@K3dav

Just checked my email and your concerns were well funded K3dav, some ads go through, but at least are decent ads (at&t and progressive). We will have to find a way to get the updated list or just use Firefox as langware suggests.

@langware

Too bad about IEPro.

I tried Firefox while searching for a solution to the disgusting ads problem.  I got to customize Firefox to look and feel almost exactly as IE8, I am too damn used to it, but I could not find a way to open Live Mail in Firefox from the Start Menu, it opens in IE8 which defeats the whole purpose.  I know, I could open it from Firefox, put Live Mail in the favorites bar or something like that, but I am also too damn used to opening my mail directly from the Start Menu or from RocketDock with just one click.

You seem like you know a lot about all these things, do you know of any solution to that problem?  I have tried several things, but could not find a way to make it work.

@K3DAV and Charles Blackberry,

Have either of you tried using a Hosts file replacement? In canse you are not familiar with the Hosts file, it is a Windows file that can be used to map URLs to specific IP addresses. There is a free Hosts file available that functions like an ad-blocking list. It essentially maps many of the knows web sites where ads are located to an address that defaults to your PC (127.0.0.1). This, when a web site attempts to down load the html for an add (from a known URL that serves ad source), the Hosts file maps that site to 127.0.0.1, and 127.0.0.1 is your local PC .... so the browser then attempts to get the ad from your PC. Obviously, the browser gets no response from your PC .... so no ad is received, and a blank space is shown instead. Sound familiar.

You may want to try installing a Hosts file replacement. It can be installed in addition to your browser's ad-blocking feature and provides an extra layer of protection against any ads that might sneak through your browser's ad-blocking list. Search for:    hosts mvps winhelp2002

The URL for the Hosts file replacement I use is:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

I have used their Hosts file replacement for a long time with no problems. You will need to be comfortable replacing your current (default) hosts file with the new one (the site has all the necessary details).

Charles: to address your question about one-button launching of Firefox and Hotmail ... why not just create a shortcut to firefox on your desktop, and put the URL for Hotmall as a parameter on the command line? I've done that, and when I click the shortcut, Firefox launches and opens the Hotmail Sign-on Page. You could also put the same shortcut on your Start Menu bar. I don't use Windows XP's Quick Launch bar, but I assume that you could also put a similar shortcut there. The key in all of these suggestions is that you can put a URL on the shortcut's command line along with the path to your firefox EXE. The command line is the textbox in a shortcut that has the label "Target". Just right click a shortcut, click properties, and look at the input box next to the label that says "Target". That's the command line that is invoked when you click the shortcut.

Oh, I just realized why the default browser shortcut in your Start Menu is IE8. It's most likely because IE8 has been set as your default browser. If you make Firefox your default broswer, then I suspect that the browser shortcut in your Start Menu will change to Firefox. Then, you can add the URL for Hotmail to that shortcut's command line, and every time you click that shortcut, it will take you to the Hotmail sign-on page.

If you have questions about the above, or need help in making Firefox your default berowser, let me know and I'll try to help.

Yeeha!  NO MORE DISGUSTING ADS, thank you, Langware!

I followed your suggestion to go to:  http://windowslivehelp.com/community/t/44808.aspx

and did the simple steps.  I downloaded Firefox, then I downloaded the add-on that gets rid of Hotmail ads, and you know what?  IT WORKED!  Not only are the ads gone, but my e-mail subject lines are long, I can read the whole thing!  There's not even a white box where the ad used to be.  I didn't think it was going to be THAT good. 

I'm not computer-savvy at all, but I was able to do this.  Thanks!

With Firefox, I don't get the opening page like MSN opened with, but I'm hoping to figure out how to open with something besides a google toolbar.  The add-on page has a lot of cool-sounding things, and I can't wait to rifle through there and see what I like.

Any idea how to get a start page that is interesting to look at?  In easy, easy directions, please!!!

Deb

@deborahb

Congratulations on removing all ads from Hotmail !!!!

I am not sure what you mean by a "start page" .... can you provide more details?

Are you referring to the startup page that is displayed when the browser (Firefox) first opens?

If so, then from Firefox, click the menu item that says "Tools" (at very top). A drop-down list will appear. Click the item that says "Options ..." (at the bottom of the list). The Firefox Options dialog box will open. At the top of that dialog box, click the tab that says "Main" (top left).

At the top of the Firefox Options dialog box (under the tabs) will be a section labeled "Startup".

In the "Startup" section, you can specify what web page will be displayed when Firefox starts. Just enter the appropriate web-site address (such as www.msn.com, or www.google.com or whatever you wish).

Click OK to close the dialog box. Then shutdown and restart Firefox to see the results.

Any questions, just post here.

@ langware

Langware, you are a genious!!!  You have completely solved my problem.  I followed your instructions and pinned the shortcut to the start menu (and to RocketDock) and it works beautifully. Now I can switch to Firefox and not worry about trying to update the blocklist or blank spaces instead of the ads taking up valuable space.  As a side note, I also tried with Firefox as the default browser, but it kept opening in IE8.

My solution to the ads problem was ok, but yours is definitely the best by far and a lot easier.

Thanks again!!

P.D. Have you tried Rocket Dock?  It totally changed the way I interact with Windows, it mimics the pop-up menu bar of Mac OS X, plus it is fully customizable (including the icons).  Ah, and it is FREE, without adware or horrible ads attached.

Here is the link if you want to give it a try: http://rocketdock.com/

@Charles Blackberry,

Glad I could help .... now you can enjoy Hotmail without the nusiance of disgusting ads, and have more screen space to write/read emails.

