These ads pay the bills for some web sites, but can be annoying when they interfere with your reading or surfing.  Earthlink has put an excellent Pop-Up Blocker in their FREE TotalAccess 2003 software.  If you are an Earthlink customer, the software is free, simple, and easy to install.  If you are not an Earthlink customer, please consider becomming one because they provide the full Internet WITHOUT any advertizing, forced startup software or home pages, and PROVIDE the best access, service, speed, and conveniences.  [You may have to be a customer to complete the install.]  Please see Home PC Setup pages.   I am getting unlimited service, eight E-mail addresses (POP3), and 80 Mb of web space for only 19.95/month (using either AARP discount or annual payment).

One of their best browser enhancements is the Pop-Up Blocker.  To install Pop-Up Blocker requires two simple steps.  First order a TotalAccess (TA) CD from the Earthlink web page at http://www.earthlink.net/home/software/order/ .  Second follow the following install steps:

• Insert the TA CD in your CD drive and wait for the TA install to begin
• At the first opportunity, "Cancel" the install process and "Exit Installation"
• Click on "My Computer" on your desktop
• Right-click on the CD drive icon and select "Explore" or "Browse"
• Windows Explorer will display the directories and files on the CD
• Click on the "Windows" folder
• Click on the "access" folder
• Find the "EPopup.exe" file about half-way down the list
• To save a copy of this file on your HD:
  • Right click on "EPopup.exe"
  • Select "Copy"
  • Browse to your "C:\" drive and highlight it
  • Click on the "File" dropdown menu and select "New..."
  • Click on "Folder"
  • Name the new folder "CD-Pop-Up Blocker"
  • Right click on that folder and select "Paste"
  • Click on the "CD-Pop-Up Blocker" folder
• Click on the "EPopup.exe" file
• Click on the "Next" button
• Click on the "Yes" button
• Select a folder for the program [I used "C:\Program Files\Pop-Up Blocker"]
• Click on the "Next" button
• Click on the "Install" button.  This process copies the files to your folder.
• The install will complete and begin a dial-up session to retrieve an instruction page.  You can just cancel that dial-up session and visit and print the page at http://www.earthlink.net/home/software/popupblocker/getting_started/ some time at your convenience.
• Click on the "Finish" button to restart your computer
• Check your Internet Explorer to see that Pop-Up Blocker is added.

I hope this helps making IE more pleasant to use.