Windows7 will not let me edit the hosts file and save it

Anonymous
2010-04-16T18:31:57+00:00

Windows7 will not let me edit the hosts file and save it. What must I do in order to save the edited host file?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-04-16T18:47:57+00:00

It's a built-in safety feature.  There is an easy workaround.  ClickStart ->All Programs -> Accessories.  Right-clickNotepad, and then click Run as administrator.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or clickAllow or Yes.

Open the Hosts file (from the notepad you just opened) , make your changes, and then click File ->Save. 

Barbara

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Anonymous
2010-04-16T20:43:01+00:00

You need to either take ownership of the file (Right click the hosts file, Security tab, and give yourself full rights), or open Notepad as Administrator and open, edit and save your hosts file from there. It's designed that way so some rogue malware can't come in and change that.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-04-16T13:04:47+00:00

    Open hosts with notepad.exe, edit, save as hosts.txt

    Restart computer in [safe mode with command prompt]     -using the gui will cause failure-

    Login as an Administrator

    cd \

    cd \windows\system32\drivers\etc\

    del hosts

    ren hosts.txt hosts

    shutdown /r

    This did work. result: success

    There should be a simpler way...

    I tried taking ownership of the file with       takeown

    Tried opening up notepad as administrator

    added myself to the file security as an administrator

    added myself to the folder security as an administrator

    none of these actions made any difference, result failure

    I read about others being able to simply use these methods and succeed, but they did

    not work for me.

    The only suggestion I have not tried yet was the "turn off USER ACCOUNT CONTROL SETTINGS.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-04-26T06:44:11+00:00

    when i open the document with notepad it appears differently. how do i make it the same?

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-05-02T00:41:19+00:00

    Always open the file with the same text editing program..., 

    WINWORD.EXE          Microsoft Word,

    write.exe                      WordPad

    notepad.exe,               notepad              best for editing scripts & other simple files

                                                                   where you don't want to bother with fonts &

                                                                   other formating issues.

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