I'll check out the link you provided for rocketdock. I'm a software developer (or at least was before I retired). Years ago, I wrote my own utiliy for managing and launching applications from Windows and have been using it ever since (but I never really marketed the software) .... but I'll look into rocketdock.

Langware, I owe you a banana split with extra maraschino cherries on top!

I now have MSN as my start-up page again and, thanks to your very easy instructions, it took no time at all. 

Please, anyone annoyed by the ads (and who isn't?), follow Langware's advice.  You won't regret it, and he is kind enough and smart enough to make it a painless transition.

No more jiggly tummies and FUBAR for me!  Thanks!

Now, a banana split with SPRINKLES to whoever can tell me a great start-up page...  MSN is driving me crazy with Paris Hilton, Obama, and green, green, green...  Something similar but less Microsofty, if that makes sense.

Deb

@deborahb,

Actually, I use this as my startup page ....

about:blank

... it is a blank page. In that way, Firefox loads a little quicker because it does not have to open any page first. Then, I select the whatever page I want to visit (either from a bookmark or by entering the address).

If you haven't already done so, look into Firefox's Navigation toolbar. It is just below the address bar. You can place icons in the Navigation toolbar for the sites you visit most often. Then, with one click (to the icon in the Navigation toolbar) you can open those sites.

I'm glad I was able to help :)

@langware

If it is not too much to ask... Could it be possible to share the user script you wrote?

I reinstalled Firefox and realized the blank square is still there :(

@Charles Blackberry,

I'll be glad to share my script. However, first, lets be sure that you have configured Firefox correctly with the GreaseMonkey extension (to run scripts), and then lets try the script that can be downloaded online.

From your Firefox window, click the "Tools" entry in the menu at top of the screen. In the dropdown, do you see an entry for "Greasemonkey"?

If not, then go to this thread ...
http://windowslivehelp.com/community/t/44808.aspx

... and read the post by Alvin F. That post shows the link for obtaining GreaseMonkey and the link for obtaining the "Windows Live Ad Remover" script. Follow those links. First install GreaseMonkey, and then install (and activate) the script (see rest of this post for instructions on how to verify that the script is installed and activated). Once GreaseMonkey and the script are installed, sign-on to Hotmail and see if the blank space has been reused by the inbox.


If the Tools menu in Firefox does have an entry for Greasemonkey, then click the Greasemonkey entry. Another dropdown list should appear. Verify that the "Enabled" entry is checked. If it is not checked, click the "Enabled" entry to enable GreaseMonkey.

After verifying that the Enabled entry is checked, click the entry that says "Manage User Scripts ...". The Manage User Scripts dialog box should appear. Verify that the column on the left of this dialog box has an entry for "Windows Live Ad Remover".

If there is no entry for "Windows Live Ad Remover" in the left column of the Manage User Scripts dialog box, that means you have not yet installed the script. Follow this link ...

http://windowslivehelp.com/community/t/44808.aspx

... and then follow the link that Alvin F mentions for the "Windows Live Ad Remover" GreaseMonkey script. Install the script into Firefox and come back to the Manage User Scripts dialog box to verify that there is an entry in the left column for "Windows Live Ad Remover".

Sincle click the entry (in left column of Manage User Scripts dialog box) for "Windows Live Ad remover" to select it and verify that the enabled check box (bottom left of Manage User Scripts dialog box) is checked. If it is not checked, then click to check it.

Then click ok to close the Manage USer Scripts dialog box.

Sign on to Hotmail and see of the blank space is gone.

If you have verified that both Greasemonkey and the "Windows Live Ad Remover" script are installed and enabled, then the blank space where the ads were located should be reused by your inbox. If that is not the case, then post here and I'll send you my script.

@langware

Thanks a lot for your detailed instructions... they work!!!

Have you noticed how dumb the people at Microsoft are being at managing the ads issue?  Not only they made me seriously think about changing to another e-mail provider, but they had made me switch to another browser.  Now I am extremely happy using Firefox, will not go back to IE, plus I do not have to see their horrible ads.  It is a double loss for Microsoft, I just don´t get it.

One more thing, I know you told me you are now retired, but you should be getting these clown´s paycheck, including Roopa´s.

That´s it! I am calling for a vote!

All in favor say aye... motion is passed.  Congrats Langware!!!

Note: The motion will be passed to the Windows Live Mail product team for approval, then it will go to our Escalation Specialist Team, after that you will be contacted through a PM to tell you where you can get your paychecks.

Charles,

I appreciate your way of getting rid of the ads.  It's fantastic!  However, it seems that since around that time Acrobat won't open pdf files on the web browser.  Is that anything to do with the ad blocker?

@SHA80,

Try temporarily disabling the script, and then see if the problem with Acrobat goes away. That will tell you if the script is (or is not) related to your Acrobat problem.

If you still have the Acrobat problem with the script disabled, you can try a similar experiment with the ad-blocker disabled.

I have not had any problem with Acrobat opening PDF files.

For everyone with IE8,  go to this address and follow the simple instructions.

http://textpad.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!B49C34BD7DE98E2D!407.entry?sa=643187331

ALL ads will be gone, including the box they were in. It works for me.  I have no ads on any website I visit anymore.  The only small thing you have to do is, every time you log on to IE8, you have to turn on the "In Private" ad blocker.  You do this by clicking on the little padlock icon in the lower right of the screen on the bar.

If you have any problems on any website because of this ad blocker, just click the same icon, and the blocker is turned off.  Click on it again anytime to turn it back on, then refresh the page to say good bye to the ads.

that is why I have started using Outlook to get my e mail.  It gags me to see the trash posted on the ads.