@ PetiteLoup

Copy and paste this link into your address bar and go there.  Then read the entire page and follow their instructions. I have IE8 with Vista, and this works for real.

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

It doesn't just remove the ads, it removes the box where the ads appear, so the ads have no place to exist. That means no updating for new ads.  It even removes that little ad in the left side column at the bottom. 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.

@k3dav and PetiteLoup

There is a way to get "In Private" to turn on by itself everytime you open IE8.  Here it is:

InPrivate Filtering is a feature introduced in Internet Explorer 8 which provides users with greater control over which third-parties can potentially track your browsing activities. this feature is turned off by default, and can be activated using the CTRL + SHIFT + F key sequence, or via the menu options. The problem is that the InPrivate Filtering feature is not automatically enabled when you open a new Internet Explorer window, and users need to enable it on a per-session basis. However, there is a registry edit to enable InPrivate Filtering by default in every Internet Explorer session.
1. Launch Regedit.exe and navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Safety \ PrivacIE
If the above branch or its parent does not exist, you need to create the keys manually.
2. Create a new DWORD value named StartMode
3. Double-click StartMode and set 1 as its data
4. Exit the Registry Editor.

To open Regedit go to Start-->Run-->type "regedit" and press Enter

@K3DAV and Charles Blackberry:

I followed the directions in the link provided by K3DAV, downloaded the filter list for IE8's InPrivate Filtering option, imported it into IE8, and enabled InPrivate Filtering.

The ad blocking worked. However, it may have worked a little too well. My entire Hotmail inbox was blank. I tried some of my other folders in Hotmail, and they too were blank. I then disabled InPrivate Filtering and refreshed the page, and my Hotmail Inbox re-appeared.

Note: I am using XP (not Vista).

My best guess is that there is a rule (or rules) in the filter list that I imported that is blocking the entire contents of the frame where the inbox (or other folder) contents are displayed. The filter list is huge, and there is no easy way to start eliminating sections of the list in order to find the offending rule(s).

And even if I could find the offending rules, they would be back the next time I downloaded an updated version of the list (which is a manual process)..

So, I'm going to stay with Firefox, along with its extension to run scripts (greasemonkey) and extension to block ads (adblock plus). Both of those extensions are supported and are automatically updated when new versions are available.

I do not mean to start a discussion of IE8 versus Firefox. They are both good browsers. The bottom line is that we have demonstrated that it is possible to remove all ads from Hotmail (in spite of the mods posting responses to new customers stating that removing the ads cannot be done). Let's continue to help new posters use techniques (with either IE8 or Firefox) for removing Hotmail's ads.

@LANGWARE

I am not sure why you are experiencing this problem. Is it possible that one of your other ad ons or scripts are interfering with it?  I have several friends who have downloaded this ad blocker with XP and Vista. One of them has IE8 in Windows ME, and it still works for them.  Non of us are having any problems like you had. Only the ad boxes that contain ads are removed, and the rest of the page remains fully intact. As I said before, this ad block does not actually remove the ad.  It removes the box that the ads exist in, so the ad can't be displayed.  This means that no updates should ever be required to block new ad titles. There is no box for the ad to use. I have not had to ad any updates since I installed the ad blocker a few months ago.  The ad blocker is as close to a full cure as it can get.

The only drawback I have noticed, and this is very minor, is sometimes an icon or photo on a random website will appear blank with a red "X" in the upper left corner.  It's as if a picture was there but is hidden or was deleted, or could not load properly, and only the box remains. When ever I see this happen, I just click on the pad lock icon to turn off the ad block, hit refresh, and the icons or photos appear normal again.  But this rarely ever happens, and is easily fixed with a couple clicks.

@ Charles Blackberry

The last paragraph is the reason I don't use the fix you mentioned to make the ad block default to the on position. I guess it would still work OK as long as we can still turn off the ad block with the pad lock Icon. It would be a great feature if the ad block did not hide any thing else on occasion.  And it only takes 2 clicks in 3 seconds to toggle the ad block on or off.

