Blocking ads with hostfile

[news.microsoft.com]

Since IE7 has a pop-up blocker but nothing for all those annoying ads, I
downloaded a host file and put it in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\ and I
still see the ads. There already was a "host" file so windows named it host
(2) and it will not work. Can someone shed light on this so I can block all
the ads on webpage's? Thanks.


http://hostsfile.mine.nu/

 

[Kayman]

Since IE7 has a pop-up blocker but nothing for all those annoying ads, I
downloaded a host file and put it in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\ and I
still see the ads. There already was a "host" file so windows named it host
(2) and it will not work. Can someone shed light on this so I can block all
the ads on webpage's? Thanks.

"IE7Pro is a must have add-on for Internet Explorer, which includes a lot
of features and tweaks to make your IE friendlier, more useful, secure and
customizable. IE7Pro includes Tabbed Browsing Management, Spell Check,
Inline Search, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse
Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher, Webpage
Capturer, *AD Blocker*, Flash Block, Greasemonkey like User Scripts
platform, User Plug-ins, MiniDM, Google sponsored search,IE Faster and many
more power packed features. You can customize not just Internet Explorer,
but even your favorite website according to your need and taste using
IE7Pro."
http://www.ie7pro.com/

 

[Spirit]

Close ALL programs.

Right Click and RENAME HOSTS to HOSTS.old

then RENAME new file to HOSTS no extension.

A very good Hosts file and instructions :

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

To rename or overwrite the hosts file you will need to run explorer or the
command line with elevation as that is a protected system folder.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[news.microsoft.com]

"IE7Pro is a must have add-on for Internet Explorer, which includes a lot
of features and tweaks to make your IE friendlier, more useful, secure and
customizable. IE7Pro includes Tabbed Browsing Management, Spell Check,
Inline Search, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse
Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher,
Webpage
Capturer, *AD Blocker*, Flash Block, Greasemonkey like User Scripts
platform, User Plug-ins, MiniDM, Google sponsored search,IE Faster and
many
more power packed features. You can customize not just Internet Explorer,
but even your favorite website according to your need and taste using
IE7Pro."
http://www.ie7pro.com/

Thanks but I don't need or even know what most of those features are. All I
want is an "ad-blocker."

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Close ALL programs.

Right Click and RENAME HOSTS to HOSTS.old

then RENAME new file to HOSTS no extension.


OK, I did that. It was very easy.... but the ads still show on webpages. I
don't see where it made any difference.


A very good Hosts file and instructions :

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Hi,

To rename or overwrite the hosts file you will need to run explorer or the
command line with elevation as that is a protected system folder.

Not on my PC. I unchecked the UA thing the other day so there was no
problem. But the ads still show on webpages. Google ads are among the
worst. Some webpages have quite a few and it's extremely irritating.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Thanks but I don't need or even know what most of those features are. All I
want is an "ad-blocker."

Google "ad-blocker". Your hosts file can be used to block an entire
site, not the ads.

 

[fatsteve]

Since IE7 has a pop-up blocker but nothing for all those annoying ads, I
downloaded a host file and put it in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\
and I still see the ads. There already was a "host" file so windows
named it host (2) and it will not work. Can someone shed light on this
so I can block all the ads on webpage's? Thanks.


http://hostsfile.mine.nu/

Use AdBlock Plus http://adblockplus.org/ if you don't mind switching to
firefox. It's great!

Otherwise try IE7Pro addon for IE http://www.ie7pro.com/ it says it
blocks ad's but I didnt use it for very long to verify how well it works.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Google "ad-blocker". Your hosts file can be used to block an entire
site, not the ads.

That's not entirely true, Paul. Many web page embedded ads are, in
themselves, small web pages delivered from separate servers, which can
be blocked from view with the Hosts file.

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

You are confusing permissions with UAC, they are not the same thing. UAC
prevents programs from altering protected system folders. It is permissions
that is blocking you from replacing a designated system file.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[news.microsoft.com]

That's not entirely true, Paul. Many web page embedded ads are, in
themselves, small web pages delivered from separate servers, which can be
blocked from view with the Hosts file.

