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Can't watch video on cbs.com; message says it is blocked by ad blocker on browser.

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Error message after ~1/3 of the way through video: the video you requested is being blocked by an ad blocker installed on your browser. I do not see how to fix this. I looked for any kind of ad blocker control in preferences and in tools but cannot find anything. Please help! ps This is new. I watch videos on cbs.com all the time and this just started happening.

URL of affected sites

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_ny/ and other cbs channels

Error message after ~1/3 of the way through video: the video you requested is being blocked by an ad blocker installed on your browser. I do not see how to fix this. I looked for any kind of ad blocker control in preferences and in tools but cannot find anything. Please help! ps This is new. I watch videos on cbs.com all the time and this just started happening. == URL of affected sites == http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_ny/ and other cbs channels

All Replies (20)

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Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of your add-ons is causing your problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes). See Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems and Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems

If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all your extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears. You can use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe mode start window. You have to close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (on Mac: "Firefox > Quit")

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what if it doesn't work in safe mode?

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I can't watch any videos on cbs.com; message says video is blocked by an ad blocker. What steps should I take to clear up this problem. This has only been happening for about 10 days now, before that I had no problem watch any videos on cbs.com

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Now cbs.com is working fine. I didn't run in safe mode, disable add-ons, or do anything particular to fix the problem. Go figure!!

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Since last March I have not been able to view video content on FOX News nor on CBS websites. This morning I found a post on the internet that suggested I rename a file in my System 32 folder. I did so after searching the net about this file and finding out it is a Windows file that controls web site access. I changed the file name from HOSTS to HOSTS2 and now I can watch FOX video and CBS video again.

Here is the file location:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS2

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I got an error: Renaming file cannot rename hosts; it is being used by another person or program. Close any program that might be using the file and try again.

Do you have any ideas as to what program uses "hosts"?

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Note...I had to Boot in Safe-Mode go to the \etc\ folder fine and "RENAME" hosts to "host2". Than Reboot the pc; I opened both browsers and went to CBS and tried the videos...Now they work!

  I apologize to you at ZoneAlarm whom attempted to help and I hope you can keep this information just in case another user runs into this problem. Also if you know anyone at Microsoft, I'd like too know if they were aware or knew this problem existed. I do not know if the "hosts"(2) change will cause a problem later but FireFox should know of this problem too!
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More than likely it's because of any pop-up or adware blockers you have running on your system or malware sites being blocked with your HOSTS file. Renaming the HOSTS file or turning off any security software is akin to you saying "Go ahead and load up my system with cookies that will slow it down; I REALLY want to watch these videos!"

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OK then. Since I use virus protection that does not have an ad blocker and I have never installed an ad blocker in my system. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can locate and remove my ad blocker. I lost capability to watch video only on a few sites when I installed the latest version of Adobe Flash. I believe it is related to the Adobe software, not to an ad blocker per se. Yes, I REALLY do want to be able to watch video on my computer.

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I suspect this is an extension issue, but I have to tell everyone that I am use Adblock Plus, for Firefox, which is an adblocker (the best one, actually, and you may want to use it since it's awesome), and I can watch videos in cbs no problem. It is not possible for a website to detect that you are using Adblock Plus for Firefox, although it may be possible for them to detect that you are using other adblockers (if you are using other adblockers). Please do try disable all add-ons and see if it works (you may need flash...).

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Had the same problem change the extension as suggested C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS2 and that works THANKS TIM!!!!!!

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Don't disable your Hosts file! It's protecting you from malicious content and is not an "ad blocker". It's either McAfee, Firefox or any program with the prefix "ad". Do a search for files and folders and look for Ad*. Also do the Firefox in safe mode check.

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I can't watch videos from CBS.com (daytime) either. I get the same message as the above posts, saying it is being blocked. Before this happened, the screen would freeze and I could only hear the audio.

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Thanks for the tip on Ad Block Plus. I turned mine off and videos on CBS.com starting working -- on Linux and Windows XP.

No doubt if I knew the right links I could tell Ad Block what not to step on.

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Mine says I need to install the Adoble Flash Player 9. I've already got version 10 installed. Disabling Ad Blocker Plus fixes the problem.

This happens on Centos 5.2 Linux and on Windows XP.

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I have been having this problem too. I have cleared out my cache and browser history. I went into my Firefox preferences and under the "General" heading at the bottom selected "Manage Add-0ns". Selected "find updates" under extensions and plugins and updated everything. AND YET... yep, you guessed it. CBS videos are still flurping up as noted above. Wonder what to do at this point? Oh, maybe abandon looking at CBS videos. That's an idea.

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Thanks, BTW the path for the Hosts file is

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS

in case anyone needs it. Adding the semi-colon did the trick

Modified by kpop

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how do i un do it so i can watch the show i'm looking for please let me know through yahoo mlsdlady@yahoo.com thank you again

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I installed the IE Tab plug-in and can view the videos just fine in it. Might want to give that a try? Good luck.

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okay so i don't know what to do since i don't know what the host thing is and if the host thing does work for Vista. i do have add-ons and my add-on sidebar says that i have no updates. so what should i do?

Modified by Yameilyn

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