@k3dav,

I too am at a loss as to why the filtering list does not work for me .... well, technically it does work ... as you said it removes the box (frame) where the ads are supposed to exist (and thus the ads cannot be displayed). However, somewhere in the latest filter list's hundreds of rules is a rule that removes the frame (that perhaps contains the frame) that contains my in box .... and thus my inbox is not displayed.

I tried searching for the "usual suspects" (i.e., the expected frame names that contain the inbox) but did not find any hits in the latest filter list. Since the HTML that displays the page containing the inbox has many frames (within frames), I suspect that I am just not searching on the exact frame (that contains my inbox) that is being blocked by the rules.

k3dav:

I have not had to ad any updates since I installed the ad blocker a few months ago.

This may explain why you are not having the same problem as I .... you are using an older filter list that may not have the rule that is affecting me. The rule (that is affecting me) may have been added to a more recent version of the filter list. Have you tried deleting the entire filter list (keep a copy first) from IE8, and then installing the most current list .... to see if your inbox is properly displayed?

You mentioned that no updates to the filter rules would be needed. Not sure I agree. Certainly you are correct if existing sites (with ads) are not updated by their owners, and if new sites (with ads) are not added to the internet. But neither of those prerequisites are true. Over time, site owners re-design their web pages and add new frames (with new names) that contain ads (sometimes this is done specifically to counter existing ad blocking rules and scripts). Also, over time, new web sites are created (which contain ads). So, over time, the rule sets must be updated to address these new/upgraded web sites.

Let me know if you decide to experiment and try the most current version of the rule set (which can be downloaded from the page whose link you previously provided in this thread). Alternatively, you can send me a copy of the rule set you are using and I'll try it.

Thank you K3dav.

It worked, and it's wonderful to have extra space for the actual E-mail. If at any time in the future it became necessary to use regedit, I still do have a question. In my computer, it asks whether I wish to create a new DWORD in 64 or 32 bit? ??

@ LANGWARE

I still have the original file that I downloaded, saved.  Today I downloaded it again from the link I provided earlier in this thread.  Comparing the contents and titles of each old and new files, they appear to be identical. I will admit that I did not take apart every file to compare every detail, but the file names and layout seem to be the same.  It does not appear that they added any new files or scripts to the latest download. So the files you entered recently should be the same as the ones I entered months ago.  I can only suggest that perhaps one or a few of the files you entered could be corrupted in some way, or there is a file in one or both of your browsers that may be in conflict with each other causing an error. As I am sure you well know, just a few missing or altered charactors in a script or command can completely change how the file interacts.

As I said, this ad block removes the frame for the ads, and an update should not be needed.  You are correct that sooner or later, someone will change the way the frame is inserted, and it could make this ad block no longer valid to do it's job.  But it doesn't seem to have happened as of yet. At least not from my own experience.  If it does, I am sure that someone will soon have a fix for it.

@ PetiteLoup

Your very welcome, and I am glad to see that it worked for you. If your reaction to it working was anything close to mine, then I know you are absolutely delighted.  I know I was and still am. It allowed me to keep the faster and more secure IE8 browser, and be rid of the pathetic ads. As my friend Langware said, I am not trying to start a browser debate. IE8 is just what I am used to and I really like it. It is developed and backed by the same people who designed and still own and operate the entire internet system.  It only makes sense that their browser should be the most compatible with their servers.  And that makes me feel comfortable and more secure using it.

As far as asking for a new DWORD in 64 or 32 bit, I didn't see this request when I first installed the ad blocker. Or if I did, I don't remember seeing it. So I am not sure what to advise you to do.  I myself would try the 32 bit and see what happens. At very worse, if it doesn't work or causes any problems, you can just start over by downloading the ad block file again, and this time choose the 64 bit option.

@ EVERYONE

No matter what browser you use, at least have the satisfaction of knowing there is help to defeat those damned horrible annoying ads that Windows Live insists on forcing on us. You can smile knowing that you beat Bill Gates at his own game.  But just beware that he is probably going to do something else annoying to us in the future. When he does, remember how all of us coming together to help each other, defeated the richest company in the world.

