Where is my Hosts file?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jorge Bravo
  • Start date Start date
Jorge Bravo said:
Could you tell me what it is called and where it should be please?

Thnaks you
Click to expand...

It called the Hosts File usually Hosts.txt and you find it in this path:
C:\windows for Wind9X
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc for XP.
To access it you need to open the Windows explorer by going to Start >> All
Programs >> Accessories >> Windows explorer.
There locate the path mentioned above and double click it bu be sure not the
one with the extension *.SAM* leave this as is just the Hosts.txt or it will
be Hosts.
Open it with the Notepad and do your editing if you sure there are some bad
entires there.
If you can't see it be sure to turn the Show Hidden files and folder from
the Tools >> Folder Options.
It will be easy for you if you told us why you want to access it?.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
 
Jorge said:
Could you tell me what it is called and where it should be
please?
Thnaks you
Click to expand...

It is called hosts (no extension) and should be located in
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
 
Thanks both

I found it and after a little trouble, opened it with Word.

Am I allowed to edit it with Word? There was a starnge box asking me about
conversions...

Thank you
 
Yes you could edit with word or right click it and select open with and
select Notepad.
What message or Box, is it windows or one of those telling you your hosts
file contaminated and download this and that to clean up?.
Please provide more info to give you the right procedure.
Thank you.
nass
 
Wel, in fact now I think I would just like to delete the hosts file
altogether. I downloaded a Hosts from the NEt and the computer gotvery
slow. I know I can change some settings but prefer to just get rid of it.
Can I do that? Will the original MS hosts reinstall automatically at next
boot up?
Can I just delete the whole etc folder?

Thank you
 
Jorge said:
Wel, in fact now I think I would just like to delete the hosts file
altogether. I downloaded a Hosts from the NEt and the computer gotvery
slow. I know I can change some settings but prefer to just get rid of it.
Can I do that? Will the original MS hosts reinstall automatically at next
boot up?
Can I just delete the whole etc folder?
Click to expand...

You don't want to delete the file and you don't want to open it in Word.
You want to open it in Notepad, a plain text editor. Once you have the
file open, delete everything after the comments. The only thing that
should be in your Hosts file is:

127.0.0.1 localhost

After editing it, simply save it.

Malke
 
Problem is it doesn't open in Notepad, because, I uess, it is too long.

So now what do I do?
 
Hi Jorge,

Can you be more specific whose HOSTS file, and where you got it? It could
answer your sluggishness.

--
Curt
http://dundats.mvps.org/
http://www.aumha.org/


| Wel, in fact now I think I would just like to delete the hosts file
| altogether. I downloaded a Hosts from the NEt and the computer gotvery
| slow. I know I can change some settings but prefer to just get rid of it.
| Can I do that? Will the original MS hosts reinstall automatically at next
| boot up?
| Can I just delete the whole etc folder?
|
| Thank you
|
|
| | >
| > Yes you could edit with word or right click it and select open with and
| > select Notepad.
| > What message or Box, is it windows or one of those telling you your
hosts
| > file contaminated and download this and that to clean up?.
| > Please provide more info to give you the right procedure.
| > Thank you.
| > nass
| > ---------
| > www.nasstec.co.uk
| >
| > "Jorge Bravo" wrote:
| >
| >> Thanks both
| >>
| >> I found it and after a little trouble, opened it with Word.
| >>
| >> Am I allowed to edit it with Word? There was a starnge box asking me
| >> about
| >> conversions...
| >>
| >> Thank you
| >>
| >>
| >>
| >> | >> >
| >> >
| >> > "Jorge Bravo" wrote:
| >> >
| >> >> Could you tell me what it is called and where it should be please?
| >> >>
| >> >> Thnaks you
| >> >
| >> > It called the Hosts File usually Hosts.txt and you find it in this
| >> > path:
| >> > C:\windows for Wind9X
| >> > C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc for XP.
| >> > To access it you need to open the Windows explorer by going to Start| >> > All
| >> > Programs >> Accessories >> Windows explorer.
| >> > There locate the path mentioned above and double click it bu be sure
| >> > not
| >> > the
| >> > one with the extension *.SAM* leave this as is just the Hosts.txt or
it
| >> > will
| >> > be Hosts.
| >> > Open it with the Notepad and do your editing if you sure there are
some
| >> > bad
| >> > entires there.
| >> > If you can't see it be sure to turn the Show Hidden files and folder
| >> > from
| >> > the Tools >> Folder Options.
| >> > It will be easy for you if you told us why you want to access it?.
| >> > HTH.
| >> > Let us know.
| >> > Regards,
| >> > nass
| >>
| >>
| >>
|
|
 
