Hosts file causing more problems than it solves

[videobruce]

tried this once before and stopped using it, partly because of issues with many web sites.
Well, I'm tring it again and it gets rid of many ads on web pages, BUT;

1. It restricts some sites entirely (can't log into Excite Mail),
2. It blocks images that aren't ads (Toms' Hardware reviews, the proformance graphs)
3.It causes some pages to hang while waiting for ads to load.

Other than getting rid of it all together or trying to aquire a list of addresses to delete from the 45,000+ entry 'hosts' file, can anything else be done?

Win 2k running Opera V8.53
BTW, I checked Excite Mail on Mozilla and I can't sign in there either.

[doctorgonzo]

Where did you get the HOSTS file from? Is it something you put together yourself? Did you download it? Did some utility make it?

It won't matter what browser you use, the HOSTS file is used by Windows to resolve IP addresses.

[EzyStvy]

I gave up on host files. Tried a popular one this past weekend.

Biggest issue for me was having the click the back button 2 to 3 times to go back once. Couldn't do online banking either at Compass.

[videobruce]

http://www.bluetack.co.uk/modules.ph...howpage&pid=10

From here;
http://www.hosts-file.net/downloads.html

Someone else suggested to use this as that was too aggressive;
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

[doctorgonzo]

I set up my own HOSTS file, it's a lot simpler. If I notice that there are a lot of ads on a page that I visit frequently, I see where the ads are coming from, then add it to the HOSTS file. That way, the file only affects those pages I view often. My HOSTS file contains just the following lines:

127.0.0.1 ehg-knightridder.hitbox.com
127.0.0.1 media.fastclick.net
127.0.0.1 servedby.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 a.tribalfusion.com
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net

But it gets the job done for the most part and it hasn't screwed up any pages at all.

[mikeL]

I use the host file from mvps.org, and haven't ran into any problems, I even have a excite email account also no problems logging in. Been using the file for quite awhile.

Mike

[rspassey]

User of the MVPS Hosts File also... no problems for me, but then again, I only browse a total of maybe 10 sites lol. Besides, I had most ads blocked with AdBlock in FF first. Which is a possiblity for you - Try out FireFox, and the AdBlock Extension - you can use Wild Cards to block all ads with the same URL... like 'ads.thisisanad*'.