Tim Hibbard

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I'm glad the security is tighter on the hosts file, but I couldn't find a solution until I found your post.
Now if I could only find a way (if at all) to customize my Explorer toolbar (like I used to be able to in XP). Any suggestions?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thanks alot

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Tim does Vista read the entries in the host file, I added a couple of entries, but it looks like vista isnt picking them up. if i ping the entries i have added, it returns could not find host ...

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Update,
I figured it out, I was editing a copy of the hosts file in a separate directory (e.g. c:\temp) and the replacing the original with that and Vista wasn't picking up the entries (not sure why)

but if I follow the approach above and edit the origianl, it works fine.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks Tim.

The extra security in Vista is nice, but damned annoying when it makes every file Read Only and you can't change what you want.

Hey-ho.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks Tim,

I haven't played with Vista yet but I know this info will help in the future

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hey Tim! Thanks for the heads up! I've got a long way to go before we get reasonably proficient at this... phew...

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks a lot

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hi can someone copy and paste Vista's host file please?

I deleted mine+ lost tthe back up copy i had so I had to make a basic one to get back on the net.

Thanks

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Viper - Here you go.

# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you very much

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hey guys, heres a better way.

Create a new short cut pointing to:

C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Open the properties and click the Advanced button on the Shortcut tab and select Run As Administrator.

That's it, this will allow you to edit the file in place in notepad and open the hosts file automatically.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

use spybot s&d to change hosts file

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

by the way, do I need the 2 entries that vista has default?
Will it hurt to remove them?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks Jim

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks Tim. This was a big help.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

MS page on how to modify hosts http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923947

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

127.0.0.1 serial.alcohol-soft.com # alcohol 120%
127.0.0.1 alcohol-soft.com # alcohol 120%
127.0.0.1 images.alcohol-soft.com # alcohol 120%
127.0.0.1 mermaidconsulting.dk # alcohol 120%

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks. You saved my time!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks a million. Your way of editing the hostfile is much easier for me.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

This could be used to block someone from accessing the router. If that person keeps going into it to mess with the settings and change the password.

127.0.0.1 192.168.1.1

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Also use this to block that annoying myspace.

127.0.0.1 www.myspace.com

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Also I want to block the ms updates. Does anyone know the servers they use? Something like update.microsoft.com?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I will try the host file edit solution and am sure it will work. Thanks for smoothening the rough ride.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I am logged in as Administrator, but everytime I try to save the Hosts file, the system tells me that I do not have permission because I am not an administrator.

What more can I do?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank You!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks!!! Just spent a lot of time trying to figure this out.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Really annoying, even if you log into an administrator account you have to run Notepad explicitly as administrator. It seems it runs with lower privileges otherwise. Don't ask me...

Thanks for the link to the MS page too, would've looked forever without that! Tight security is good and all, but that's just annoying.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks a lot. This helped me lot

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

You guys are legends than

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I'm having a different problem after recenty security (pre-SP1) updates... I can ping the server I have put in the HOSTS file, but when trying to access it by "cd \\server", this times out... when I do "cd \\212.222.111.33" , it works..

HOSTS file:

127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
212.222.111.33 server

PS: server is accessible via Hamachi.. really, really strange.. it seems they cannot do anything right.. Vista connectivity is really shitty (dropping the connection etc.) - but that's different story

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you for posting this. So helpful!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I'm seeing an even odder problem, relating to the hosts file. Maybe this is some 64bit issue, but I don't have a hosts file!
Don't even have a "etc" folder, all I have in C:\Windows\system32\drivers\ is
en-US,
UMDF

Anyone come across this?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

"I'm seeing an even odder problem, relating to the hosts file. Maybe this is some 64bit issue, but I don't have a hosts file!
Don't even have a "etc" folder, all I have in C:\Windows\system32\drivers\ is
en-US,"

This happened to me when I was running a third party file explorer.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Ok ok lets stop talking about this and look on about puberty

