How to force Windows XP to use HOSTS file for DNS lookup

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nima.tavassoli

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#11548 30-Jan-2007 11:10

I'm trying to block advertising sites in my hosts file;

127.0.0.1 www.yahoo.com #for testing
127.0.0.1 ads.doubleclick.net
...

I'm running Windows XP SP 2 and have disabled DNS Client service to force windows to use my hosts file. However it is not doing that! I can still browse to yahoo.com and get all the ads.

This is my work computer and I'm behind a proxy. I suspect it has something to do with my proxy.

How can I force windows to look at HOSTS file before anything else? Or is there any other way to block these sites?

Any help would be appreciated...

muppet

2570 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#59225 30-Jan-2007 11:13

You're right about the proxy server, it's the one doing all the DNS lookups. Not sure how you can change that.

I take it you're not able to install FireFox or Opera (I'm trying to be browser agnostic here, I don't want to start a flamewar about broswers) and then install some adblocking software?

I find that adblockplus is a great (Free) extension for firefox.

You could also install your own proxy on your machine that does filtering and then forwards all requests onto your "proper" proxy server.

I guess on a work PC though you're probably not allowed to install anything, but you can run firefox as a portable app off a USB drive, www.portableapps.org - The portable versions support using adblock without a problem (this is what I do sometimes)

nima.tavassoli

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#60007 7-Feb-2007 14:38

Thanks! As you suggested I started using AdBlock Plus extension for FireFox and it is fantastic!