Hosts file

General Topics
1

Dear Forum,

Can somebody tell me where my host file is?

I’ve looked in C:\WINDOWS\ and C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 but there is no host.txt.

The operating system is Window$ XP Pro $P3.

Thanks in advance!

Avastfan1

2

c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts Right click on the last file and open with notepad

3

It’s just host, not host.txt.
It’s a extensionless file.

4

Have you not tried a search for HOSTS using windows explorer’s search function ???

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

5

Thank you both for the tip. I located it.

Would you be so kind as to share your thoughts on the contents of mine? (Please see below).

Thanks in advance,

Avastfan1

Copyright (c) 1993-1999 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

6

That is the default HOSTS file, nothing wrong there.

7

Thanks!

Really appreciate that! Have a great night!

Avastfan1

8

You’re welcome.

Was there anything that made you seek out the HOSTS file ?

9

Have a read:
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

10

Hi DavidR,

Not particularly. Purely my lack of knowledge about Window$ (due to my DOS roots) and the thirst for knowledge to know more about computers.

Thanks,

Avastfan1

11

The HOSTS file has been around since DOS days as it was used when the DNS system was not available:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System#History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file

There’s no place like 127.0.0.1

In computer terms it means There’s no place like home as the first line of the HOSTS file 127.0.0.1 localhost defines home as this computer.

Brings back memories of '82 and my first IBM PC.