How to change hosts file in Vista?

MicTech

Posted 2009-10-19T18:07:22.237

Reputation: 9 888

Answers

Type

notepad %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

into the search box in the start menu and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

Admin privileges, the right file from the start and it even gets created if it doesn't exist (after a prompt by Notepad).

The keystroke saved for not needing Win+R gets lost for Ctrl+Shift+Enter, though. So yes, it's way more cumbersome to do in Vista than in XP.

I think I may have wasted ... let me check ... 0 seconds on that this year. Nice :-)

Joey

Posted 2009-10-19T18:07:22.237

Reputation: 36 381

Isn't easy like at XP.

Start -> All Programs -> Accessories
Run "Notepad" as administrator
Click on File -> Open
Go to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc
Change the file filter to "All Files (.)"
Open "hosts" file
Make changes and save.
Done

MicTech

Posted 2009-10-19T18:07:22.237

Reputation: 9 888

1That's exactly the same as in XP, sans 2 words. – Phoshi – 2009-10-19T18:13:02.770

Well, if one takes the convoluted way, it looks like a really horrible procedure :-) – Joey – 2009-10-19T18:41:42.527

Difference is that in XP users run as administrator by default, so you don't need all the extra work to run notepad as administrator – davr – 2009-10-19T19:23:02.987

That's the two words difference, yes :-) – Joey – 2009-10-19T20:23:28.873

2@davr; You mean a right click? Truly vista is the spawn of the devil itself. – Phoshi – 2009-10-19T21:14:07.663

@phoshi: well, it is a Microsoft product... – quack quixote – 2009-10-21T11:49:04.027

Another useful software to edit hosts file : HOSTSMAN

NT.

Posted 2009-10-19T18:07:22.237

Reputation: 1 677