hosts file is ignored

[ILW]

I've got several entries in my hosts file (W2K professional, SP4) but suddenly they're all being ignored. Trying to ping any of the names (except localhost) returns "unknown host"

I've got some "nasty" which keeps changing my IE homepage to best-search.cc/..... which I've been unable to fix (despite removing several references with regedit) Don't know if this is connected.

Any ideas guys/gals?

 

[bcastner]

faq608-4650 will sort this hijack/malware.

 

[CharlieJax]

Try the following:

1) Search on whatever the home page you keep getting reset to is in google, that should tell you how to remove it (probably some files in your temp directory)

2) Use a command prompt to run ipconfig /refresh to clear out your DNS "memory" on the machine and then try reaching the servers you have in your host file.

CJ

Don't drink and post, save that for driving home!

 

[Dswordfishz]

Hi ILW,

I had the same problem. After a few hours of troubleshooting I found the solution. Open the registry and click on My Computer..Edit..Find and type in DataBasePath (or nsdb)
1)Change it from %systemRoot%\nsdb to
%systemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc ..click ok
2)Hit the F3 button and repeat step 1)
3)Delete c:\winnt\nsdb folder
4)Restart your PC

Now the computer should see the hosts file entries.
Dswordfishz