HOSTS file to block adservers

[Ummagumma]

OS: XP Home SP2

BACKGROUND:
I'm using the HOSTS file from
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/ to block adservers. It
works to an extent, that is it does blok some ads (&
other things), BUT, while the ad itself does not appear,
in its place appears the page "The page cannot be
displayed" with more scrollable text. This is not quite
as distracting as a banner ad, but I suspect that this is
not the most efficient way to do things.

QUESTION: Is there any way to make IE simply display
whitespace, rather than the page "The page cannot be
displayed"?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

OS: XP Home SP2

BACKGROUND:
I'm using the HOSTS file from
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/ to block adservers. It
works to an extent, that is it does blok some ads (&
other things), BUT, while the ad itself does not appear,
in its place appears the page "The page cannot be
displayed" with more scrollable text. This is not quite
as distracting as a banner ad, but I suspect that this is
not the most efficient way to do things.

QUESTION: Is there any way to make IE simply display
whitespace, rather than the page "The page cannot be
displayed"?

No, not that I know of. You get used to it, tho - I've been using modified
hosts files for years for just this purpose. There may be other solutions
out there (some free, some not) but I'm personally happy with the KISS
principle...and I'm frugal.