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.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Use Ctrl+F and do a search for registration.excite.com and e18.email.excite.com. Remove them if necessary. I use Excite mail too.

 

[videobruce]

Someone else suggested using another less aggressive hosts file;
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

 

[Cheetah8799]

Sounds to me like your hosts file simply blocks more than it should. You need to take out some entries to get the sites you visit to work.

Personally, I don't bother with the hosts file anymore for blocking ads. I use Mozilla Firefox with the Adblock and Filterset.G extensions. That takes care of a LOT of the ads on most sites I visit.

 

[videobruce]

I have Mozilla installed, but rarely use it. Other than the built in e-mail client and a slightly larger install, what are the differences between FireFox and Mozilla?
I really perfer Opera as I have used it for around 5 years.

 

[kamper]

Maybe you shouldn't be modifying system files that you don't understand?

I've always prefered building my own block lists by hand, rather than using some overgrown list compiled by someone else. I use firefox and adblock but many opera/windows users seem to like proxomitron.

 

[videobruce]

Maybe you shouldn't be modifying system files that you don't understand?

I don't and never said it did. I replace the orginal file with the provided file.

 

[duragezic]

The linked one from mvps.org has always worked well for me. It blocks possible spyware/malware as well as ads. I'm not running it right now though but I have on my last machine and on my parents computer. I'm not sure how necessary it is with FF and Adblock+Filterset.g, so I haven't tried it out recently, plus with the mention of slowing down XP systems I decided to hold off.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: videobruce

Maybe you shouldn't be modifying system files that you don't understand?

I don't and never said it did. I replace the orginal file with the provided file.

I'd call replacing it completely 'modifying' it.

 

[videobruce]

What's to understand. You either rename to orginal file (which I did) or delete it altogether and add the new file.
Not exactly rocket science. Whats' not to understand?

 

[kamper]

What's your point? Whether you edit it by hand or replace it completely with something else, you're still changing it as far as the system is concerned. And you're using it for a purpose for which it is not designed. Putting 45000 entries blindy into the hosts file is silly way to block ads.