That flipping full-screen drink ad is particularly annoying. Fortunately, I don't have sound on my work PC!

One approach is to email each company who have a particularly annoying ad and tell them that while their advert spoils your enjoyment of RP, you won't be buying their product.

To be fair, I don't get so many ads once I'm logged in.

What browser are you using? If it's IE then you will have a hard time getting rid of all those ads. Just download Firefox. It's easy to use,you can easily switch back and forth between browsers if you ever need to,it's much safer than IE and you will definitely see a reduction in ads.It's also free and just about everyone I know uses this,in fact since it's become so popular some of the newer computers are coming loaded with Firefox..or so I've heard.

Here is a link that might be useful: Firefox

Tim, I don't know if this will help, but someone posted a lengthy set of instructions on another forum on to get rid of the ads (see link - scroll to the end).

I run Firefox myself, so I've not seen the pop-ups (here or anywhere else) for some time. However, I also paid for a year without them right before that option disappeared, so I may just be on borrowed time. I've also emailed many companies to tell them how obnoxious their internet ads are and that they've lost a customer. I have no idea if they care one bit, but it does make me feel better!

Here is a link that might be useful: Getting rid of the ads

The ads aren't as prolific as they were right after Christmas - I couldn't see the screen there were so many. Now its just a few - they are all obnoxious, but fortunately they have the little button on the right that says 'skip'. Hit that and it disappears.

I made the mistake once of having the speakers on when one of those popped up. Dear lord how obnoxious! Besides, it scared the daylights out of the cat that was laying right next to one....

I'll second (or third or fourth) the Firefox recommendation. In addition, I would recommend checking out the available "extensions" (small programs written to run within Firefox) that block ads. I like Adblock Plus.

Here is a link that might be useful: Firefox Extensions

Yes, Firefox is a godsend to those who hate pop-up ads. I think I've only seen one pop-up ad ever since I've been on RP. I think it's an ad for RP itself (or was it Garden web?). Anyway, it's this weird triangular thing that sort of drifts across your screen. But, given that that's the only one I've seen, I don't complain.

As someone from the 20s would say, Firefox is the bee's knees. ;-)

And no, I haven't paid for access to RP.

It a funny thing that you mention the full-drink ad, Martin. I have heard the sound for that ad a lot but have never seen the ad itself. I was wondering what it was for.

I think firefox is a huge help as well when I had my IBM, however; I recently switched from PC to mac and now I barely get any ad's at all. Unfortunately, avoiding those ad's is not easy, and by emailing the company to tell them they've lost a customer simply confirms that their ad is being noticed and they will most definately not remove it.

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I do indeed use Internet Explorer, which may account the trouble I am having. I will explore FireFox, though I am a little cautious of downloading programs after I experienced a major conflict between Norton and Adaware.

In my experience, and that of my acquaintances who use it, you will find Firefox quick to download (it's small), easy to install, and without annoying side effects. No one can guarantee that, of course, because computers are magic, and magic is unpredictable. Still, Firefox is a better bet than most. :)