HOW TO BLOCK GOOGLE ADS AT THE TOP OF THIS SITE!

[Soriddo Wolf]

The following is meant to block Google Ads (like those appearing at the top of the forum) from showing up through your internet browser (be it Firefox, Opera, or Internet Exploder [no, that's not a typo]). It has been tested on four of my own machines, and seven clients' machines (as Google Ads are on at least 1/2 of the freakin' pages on the web >_>), and it has worked all eleven times, safely, without consequence. It won't block any other Google content, and has no adverse consequences that I'm aware of.

That having been said, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY: I will not be held liable for anyone who improperly follows the instructions, and somehow screws up their Windows. If you read the instructions, and still feel intimidated, do NOT attempt this; post questions here and I will check back.

-Soriddo, Freelance Tech

All the Google text ads seem to come from the address pagead2.googlesyndication.com. If we place that name in the Windows Hosts file and point it to a dummy address then the Google ads will not appear.

First though, we need to locate the hosts file. Here is the usual location for the major Windows versions:

Windows 9x, ME C:\WINDOWS
Windows NT (and some 2K) C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc Windows 2K, XP, 2003 C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

The Hosts file is simply called "HOSTS" and has no file extension.

It's a simple text file and must only be changed with a plain text editor like Notepad and never a word processing program such as MS Word.

First, we need to open the Hosts file in Notepad. If you don't know how to do that then locate the Hosts file in Windows Explorer and right-click on it. Select "Open" and then check "Select the program from a list." You'll then be presented with list of programs; select Notepad. You should now see a simple text file.

Go to the first blank line at the bottom of the file and type in this entry:

127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com

Click File>Save and close out the window. Congrats, you're done!

[Shy]

I've done something similar to this on one of my old proboard forums. The only thing I'm a little wary of is the fact that it clearly states in proboards rules that the google adverts - aren't - to be hidden, deleted blah blah in any way shape or form. If we do we're in breach of the contract we sign upon joining and they will delete the forum without warning. That means we losing all the information and so forth stored here. Y_Y

Either way, welcome to the forums. xD We're still under construction, I have to create a few more boards.
How did you find us?

[Soriddo Wolf]

The tweak is something that is per-user, and cannot be detected by Google; anyone who has not done this tweak will still see the annoying "ads-o-doom" which plague the internet much as a rather well-known disease once tore through Europe... Only difference is, that eventually faded from sight...

In other words, the tweak is not a breach of contract because it is not modifying the forum/board in any way/shape/form to be rid of Google ads. It is merely relieving their presence from your own personal machine, which neither the forum provider (e.g. Proboards) nor Google have any control over in any legal sense. n_n ((The day they do, I swear to god, Skynet will have become a reality [hoorah dead reference >_>]))

Anyway ^^
Yeah, I believe we've already met, Shy
Sorry about before; school went to hell in a handbasket, and caused quite a bit of difficulties.. That and finding work. Good news is school's out for the next year, so I've actually got time -and- work. ^^
Hope all's well.
-Soriddo, aka Ruskin

[Shy]

SKYNET ROCKS! XD
Ahhh, you're Ruskin. Hey, hun. ^_^ I will probably attempt the ad removal on my safari browser, so if it buggers up I'll still have firefox.

[Soriddo Wolf]

Hey Shy ^^
Yeah, it's not something you attempt in a browser; this one tweak will enable it in all browsers, as its in the Windows HOST file (Windows XP users can find it in the "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc" directory). It tells Windows not to allow content from that site inparticular, which is, in this case, ONLY the ads sent by Google, not by Google.com, so you'll still have access to all other Google services.

Give it a try and trust me, it's a damned good tweak. I can post a few others for you too with detailed instructions; O/S modding is what I do in my spare time

-Soriddo

P.S. Hell yeah, Skynet rocks! John Conner FTW! ((Nerd moment ))

[Shy]

What about mac users then? : Snickers : I R A MAC USER! n_n;;

ARE YOU SARAH CONNER!?

[Soriddo Wolf]

Mac user?! *DIES* GAH! The anti-modification O/S of presets and DOOM!!! (Not the grandfather of FPS games, but just.... the regular doom. DOOM Regular, maybe DOOM Extra, or even perhaps DOOM Lite for you lightweights. )

But yeah, couldn't tell ya... I'll try looking it up, maybe there's a fix.

Out of curiosity, what was the reason you bought a Mac, anyway? O.o

-Soriddo

P.S. No, I am zee terminatuh!

[Shy]

MACS ARE MADE OF WIN! << That's your answer. No, seriously, once you go Mac you won't go back. xD I <3 my Mac. They're just so much easier, faster and all that jazz. It's perfect for me who plays very few computer games.

[Soriddo Wolf]

At present, my WinXP runs faster than Mac OSX because of the time and effort that has been put into it, but that's not something that most people want to do, because learning it SUCKS! >.> That, and it causes severe hatred of Microsoft for all their inefficiencies and bad coding...

But yeah, as I tell my clients:
Macs = Awesome for the everyday user, and those working with media. For artists, Macs are absolutely beautiful, no question. Even movie editing, dear god I can't find a relatively decent program for editing in Windows, but Mac has all the good ones. So, in short, Macs exist for a reason, I truly wish to see their existence continued.
Windows PC = Awesome for advanced users who like toying with things and making them run better. Kinda like how hot rod freaks will put god-knows how much time into modifying their cars, so they can get them running top-notch.
But if you want a really sexy operating system that can do d**n near anything with just a bit of work, its Linux, which beats out both of our operating systems >_> *shakes fist at Linux* d**n YOU NOT WORKING WITH MY WI-FI!!! ((My Wi-Fi card was built for windows vista, and almost no drivers exist for it even for WinXP... none for Linux, and I have no LAN line... >_>))

I have but one beef with Mac computers... They are affiliated with iPod, which I've come to despise after nearly mowing down various kids in my town who carelessly step into the street while listening to the fucking things...

anyway, end random ^^

-Soriddo