Updating your HOSTS file.

[anon]

@Aurion: I didn't have to go to such extents ... just run a numpad-bot, minimize the game, lower its priority and you're done. The game client was also based on an older but more stable version, so there were no disconnects.

@divlord: make sure you have extracted the archive's HOSTS file to the C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc folder, and rebooted after that.

To check if it's working, try to visit www.ad-up.com. If it works, the page won't load. If it doesn't, you'll see Ad-Up Corporation's home page.

@SealLion: I think you're talking about Opera's "block contents" feature

[divlord]

I had done that.
clicking
http://www.ad-up.com/
gives me the following page, is it its homepage??
http://i34.tinypic.com/xo4l5g.jpg

[anon]

Yes, it's their homepage, so it means you haven't installed the hosts file correctly. Follow this procedure:

Manual Instructions



Unzip (Extract) the download ...
Highlight, right-click on the included HOSTS file and select: Copy

Open Windows Explorer to the appropriate folder (see below)

The key being the "Etc" folder for 2K/XP/Vista, and "Windows" folder for 98/ME

Note: this assumes Windows is installed in the default location.

Windows Vista = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Win 98\ME = C:\WINDOWS

Right-click and select: Paste

In the event you already have an existing HOSTS file you will be prompted
with the image below.



Windows Explorer will prompt you to replace the existing file.

If you are not sure, select: No and rename the existing file to hosts.old

You can open your existing HOSTS file in Notepad via the right-click options. If the existing file looks like this [screenshot] that's the version original shipped with Windows. Then repeat the above steps.

Editors Note: in some cases you may have a security application "monitoring" the HOSTS file for changes, or that has the HOSTS file "locked" (set to "Read Only") If this occurs allow the changes or you may need to "unlock" the HOSTS file before you can replace it.

To check - right-click the HOSTS file and select: Properties
It should be set to Archive (unlocked) [screenshot]
Note: if needed you can reset the above option to "Hidden"

If you are using a HOSTS file now, check to see if there are any needed entries before you replace it with the new download. Several users have reported overwriting their entries for other programs. [more info]

Editors Note: Once you have completed the above you can delete the hosts.zip and the hosts folder from your Desktop. The HOSTS file is usually updated 2-3 times a month so you can return here if you are still unsure on "How To".

[divlord]

Yeah thats what I did.
The hosts file i used is this with 604 KB size

[anon]

What OS and security/antispyware software are you using? (SpyBot, etc.)

If you go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc, open the HOSTS file, and it's filled with contents, it has to work...

# This MVPS HOSTS file is a free download from:            #
# http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/                         #
#                                                          #
# Notes: the browser does not read this "#" symbol         #
# You can create your own notes, after the # symbol        #
# This *must* be the first line: 127.0.0.1     localhost   #
# *********************************************************#
# ------------ Updated: September-23-2008 -----------------#
# *********************************************************#
#                                                          #
# Entries with comments are all searchable via Google.     #
#                                                          #
# Disclaimer: this file is free to use for personal use    #
# only. Furthermore it is NOT permitted to copy any of the #
# contents or host on any other site without permission or #
# meeting the full criteria of the below license terms.    #
#                                                          #
# This work is licensed under the Creative Commons         #
# Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.            #
# http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/        #

127.0.0.1  localhost

#start of lines added by WinHelp2002
# [Misc A - Z]
127.0.0.1  ad.a8.net
127.0.0.1  asy.a8ww.net
127.0.0.1  a9rhiwa.cn #[Google.Warning]
127.0.0.1  www.a9rhiwa.cn
127.0.0.1  acezip.net #[SiteAdvisor.acezip.net]
127.0.0.1  www.acezip.net #[Win32/Adware.180Solutions]
127.0.0.1  phpadsnew.abac.com
127.0.0.1  a.abnad.net
127.0.0.1  b.abnad.net
127.0.0.1  c.abnad.net #[eTrust.Tracking.Cookie]
127.0.0.1  d.abnad.net
127.0.0.1  e.abnad.net
127.0.0.1  t.abnad.net
127.0.0.1  z.abnad.net
127.0.0.1  banners.absolpublisher.com
...

[divlord]

I am using XP /avg 7.5 and firewall of router.

what other files other than HOSTS are there in "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc" folder??

I have
HOSTS
HOSTS.MVP
lmhosts.sam
networks
protocol
services

[Aurion]

@divlord: Yeah,that's good,you have all contents you should have in that folder...

@anon: damn,I guess you have something weird in there anon,check your services or instaleld appz for any unknown 3rd party processes since it shouldn't be that tall...other than those lines for both your AV & AS.

[divlord]

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsproperties.gif

According to above, it should be set to archive, but when I right click it , there are only two options "read only" and "hidden" both of them are unmarked. There is no option of archive.
I am using XP.

[anon]

what other files other than HOSTS are there in "C:WINDOWSsystem32driversetc" folder??

I have
HOSTS
HOSTS.MVP
lmhosts.sam
networks
protocol
services

Yes, it's OK that way. HOSTS.MVP is the backup copy the automated installer makes, and the other files are from Windows.

@anon: damn,I guess you have something weird in there anon,check your services or instaleld appz for any unknown 3rd party processes since it shouldn't be that tall...other than those lines for both your AV & AS.

Those are the contents of the ad-blocking HOSTS file, not mine...

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsproperties.gif

According to above, it should be set to archive, but when I right click it , there are only two options "read only" and "hidden" both of them are unmarked. There is no option of archive.
I am using XP.

Same here. But if you click the "advanced options" next to the "hidden" checkbox, a new dialog appears. Its first checkbox is labeled something along the lines of "file ready to archive" (my XP isn't in english so I couldn't say the exact name). Checking it has the same effects as the archive checkbox.

Other sites you could try to check if it works are:

• www.adagencypro.com
• www.adgroups.com
• www.gamersbanner.com
• www.adsvert.com

[Aurion]

Those are the contents of the ad-blocking HOSTS file, not mine...

what ad-blocking contents ? a healthy HOSTS file should be having this line ONLY :

127.0.0.1  localhost

nothing else... here I have it clean without any extra lines tho...

[anon]

what ad-blocking contents ? a healthy HOSTS file should be having this line ONLY :

127.0.0.1  localhost

People often use the hosts file to redirect advertising and malware servers to the IP 127.0.0.1, effectively not contacting them. This is what divlord intends to do...

[Aurion]

Yeah,I guess I've seen that within your posts,you & divlord....Anyway,it sound a good technique if you know that your surf lots of Ads/Malwares...

[anon]

Actually I'm surprised you didn't know this, since your ad-blocking tutorial relied on the hosts file blocking advertising servers.

[Aurion]

Actually I'm surprised you didn't know this, since your ad-blocking tutorial relied on the hosts file blocking advertising servers.

Actually I partially did know about it...still I couldn't figure if it would be safe enough to intentionally inject those fake links inside my HOSTS file....just too cautious that's it...

[anon]

I understand.

It's 100% safe. Since requests that would normally go to those hosts are redirected to 127.0.0.1 (your PC), and as you normally don't have an ad-server running in your computer, nothing else happens.

If you do have an HTTP server or something else listening in port 80 in your computer, change the 127.0.0.1 in the entries by 0.0.0.0, which is a completely invalid IP Windows will give up trying to contact before it even starts. For example:

0.0.0.0 someads.server.com
0.0.0.0 adverts.example.com
0.0.0.0 banners.media.com

Etc...