Rp Tutorials

Sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place but at this point I am desperate. I got a windows 8.1 laptop today (early bday gift!) and I can't use AIM on it! If I try the newest version of it all I get is a blue box when I click on the desktop icon. If I use an older version I get told 'connection lost'. So does anyone else out there know anything I can do? AIM is a HUGE part of my rp life.