No don't delete it just open it with notepad and edit it and remove all bad
entries there:

# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # Source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # Client Host
127.0.0.1 LocalHost
------------------------------------------
Remove all other References other than those above.
Download the Spybot from here:
http://www.safer-networking.org

Read the help file with spybot on how to use Tea timer Mode and you can use
it to lock your Hosts file and nothing can alter the file at all inless you
change the setting.
Try it first without the tea timer settings and scan for malwares.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
 
nass said:
It called the Hosts File usually Hosts.txt
Click to expand...


No, it's just called "hosts." No extension.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


and you find it in this
 
Jorge said:
Thanks both

I found it and after a little trouble, opened it with Word.

Am I allowed to edit it with Word? There was a starnge box asking me
about conversions...
Click to expand...


Editing it in Word is a very poor idea. Unless you are very careful to do a
Save as, rather than Save, you will save it in Word's native doc format,
which will render it unusable.

Word is a poor choice for editing any plain text-based file. Notepad,
primitive as it is, is much safer.
 
Hi Jorge,

As of yet I still haven't heard where you obtained the HOSTS file, but in
the event you are using Mike Burgess' file from here:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
that may indeed be too big for Notepad. I forget the size limit in Notepad,
but it isn't very big.

If you are experiencing slowdowns with that file, see here about issues with
large HOSTS files over 135KB, and what can be done to remedy the problem:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm#Note

HTH,
--
Curt
http://dundats.mvps.org/
http://www.aumha.org/


| Problem is it doesn't open in Notepad, because, I uess, it is too long.
|
| So now what do I do?
|
|
|
|
| | > Jorge Bravo wrote:
| >> Wel, in fact now I think I would just like to delete the hosts file
| >> altogether. I downloaded a Hosts from the NEt and the computer gotvery
| >> slow. I know I can change some settings but prefer to just get rid of
| >> it.
| >> Can I do that? Will the original MS hosts reinstall automatically at
| >> next boot up?
| >> Can I just delete the whole etc folder?
| >
| > You don't want to delete the file and you don't want to open it in Word.
| > You want to open it in Notepad, a plain text editor. Once you have the
| > file open, delete everything after the comments. The only thing that
| > should be in your Hosts file is:
| >
| > 127.0.0.1 localhost
| >
| > After editing it, simply save it.
| >
| > Malke
| > --
| > Elephant Boy Computers
| > www.elephantboycomputers.com
| > "Don't Panic!"
| > MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
|
|
 
Thank you Curt

I had already read that sie and also another obe that tells you that you
souldn't take uts advice...

Anyway, what I want to do now is to get rid of the hosts file altogether,
whether it is a good dea or not.

Can I delete?
Is there a program to edit a big Hosts file?

Thank you very much
 
You're welcome Jorge.
I have been using Mike B.'s HOSTS file for several years with no problem
whatsoever. I can't imagine why you should *not* use it, or his fix for
large HOSTS files. The change in the "Services" section certainly helped my
machine.

I wouldn't delete it if you really don't want to use it. Simply rename the
file something like HOSTS.bak or something.

BTW, I use EditPad Lite in place of Notepad. Much more flexible, with no
size limits. It's also free for home use.
http://www.editpadpro.com/editpadlite.html

HTH,

--
Curt

http://dundats.mvps.org/
http://www.aumha.org/
 
Thanks

Now I have another problem

I tried to reinstall the Hosts file by downloading and unzipping it again
and it is asking for a password! I never set a password for the Hosts file.
I think I have a Trojan!

How can I get round this, plesae?

Thanks
 
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