Good luck folks.

@k3dav,

k3dav:

No matter what browser you use, at least have the satisfaction of knowing there is help to defeat those damned horrible annoying ads that Windows Live insists on forcing on us.

Well Said !!!

Now, if we could only get the mods here to at least acknowledge that there are third-party solutions that will remove the ads (and provide links to threads like this one where the third-party alternatives are discussed) .... rather than responding to new people with the scripted reply that removing the ads cannot be done unless one uses a paid subscription to Hotmail Plus or converts to client-based email software.

Hello Shiela,

The sad thing about it is, for a "reputable" company like MSN, this is slowly becoming the reputation among everyone I know.  Here is one of the DOZENS of pornographic and disgusting ads that MSN Hotmail provides it's users (including children, might I add).  I notice Hotmail's new trend is the "get ripped" adds, which are near in pornography in itself.

- Jon

http://yads.zedo.com//ads2/c?a=658398;x=1817;g=172,0;c=1133000002,1133000002;i=0;n=1133;s=1;p=6;f=785401;h=763336;i=3;u=1ngB4woBADYAAGQlAZYAAACN;1=5;2=1;e=i;s=1;g=172;w=12;m=6;z=0.8492414926404706;k=http://www.nitricoxidemiracle.com/?lp=3

I can't tell you how many times the younger kids in my family have to stare at this half-naked man talking about "getting ripped".  MSN is contributing to the filth that the younger and older generation takes in daily.

http://yads.zedo.com//ads2/c?a=658397;x=1817;g=172,0;c=1133000002,1133000002;i=0;n=1133;s=1;p=6;f=785401;h=763336;i=1;u=1ngB4woBADYAAGQlAZYAAACN;1=5;2=1;e=i;s=1;g=172;w=12;m=6;z=0.314911567356464;k=http://www.nitricoxidemiracle.com/?lp=3

http://yads.zedo.com//ads2/c?a=657705;x=1817;g=172,0;c=1133000002,1133000002;i=0;n=1133;s=1;p=6;f=785401;h=763336;i=3;u=1ngB4woBADYAAGQlAZYAAACN;1=5;2=1;e=i;s=1;g=172;w=12;m=6;z=0.6134355631814191;k=http://www.nitricoxidemiracle.com/?lp=3

I can't tell you how many times the younger kids in my family have to stare at this half-naked man talking about "getting ripped".  MSN is contributing to the filth that the younger and older generation takes in daily.

Seen it about 6 times today. 12 times yesterday.  About 5-10 times daily (in one sitting).

http://yads.zedo.com//ads2/c?a=658397;x=1817;g=172,0;c=1133000002,1133000002;i=0;n=1133;s=1;p=6;f=785401;h=763336;i=1;u=1ngB4woBADYAAGQlAZYAAACN;1=5;2=1;e=i;s=1;g=172;w=12;m=6;z=0.314911567356464;k=http://www.nitricoxidemiracle.com/?lp=3

http://yads.zedo.com//ads2/c?a=657705;x=1817;g=172,0;c=1133000002,1133000002;i=0;n=1133;s=1;p=6;f=785401;h=763336;i=3;u=1ngB4woBADYAAGQlAZYAAACN;1=5;2=1;e=i;s=1;g=172;w=12;m=6;z=0.6134355631814191;k=http://www.nitricoxidemiracle.com/?lp=3

@justme0734:

Have you tried using the techniques described in this thread for removing all right-side ads?

These techniques do work ... I enjoy Hotmail without having to see the "getting ripped" or any other ads.

If you have questions on how to install/use the techniques to remove the ads, just post here and someone will help you (Microsoft cannot help with or support these techniques, but other Hotmail users will be able to help).

I downloaded the ad block;it's on my desktop. I can'tt open it or save it. Obviously, I don't get it . How do I get it into my hotmail account?

@filemenac:

Can you provide a few more details. What did you download (and from what site).