Where is the HOSTS file supposed to be located?

[Jackson]

Win XP(MCE), updated

There is a HOSTS file in each of these these three directories:

=> C:\i386
=> C:\Documents...\AllUsers\...\automaintanence
=> C:\Windows\system32\etc

Which one of these is the file in active use when I use IE or FireFox?
Do I need them all?

I want to temporarily rename the active one to run a test. I can't
view the videos on the weather channel and I want to see if removing
the HOSTS file has any effect.

Thanks...

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Win XP(MCE), updated

There is a HOSTS file in each of these these three directories:

=> C:\i386
=> C:\Documents...\AllUsers\...\automaintanence
=> C:\Windows\system32\etc

Which one of these is the file in active use when I use IE or FireFox?

The host file is in C:\Windows\system32\etc

 

[Malke]

The host file is in C:\Windows\system32\etc

It can also be in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\


Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

It can also be in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\

My mistake, sorry. I didn't notice that \drivers\ was missing from the
path he mentioned.

Will it even work in the C:\Windows\system32\etc? Not as far as I
know.

 

[Malke]

My mistake, sorry. I didn't notice that \drivers\ was missing from the
path he mentioned.

Will it even work in the C:\Windows\system32\etc? Not as far as I
know.

I don't think so but I have a very vague memory of it possibly being
somewhere else if you upgraded from something else. Or not. ;-)
I've always found it in drivers/etc but I thought you knew something I
don't. It wouldn't be the first time!


Malke

 

[Jim]

Win XP(MCE), updated

There is a HOSTS file in each of these these three directories:

=> C:\i386 Version used to restore.
=> C:\Documents...\AllUsers\...\automaintanence Don't know
=> C:\Windows\system32\etc

It is supposed to be in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc

This is version that the operating system uses.

Which one of these is the file in active use when I use IE or FireFox?

When you are using IE or FireFox, you are using the file which the operating
system used to configure the network. Neither of these programs have any
control over the network components of the operating system

Do I need them all?

You don't need the one found in C:\Documents (etc)
Keep the other two.

I want to temporarily rename the active one to run a test. I can't
view the videos on the weather channel and I want to see if removing
the HOSTS file has any effect.

This test is a waste of time if only line is:
127.0.0.1 localhost
This is the only line which is really needed in this file.
Lines which contain other definitions did not get there by accident.
Since Windows reads the HOSTS file for ip addresses first, it might be
possible to do something nasty to the weather channel ip. But, if you can
access the weather channel via your browser, you
must have some other kind of problem.
Jim

 

[Jackson]

It can also be in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\


Malke

Oops. Sorry guys. I left the drivers directory out by error. It
should be C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc

Thanks for the info.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I don't think so but I have a very vague memory of it possibly being
somewhere else if you upgraded from something else. Or not. ;-)
I've always found it in drivers/etc but I thought you knew something I
don't.

LOL! Nope, just my carelessness.

It wouldn't be the first time!

And ditto in the opposite direction. We *all* know some things the
next person doesn't, and that's what makes participation here so
valuable. Not only do we help others, but we learn from each other
(and I don't just mean MVPs).