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

It doesn't work. I downloaded the "hosts file" from there, tried to open it
in the "etc. folder" and it opened into a mvps.bat file at 1 kb. How do I
turn it into the Hosts file it's supposed to be??? Where is the HOSTS file?
They wont extract. It says the directory doesn't exist. How can it not exist
when it's where the website says it should be?

 

[Paul MontGumDropped]

It doesn't work. I downloaded the "hosts file" from there, tried to open
it in the "etc. folder" and it opened into a mvps.bat file at 1 kb. How
do I turn it into the Hosts file it's supposed to be??? Where is the
HOSTS file? They wont extract. It says the directory doesn't exist. How
can it not exist when it's where the website says it should be?

<Smile>, Vista is not XP and you're right up in the heart of the O/S at
C:\Windows\System32. Vista is not going to let you get away with it.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa382530(VS.85).aspx

You know, this stuff is in place to stop people like you.

I am not trying to get out of line here either, but you don't know what
you're doing.

I think some other posters have given you some alternative solutions.

Maybe, you need to look at them?

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Close ALL programs.

Right Click and RENAME HOSTS to HOSTS.old

= THAT option is not available on Right-Click.

then RENAME new file to HOSTS no extension.

= HOW since that opton is not there?

A very good Hosts file and instructions :

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Since IE7 has a pop-up blocker but nothing for all those annoying ads, I
downloaded a host file and put it in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\ and
I
still see the ads. There already was a "host" file so windows named it
host
(2) and it will not work. Can someone shed light on this so I can block
all
the ads on webpage's? Thanks.

See above. I'm not given a choice on RIGHT-click to change the name of the
Host file.

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Hi,

To rename or overwrite the hosts file you will need to run explorer or the
command line with elevation as that is a protected system folder.

I unchecked the UA thing so have no problem making changes but tonight there
is no choice to change the file names on RIGHT click. It's not on the
right-click menu.

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Hi,

You are confusing permissions with UAC, they are not the same thing. UAC
prevents programs from altering protected system folders. It is
permissions that is blocking you from replacing a designated system file.

Ho do I get permission to do as I please with my computer?

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Use AdBlock Plus http://adblockplus.org/ if you don't mind switching to
firefox. It's great!

Otherwise try IE7Pro addon for IE http://www.ie7pro.com/ it says it blocks
ad's but I didnt use it for very long to verify how well it works.

I already tried that on our laptop and it doesn't block any ads that I could
see.

 

[news.microsoft.com]

<Smile>, Vista is not XP and you're right up in the heart of the O/S at
C:\Windows\System32. Vista is not going to let you get away with it.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa382530(VS.85).aspx

You know, this stuff is in place to stop people like you.

I am not trying to get out of line here either, but you don't know what
you're doing.

I think some other posters have given you some alternative solutions.

Maybe, you need to look at them?

Them? The only other alternative I've seen here is to use IE7Pro. I already
tried that and it doesn't block ads. Or it blocks so few you can't tell the
difference.

I did get the hosts file changed to hosts.old and the new one installed in
etc. But I first had to CLOSE WindowsExplorer and reopen it.

Why doesn't IE7 come with an Ad-blocker? Or why aren't we given a choice as
with MozillaFF which has an ad-blocker ad-on?

 

[Paul MontGumDropped]

Them? The only other alternative I've seen here is to use IE7Pro. I
already tried that and it doesn't block ads. Or it blocks so few you
can't tell the difference.

I did get the hosts file changed to hosts.old and the new one installed
in etc. But I first had to CLOSE WindowsExplorer and reopen it.

I have no idea as to why you had to do that.

Why doesn't IE7 come with an Ad-blocker? Or why aren't we given a choice
as with MozillaFF which has an ad-blocker ad-on?

Do you want the bottom line here? Your pre-installed installation of
Vista is messed-up and seems to be not installed properly, which can happen.

I suggest you run/do what is in the link and check the system out to see
if it might be corrupted.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Why doesn't IE7 come with an Ad-blocker? Or why aren't we given a choice as
with MozillaFF which has an ad-blocker ad-on?

So that idiots like you can make a fool or yourselves and entertain
the crap outta everyone else with your whining and ranting.