My browser(s) won't display certain ad images and/or sites

[Remy77]

This may seem like a blessing in disguise, but all of my browsers are selectively refusing connections to images hosted on certain adservers (displaying the "broken image" or "X" with Alt Tags instead). Where this becomes problematic is when I attempt to click on sponsored search listings, and even some links to services I use, and I can't get there -- the browser refuses to connect, leaving me with the message "This page cannot be displayed".

I'm running XP Pro (office machine), and I usually use IE 6.0 (all updates installed). I've tried modifying my security settings, logging in as a different user (no one else in my office has this issue), using other browsers, running anti-virus checks, and restoring my machine to previous restore points, but to no avail... I always have the same issue.

Our IT dept and systems admins have no idea how to fix this problem (other than clearing the hard drive, and reinstalling XP), and I'm pulling my hair out over this.

Any ideas???

Thanks in advance,
Remy77

 

[jmatt]

I'm wondering if the host file has been altered , which is OK for most people .

Do a search & rename to host.txt , you may have to do it on 2 files .

Right clicking on the file & clicking on properties , shows the difference or opening up with notepad gives all the details .

# in front of a line , means it is disabled .

Another choice , is to try a simple browser ( it is OK to have more than 1 installed ) that dos'nt use the IE engine & see if that gets the sites .

Mozilla Firebird , formally Phoenix .

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/phoenix/phoenix-release-notes.html

http://downloads.mozdev.org/blackdiamond/Phoenix-0.5-setup.exe

 

[smah]

Are you running any ad-stopper software? Spybot will do this if you're using it's immunize function.

 

[Remy77]

Good call jmatt! I made a backup of the HOSTS file, and then created a blank new one. That did the trick. Something must have over-written my original HOSTS file, not quite sure what it was, but at least now I know how to fix the problem.

Thanks to smah for the additional input, the only spyware-stopper I've ever used was AdAware by LavaSoft. I did a scan and clean a while back, but the problems didn't start until later, so I don't think that was the culprit.

In any case, problem solved. Thanks again.

Cheers // Remy77

 

[jmatt]

Good news Remy77 , thanks for letting us know .