have a different version you might have to do things differently...
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In reshacker locate 23 > 323 > 1033 (or whatever language code you're in):
in the <!-- IDC_AIM_LOGO --> section (line:106)
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change <moveCenter name='horizontal' value='0.5' />
to <moveCenter name='horizontal' value='0' />
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change <moveEdge name='top' constraint='pin' value='5' />
to <moveEdge name='top' constraint='pin' value='0' />
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change <moveEdge name='bottom' constraint='float' value='16' />
to <moveEdge name='bottom' constraint='float' value='0' />
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change <setSize name='horizontal' value='142' />
to <setSize name='horizontal' value='0' />
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in these sections: <!-- IDC_AD_ATE --> (line:117), <!-- IDC_AD_ATE Second Window --> (line:128) and <!-- IDC_VIEW_TREE a place holder--> (line:190) (this last one might already be changed)
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change <moveEdge name='top' constraint='pin' value='5' />
to <moveEdge name='top' constraint='pin' value='0' />
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change <moveEdge name='bottom' constraint='float' value='90' />
to <moveEdge name='bottom' constraint='float' value='0' />
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change <setSize name='horizontal' value='120' />
to <setSize name='horizontal' value='0' />
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Step 5: The previous step removed the ads, this step will remove their containers...
In reshacker locate Dialog > 323 > 1033 (or whatever language code you're in): This is the main buddy list window dialog, in reshacker you can customize the controls however you want. Simply Delete the Controls you don't want, then Compile Script, Save, Exit when you're finished (I always back up AimRes.dll every time I do this, just in case).
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Step 6: Ditch that crappy Today Window. Run regedit, do a Find for ShowAimTodayWindow (it'll be in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\America Online\AOL Instant Messenger (TM)\CurrentVersion\Users\screenname\Misc\). Change the value of ShowAimTodayWindow from 1 to 0.
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Step 7 (not necessary in latest version): In your AIM folder (C:\Program Files\AIM) rename advert.ocm to advert.bak (if it exists), copy admin.ocm and rename to advert.ocm
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Final step: Launch AIM and see if it worked, if not, restore the backup of your AimRes.dll (or advert.ocm) and try again if you want.