Success! But certainly not easily attained.
Following nass' instructions, here's what I did:
* uninstalled Spybot
* restarted in Safe mode, using the Administrator. Later, I'll try
using my regular user.
* in DOS mode, copied the new file over the old one, no problems.
After restarting the regular way, with Spybot not installed, I tried to
edit the hosts file, with no success. So it appears that Spybot is not
involved with this.
Perhaps my user account does not have the same rights as the
Administrator, but in looking at them in the admin tools, they are
identical.
Thanks again for your great help. I now have a solution, but if anyone
can offer an easier one (i.e., without having to start in Safe mode)
I'd be very appreciative.
nass wrote:
Okay, there something playing cat & Mouse here!, please try to uninstall
Spybot S&D from your machine and delete any traces for it by open up the
search engine on your local machine and in the Registry ( be careful here).
Also Disable Zone Alarm from the start up programs.
Start up your machine in *Safe mode* then try to delete the file if
successful then you do not need to proceed with next steps.
If no joy try to take the ownership for this file as *Full control* and
uninstall Zone Alarm completely from your computer.
Here is the link again for the Ownership:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421
If all successful try install the Sotwares and do the Right configurations
to suite your needs, and do not Run Spybot in Tea or( Cafe *grin*) timer
again.
Are you able to login with Admin Rather than the other user in the Admin
group! and see may be the admin have the priviliges to solve this.
HTH
Regards
nass
:
I cannot do anything with the hosts file except open it to view. No
deleting, no renaming, no moving, nothing. Something has the original
file locked up (I cannot tell what), preventing me from doing anything
with it, except viewing it.
nass wrote:
So you been able to edit the new Renamed file that mean the original Hosts
file was locked by somehow (Permissions, locked by Avs, Spybot..etc.) so you
do not need it just delete it and use the renamed one and do what you want in
it.
The OS will see the new renamed Hosts and will work with it, in a matter of
fact some Avs and Anti-spyware will still make trouble even after been
removed, because still some traces left behind will make the OS think they
still operating.
Another Option try Rename the Hosts.old to the original Hosts file, but
first delete the Hosts file from the OS (keep a copy on floppy you may need
to restore it back) and see if you will be able to edit.
HTH
Please write back with your findings
Regards
nass
:
I saved a copy of hosts, naming it hosts.old, then rebooted. I could
edit the hosts.old file but not the hosts file. I'm the only user of
this PC and it has only 2 user names assigned (Administrator and the
one I use). Both are in the Administrators group.
Any other ideas? Thanks for all your help with this.
nass wrote:
:
Thanks for your help with this. I've tried a few things suggested with
no success:
1. In MSCONFIG, turned off AVG - hosts file locked
2. " " Spybot Teatimer - file locked
3. " " ZoneAlarm - file locked
4. Used EndItAll - file locked
5. Ran RK tools - results:
//
// TIME: 2006-07-02 14:50
// MACHINE: (I've deleted this)
// BUILD: 2600
// OH version: built by: dnsrv_dev(v-smgum)
//
//
It appears no program is using the file (I did type the command in
correctly).
6. I tried moving the file - not allowed.
7. The file's properties does not show it to be read-only, but the etc
folder is, so I've changed that to not read-only. Still no success.
Any other ideas? Should I try to repair Windows?
Wesley Vogel wrote:
Know which process has locked a file - Windows XP
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/processlock.htm
With the HOSTS file Read-only, if you make a change and try to save it you
get a message similar to this:
---------------------------
Notepad
---------------------------
Cannot create the C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\Desktop\HOSTS
file.
Make sure that the path and filename are correct.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
If you click OK, a Save As dialog pops up.
HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
Your message:
File/Device may be ReadOnly, or open for write by another application
brings up no hits on Google.
What happens if you try to move the HOSTS file to the Desktop? Any error
messages?
Make sure that you move it back to %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In (e-mail address removed) <
[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
Thanks again but...
1. Spybot: The 'lock Hosts file' is not checked here.
2. In Windows Explorer, the file is not shown to be read only.
I have no problem keeping the file locked, however I would like to
unlock it to update the contents. Any other suggestions?
Wesley Vogel wrote:
Spybot - Search & Destroy | Tools | IE Tweaks |
Uncheck Lock Hosts file read-only as protection against hijackers.
from Spybot - Search & Destroy HELP:
[[IE Tweaks Tools
These are very small changes recommended to make your system a bit safer
and more secure. Locking the hosts file will prevent most hosts
hijackers (even unknown) from doing harm; locking the IE settings will
prevent other users of your computer to change your preferences.
You can also change the Internet Explorer title to a user-defined text,
or remove a pre-defined text. ]]
You can accomplish the same thing by right clicking
%WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS, selecting Properties and UNChecking
Read-only on the General tab.
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In Ben M. Schorr - MVP <
[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
Aloha (e-mail address removed),
Spybot does, I think. If you put it in Advanced Mode and check the
"Hosts" tool. (I don't have Spybot on this machine right now so I can't
check it).
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr - MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
Microsoft OneNote FAQ:
http://www.factplace.com/onenotefaq.htm
Thanks and correct. I'm running AVG, ZoneAlarm, and Spybot Teatimer.
I haven't seen anything in them that locks up the file, though.
Ben M. Schorr - MVP wrote:
Aloha (e-mail address removed),
I'm betting that you have an anti-spyware program running that is
locking it.
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr - MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
Microsoft OneNote FAQ:
http://www.factplace.com/onenotefaq.htm
I am unable to save changes to my Host file and was wondering what I
can do to allow this.
I'm running XP Professional, with admin rights, and the file is not
read-only. When I try to save the file I get a box with this
notation:
"File/Device may be ReadOnly, or open for write by another
application!
Use 'Save As' to save as a different name."
I've tried doing this with nothing open except Windows Explorer.
Any ideas how to accomplish this?
Thanks for any help.
What about while all Turn OFF try to save the HOSTS file say with usual name
Hosts.OLD and Reboot and see if you can edit it.
Are you sure you have the Privilige as Admin to do so, just curious to know.
Also try to take the Ownership of the file again and try.
HTH
nass
