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WIN 7 host file details

Answered WIN 7 host file details

  • Monday, November 19, 2012 3:06 PM
     
     
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    Hello

    I have understood that you cant edit the host fiel as you used to under WIN XP.

    On my WIN7 pc I must follow the prescribed method of 1st running notpepad as Administrator thenopeingthe host file from within Notepad. Then I ca nhave my changes saved

    I have  another  windows 7 laptop that I can just open  the host file any old way I want  and save changes with no  warning that I cant save the changes

    Any explaination for this  Iahve no recollection of unhdin the file or changin and security on the file ....and it appeaers the security for the fiel is the same as on my other PC that seesm to make me follw what everyone says about running notpad as administrator then you cna edit and save

    also unrelated to this question .... a separate  question ...what would happen  if you saved a winxp host file  on usb flash drive and dumped it into the proper WIN7 folder......would it function correclty ?   is thare any way to know if the file was of WINXP vintage ?

    thanks

     

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  • Monday, November 19, 2012 3:23 PM
     
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    The hosts file is protected by your UAC settings. If UAC is off then there is no protection.

    Have a look at the hosts file. It is just a plain text file. There is nothing in there that is Windows-7 specific.

    • Proposed As Answer by Brano Lukic Monday, November 19, 2012 4:42 PM
    • Marked As Answer by DanielDeCoursey Monday, November 19, 2012 7:46 PM
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  • Monday, November 19, 2012 6:29 PM
     
     
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    Any idea why when you launch Notebook and try to open the host file , you must changethe file type selection to all files?   I have always wondered abou tthat   and becasue of that  ialways have made sure to not save it as txt ....... dont knw why   butthat it what i ahve always done 

    anyway,

    my WIN7 PC has UAC set to NEVER and I still must do the "regular" method of host file editing that I learned when WIN7 1st came out

    Unhide the file

    Launch Notepadas ADMINISTRATOR

    do the file open within notepad and youwil lbe able to save changes

    any other way will not save changes

    now on the WIN7  laptop  UAC is also set to never and you can open /edit the hostfile anyway you want and it will permit the edited file

     to be saved ....no eleveated privilages needed

    very confusing

     
  • Monday, November 19, 2012 6:31 PM
     
     
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    http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/windows-7-hosts-file/

    here is one of the many examples out on the net

     
  • Monday, November 19, 2012 7:33 PM
     
     
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    Any idea why when you launch Notebook and try to open the host file , you must changethe file type selection to all files?   I have always wondered abou tthat   and becasue of that  ialways have made sure to not save it as txt

    Notepad.exe saves its files by default with a .txt extension, unless you set the file type to "all files". Since the Hosts file has no extension, the "all files" option is required.

    I assume the link you quoted answers your remaining questions.

     
  • Monday, November 19, 2012 7:46 PM
     
     
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    That link outlines the process I have always followed since WIN7 came out

    launching notepad as administrator  then file open from within notepad..........

    so my quandry of why it seems that you may of may not have ot follow that prescribed method is still a big question ....one that it appears may not have an answer.......if one way doesnt  not work use the other ?  

    just like some folks say to never let notepad put.  txt on the file but others  state it is a txt file ....... as long as the file works whether it is .txt or not     I dont care 

    thanks