Problems with HOSTS file

[WazBrown]

Hi all,
Got a problem with the HOSTS file on this machine. All web browser and PING requests just seem to be completely ignoring it. I can confirm:

- the file is called HOSTS (without an extension located in %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc)
- The registry key (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters) points to this directory
- I have tried reseting the TCP/IP stack (with netsh int ip reset <logpath>)
- Done a full malware scan
- Used winsock fix

All of which are to no avail and I am now completely stumped. Can anyone please help?

Many Thanks
Warren

 

[linney]

What exactly is happening, or not happening, that makes you think there is a problem concerning the hosts file?

Are there any clues in your Event Viewer?

Is there a problem with the hardware/network side of things?


Is some third party software causing the problem, perhaps a firewall?

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

I Simply Can't Ping A Computer On My Network
thread779-1096319

No ICMP response from Windows XP client - firewall disabled
thread779-1104435

 

[Niksen]

you don't need to reset anything.

All windows machines will ALLWAYS first try to resolve a hostname in host file. be it when you type in a webbrowser or anywhere else.

if you put an entry, say cnn.com and point to your webserver, your browser will go to your webserver even if your DNS would have told you to go to CNN's webserver.

so maybe check your syntax in host file ?

should be:

127.0.0.1 localhost
192.245.211.223 cnn.com

no spaces other than a <TAB> between

brgds Nicolai

 

[WazBrown]

Hi, thanks for the replies...
thats what i've got the syntax as, as a tester i've gone into the hosts file and set:

127.0.0.1 ibm.com

and tried to ping it just as a tester. But the ping is still redirected to 129.42.18.203 as it normally would be. This one is knocking me for 6. Any ideas?

Thanks
Warren Brown
Software Developer

 

[smah]

Any ideas for what??? You still haven't stated what the problem is. Are you saying that the hosts file is being ignored & you're trying to figure out why?

 

[Freedom99]

What are you trying to do that the Host file is stopping you from doing? Is this on just one machine?

 

[SimonDavies]

Silly thing but did you try to flush the dns resolver cache? (Ipconfig /flushdns) just incase it's already cached in there.

SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[rgzimmer]

What are you pinging? ibm.com or

http://www.ibm.com?

It makes a difference.