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hey Tim, Thank you for the post.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks! Right on the money.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

i get this when i run the search for host on vista in Imhost?
#
# This is a sample LMHOSTS file used by the Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to computernames
# (NetBIOS) names. Each entry should be kept on an individual line.
# The IP address should be placed in the first column followed by the
# corresponding computername. The address and the computername
# should be separated by at least one space or tab. The "#" character
# is generally used to denote the start of a comment (see the exceptions
# below).
#
# This file is compatible with Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x TCP/IP lmhosts
# files and offers the following extensions:
#
# #PRE
# #DOM:<domain>
# #INCLUDE <filename>
# #BEGIN_ALTERNATE
# #END_ALTERNATE
# \0xnn (non-printing character support)
#
# Following any entry in the file with the characters "#PRE" will cause
# the entry to be preloaded into the name cache. By default, entries are
# not preloaded, but are parsed only after dynamic name resolution fails.
#
# Following an entry with the "#DOM:<domain>" tag will associate the
# entry with the domain specified by <domain>. This affects how the
# browser and logon services behave in TCP/IP environments. To preload
# the host name associated with #DOM entry, it is necessary to also add a
# #PRE to the line. The <domain> is always preloaded although it will not
# be shown when the name cache is viewed.
#
# Specifying "#INCLUDE <filename>" will force the RFC NetBIOS (NBT)
# software to seek the specified <filename> and parse it as if it were
# local. <filename> is generally a UNC-based name, allowing a
# centralized lmhosts file to be maintained on a server.
# It is ALWAYS necessary to provide a mapping for the IP address of the
# server prior to the #INCLUDE. This mapping must use the #PRE directive.
# In addtion the share "public" in the example below must be in the
# LanManServer list of "NullSessionShares" in order for client machines to
# be able to read the lmhosts file successfully. This key is under
# \machine\system\currentcontrolset\services\lanmanserver\parameters\nullsessionshares
# in the registry. Simply add "public" to the list found there.
#
# The #BEGIN_ and #END_ALTERNATE keywords allow multiple #INCLUDE
# statements to be grouped together. Any single successful include
# will cause the group to succeed.
#
# Finally, non-printing characters can be embedded in mappings by
# first surrounding the NetBIOS name in quotations, then using the
# \0xnn notation to specify a hex value for a non-printing character.
#
# The following example illustrates all of these extensions:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino #PRE #DOM:networking #net group's DC
# 102.54.94.102 "appname \0x14" #special app server
# 102.54.94.123 popular #PRE #source server
# 102.54.94.117 localsrv #PRE #needed for the include
#
# #BEGIN_ALTERNATE
# #INCLUDE \\localsrv\public\lmhosts
# #INCLUDE \\rhino\public\lmhosts
# #END_ALTERNATE
#
# In the above example, the "appname" server contains a special
# character in its name, the "popular" and "localsrv" server names are
# preloaded, and the "rhino" server name is specified so it can be used
# to later #INCLUDE a centrally maintained lmhosts file if the "localsrv"
# system is unavailable.
#
# Note that the whole file is parsed including comments on each lookup,
# so keeping the number of comments to a minimum will improve performance.
# Therefore it is not advisable to simply add lmhosts file entries onto the



but if i add the lines to log onto the private Lineage 2 server it wont work? I am using the notepad as admin, and get no error message when i make the change and save. I saw a copy of what is supose to be the vista host here in these posts yet mine looks total different?
Help please...

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks man!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thank you very much that was very helpful.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks for the helpful advise! Greatly appreciated.

# Changing your hosts file in Vista

is there a command i can type in 'run' (winkey + r) that opens it in notepad like: open C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc -notepad' or summin like that?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hi can anybody help me i am having problem with signing in to Live Messenger and the only reason is related to the host file that i have PLSSS help me cause eventhough i re-instal the program it still doesn't work

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

10X 10X
LISA

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

nice post
lisa

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you, Man. You saved my day.

PS. I hate Vista.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Obrigado (I mean thanks).

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hi,

First result in Google, direct solution. Thank you very much.

http://www.unofficialmac.com

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I just wanted to say thank you. I have been going crazy trying to access a blocked website and tried everything I could think of! Your instructions were simple to follow (even for a computer novice like me)and worked :0)

THANK YOU!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

THANK YOU!!!

Seriously, Easy instructions, I managed to do what I needed to get on a site I couldn't (for some reason)

Thanks!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Simple and clear steps to get to a solution... That's the way I like it yeaaah ;-)

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

RandyR, are you some type of moron? It states HOSTS file. Who the hell said lmhosts? Why not look for idiotichosts while you're at it?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Too bad Vista is still so expensive, I can't afford it :-(

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks Tim! This saved a lot of time.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Question: I modified my hosts file in Vista and it works fine (blocks the sites I want to block) when I am logged in as the administrator. However, when I am logged in as a user, I still have access to the sites I am trying to block. Any idea what's going on here? Do users have separate hosts files in Vista?

