Opera (my default browser): JavaScript & Java disabled globally. 3rd party cookies not allowed. Referrer disabled.
IE7: Internet zone set to "High". Microsoft.com along some other sites added to Trusted sites zone. 3rd party cookies disabled. Java disabled globally. Remember that some IE settings affects to other MS programs too, like WMP and OE (even though i use Thunderbird)
Ad Muncher, SpywareBlaster.
I get a big slowdown when I have both hpHosts and MVPS HOSTS files active and the DNS Client Service is active.I don't get any slowdown with MVPS Hosts. Just out of idle curiosity I've just timed my startup with Hosts on and off.
More or less identical startup times.
Sorry if I'm asking the obvious, but you guys do have DNS Client disabled in Services don't you? Absolutely essential for a Hosts File.
HostsMan will offer to disable the service when it is run.
HostsMan is showing 63,473 Host names active in my HOSTS file.
I just saw this:
http://forum.hosts-file.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=684
I don't have a problem with DNS lookup times even though I do not have the DNS Client Service active but I do use OpenDNS: