Many times, when I visit a website, I get this message somewhere on the page:

I (huge) This program cannot display the webpage

Most likely causes:
You are not connected to the Internet.
The website is encountering problems.
There might be a typing error in the address.

What you can try:
Check your Internet connection. Try visiting another website to make sure you are connected.

Retype the address.

Go back to the previous page.

More information

What can be causing this?

If this is the system that I worked on, the following may apply:

I put a modified "Hosts" file on your system to prevent Unwanted Parasites from attacking your system.

The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists.

See this image to see what the hosts files does on a page that contains a cookie containing advertisement. Note the "Back" button showing the ad that does not display. If you clicked "back" the browser will not open the ad.

On a legitimate page (that is one that does not contain ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, or many hijackers, the Web page will work normally.

Many times, only small elements of a page are blocked, thus allowing your to see portions of the page that do not contain damaging elements.

If this Hosts file is something that is causing you to not see pages that you want to see, the Hosts file can be modified or even removed.

Dwight

Well, Dwight, I can see where that might be helpful, if I understand you right. Are you saying that where this message appears, there is an ad or some other unwanted thing under it, or being blocked by it? Because it sometimes says "Advertisement" at the top. I don't understand some of what you said, so I don't know what I should do, if anything. I don't mind the message, if it's blocking something unwanted.

Thanks, and the image was right on.

You need not do anything about this, assuming that the Hosts file is what you're experiencing. You could use your other computer (the one without the modification) and see the same page to verify this if you like.

If you do the test, run the AntiSpyware programs after to clean out anything that may have been loaded.

Dwight

Thank you, Dwight. I'm sure that's what it is, but when I get my new computer set up tomorrow, I will try it there.

You can download the hosts file into a folder on your computer. I would suggest something like:

C:\\hosts

(you would need to create this folder)

Download page

Direct download


It does need to be "extracted" which can be done via the right click menu.

See this picture

You will see a simple batch file (mvps.bat) that will rename the existing HOSTS file to HOSTS.MVP. Just open this file and it will then copy the included updated HOSTS file to the proper location. For more information please see the readme.txt included in the download.

Dwight

Thank you, Dwight!