I've already flushed my DNS. To make sure it wasn't a DNS issue, I also put some url's that I've never accessed before into the hosts file . Sure enough, when I'm logged in as a user, I can still access those sites.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Nice info, thanks!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks - that was giving me a headache. I guess these vista security features are a necessary evil.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

How can I use this to host games (for example on wc3)?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Dude, thx a gadzilion times!!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I can open the host but I do now have permission to save it. I could delete it but now I can't same a new one. Any ideas?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

TIMMAH,

Thanks for the fix. You is DA MAN.

-Joe
http://sadsteve.com - the music search engine created by angry youths ;-)

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

"when every body learn how the hell XP works its the time to change everything and get everybody lost!... "
By Vista...

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Cheers for this!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

ur AWESOME....thank you, forgot the run as admin....

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Perfect! Tkz!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Good. but i use the program to run it, also can not. have to manually change.

Thanks anyway.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

For me it didn't want to accept the changes very well doing it that way. It was easier to do this:

Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc

Move the hosts file on my desktop (It will ask for root password)

Right-click > Properties > Uncheck Read-only

Open in Notepad and make changes

Right-click > Properties > Re-check Read-only

Move the file back to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc (You have to enter password again)

Your post was still a great help, I always forget where to find the hosts file so I refer here when I need to look for it.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank You so much!
Helped a lot!
:D:D:D

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you so much!! You really saved my day!!
Thanks again!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

You could just disable UAC.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks lot , the way of changing file is easier...

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you so much!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thanks for the help :P

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thank you thank you thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Your method didn't actually work for me :P

I just had to change the properties of the hosts file to not read only (uncheck the read only box) and then save over it. Opening it as the administrator didn't do jack..

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks, that was very useful

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank You mate.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

if your having problems finding the hosts file do:

A:

Create a new short cut pointing to:

C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Open the properties and click the Advanced button on the Shortcut tab and select Run As Administrator.

Or

B:

right click notepad, Run as Administrator (even if logged in as Admin), and type/paste in the box:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks a lot, it wouldnt work until i read ur post, God bless you

# play free online games

Create a new short cut pointing to:

C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Open the properties and click the Advanced button on the Shortcut tab and select Run As Administrator.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks for this post.

For those that might be having problems seeing their change, try flushing your dns

"Run"

type- ipconfig/flushdns

When you clear your private data in your browser, you should see the change

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks ..!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thx bro.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

It didn't work for me :(

I made the changes to the hosts file and saved it, but I could still access all the sites I wanted to block. I use Firefox. Did anyone experience the same problem?

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Wow unbelievable...!

Bundle of thanks. I saved and change hosts file in Vista. If you have more information like this function then show in your next post please.

Thanks again.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

You're my hero, Tim!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

My problem is a little more complex maybe. I need to have a port forwarded to a different computer, say 192.168.2.33 and the port is 8767 for example. How to I enter this in the hosts file?


127.0.0.1 192.168.2.33:8767 #????????

Thanks for the guide!

Jason

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

@jason
Port forwarding needs to be done in your router, not your hosts file.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

A little explination to help clear up my issue, since I so thoughtfully provided it above... sorry about that....:

I am using putty from behind an academic firewall that blocks me access from certain programs.

for example; xfire or TeamSpeak.

I use these to communicate with off campus students in groups that we have for classes here. I can successfully forward a port using putty through ssh, but I cannot get my hosts file to show this forwarding so that all I have to do is have my applications configured the same, but my windows box will automatically change the address from www.mynamehere.com to localhost or 127.0.0.1 with the correct port.

I know it can be done as I did it several months prior, just never wrote down the instructions nor the site I found them on.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

I apologize for the double posts above. I am apparently impatient with the sebsite and how it updates, or just click happy...

Jason

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you to the original poster.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you thats a great tricK!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Cheers, I had a stupid trojen that had left a trail, and coldnt' work out how to change it, sbybot wouldn't work, and I couldn't override the file, so cheers.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

i kept getting a message that it couldn't find the path specified or something when i tried to save my changes. like "C:....etc/hosts file could not be found. Please check to see if the path is correct." So then I decided to spite notepad and tried opening it with wordpad instead. and... it worked perfectly. so. if y'all are having problems on vista with notepad, try wordpad.

btw, thanks for the post. great info and advice. =]

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Even when I save my hosts file as **All Files** it's properties still attribute it to a txt. file. I've made changes to it that don't appear to have taken effect, so I assume this could be the reason. The file does not have a txt extension, but it appears as a text file anyways in the folder. I've ran notepad as administrator, and followed all the other advice given on this forum so far.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Cheers.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Many Thanks -helps me to successfully change host file

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you much, Tim!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista -BUT 64 BIT VERSION

Hi!

