Hello,
I recently started using XP Pro SP2, installing it not long ago. The system hasn't had any time to be infected by any malware. Aside from FireFox 3.5.1, WordPerfect Suite 12, WinAmp 5, and my drivers, I haven't installed much in it. I have a program called Adfree 3.2. It is an ad blocker which relies on the system HOSTS text file to block ads, substituting any small GIF image of your choice in its place. I correctly reconfigured it to place its HOSTS file in the
C:\WINDOWS\system32\driver
s\etc
folder. This is the beginning of the Adfree 3.2 HOSTS file which I have updated with newer advertisement server locations. I estimate there are about 1,890 server locations. The HOSTS file is 56K bytes:
===================
#
# Hosts file created by AdFree
#
# localhost: Needs to stay like this to work
127.0.0.1 localhost
# Other servers: These servers are directed towards
# AdFree to be filtered. You must alter these from
# within the AdFree program.
127.0.0.1 123banners.com
127.0.0.1 247media.com
127.0.0.1 24pm-affiliation.com
127.0.0.1 7adpower.com
127.0.0.1 911promotion.com
127.0.0.1 a.as-us.falkag.net
127.0.0.1 a.consumer.net
127.0.0.1 a.r.tv.com
...
===================
However, I am having a problem with XP Pro SP2. Every time I start any operation, no matter what it is, XP automatically deletes the HOSTS file. No matter if I start any browser, IE or FireFox, Windows Explorer, Notepad, even if I open any applet in "Control Panel" > "Administrative Tools", XP will delete the HOSTS file. The system and Adfree need the HOSTS file to properly block ads. I have spent over 12 hours trying find the solution online, but with no success. I shut off the "DNS Client" service, I even tried shutting off the XP firewall, but nothing has worked.
I can get Adfree to work correctly, substituting a GIF of my choice in place of ads. I must set the HOSTS file to "read only." However, Adfree isn't really meant to function that way and I will run into problems if I try to "pause" it. Plus, every time I start or exit Adfree, or shut off the system, I must change the "read only" setting. Reading posts on the 'Net, I know others have had this problem, but they never posted their solution. I know there is a either a service applet I can disable or Registry setting I can use to stop XP from deleting the HOSTS file. Does anyone know what it is?