Nice all this, but:

HOW DO I Change in VISTA 64 bit ?????

There are two "hosts" files and in totally different folders.

e.g. "c:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..nfrastructure-other_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_5e6cdbf5b2cd5bcb\"

There is no <etc> directory in the ..\system32\drivers\

The Problem is that the files are WRITE PROTECTED ... unchangeable .... nothing to do with User rights or UAC.
It's like the file is in use.

Any way to do entries there via a menu or option setting without editing the file by yourself ?
Any clue `?

Thx!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

What do you know, not matter which version of Linux/Unix I use, the hosts file is in the same place, /etc/hosts

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Really useful tip! Started work today to find localhost not resolving. After tracking down the problem to the hosts file I struggled for 40 minutes to find a way to make changes in this file. Vista....sigh.

I can now get back to development. Cheers!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Great tip! Thanks much for the posting!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Great job keep it up.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

a windows vista update killed secureCRT's port forwarding, and it was the hosts file no longer specifying 127.0.0.1 to localhost.
Your instructions saved my a$$, thank you very much!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thank so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

moglby to ktor przetlumaczyc na polski BLAGAM....

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks lot

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

THANK YOU so very very much!!!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks - Thanks, I work with this problem for the last 4 days, I´m almost get crazy, after your advise its work now :) You are the true Guru :) :)

Thanks again

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

THANK YOU for this post!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Well, the hosts file doesn't block all the sites listed in the hosts file. It lets some through and blocks others. Why is that? This is a fresh install of Windows Vista RTM. No spyware, up to date antivirus.

I added:

127.0.0.1 www.microsoft.com

but if I go to www.microsoft.com, it will still connect. ???

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thank you. have this f'ing vista. Wish I could find drivers for my wireless nic for XP.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks :)

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

ahsante sana!!! The microsoft support nitwits skipped a step and it has driven me nuts (slap chop!) all evening. Thnx.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thanks for the tip was really good,lol

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

D'yakoo-u. Spasibo. Merci. Gracias. Thank you!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

THANK YOU for this post!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

THANK YOU for this post!!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

LEGEND. Thank you so much as i needed to change my hosts file for my webserver :D

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks for sharing!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks Tim,
Could not figure this out for a long time. :)

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you very much for the post. It is really helpfull

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

thanks

kazim

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

hmm,
ok i get wat i need to put and make a host file but when u save it wat do u save it as eg "Hosts.???"
i really nedd help pls someone

# Mr

You just save it without any extension. So no .txt or anything OK!
The file name should just look like:
HOSTS
It will save without a probnlem without an extension.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you Tim, I needed to add a line related to adobe CS4 and I was trying to change the folder permissions which didn't work at all. However, this did :)

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you so much!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you very much for the post. It is really helpfull

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Hi!

Nice all this, but:

HOW DO I Change in VISTA 64 bit ?????

QUOTE:


There are two "hosts" files and in totally different folders.

e.g. "c:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..nfrastructure-other_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_5e6cdbf5b2cd5bcb\"

There is no <etc> directory in the ..\system32\drivers\

The Problem is that the files are WRITE PROTECTED ... unchangeable .... nothing to do with User rights or UAC.
It's like the file is in use.

Any way to do entries there via a menu or option setting without editing the file by yourself ?
Any clue `?

Thx!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have EXATLY the same problem , i have a 64bit vista ultimate, help would be appriciated, I HATE VISTA!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thanks! This was just the information I needed.

And just in case anyone else was wondering, unlike so many things in Windows, it doesn't appear that you need to reboot the machine to have the changes take effect. I just saved the hosts file and reloaded the page and everything started working as expected.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Nice work on your page.

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Thank you. i was strugglgin how to update hosts file vista.. this article helped me a lot

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

i cant see hosts file in system32\drivers\etc . but also my hosts file is read-only. help me please i cant change it. is there a way to uncheck the read-only box "remotely"!!

# re: Changing your hosts file in Vista

Oh! Thank ypu very much! This really helped me loads.