I use OA and have a completely empty hosts file. How do I fill it with the appropriate lists?

First, it might not be empty. If you are not using the latest version, the routine that painted the HOSTS file on that tab had a bug. Having said that here's the best way to manage and populate your HOSTS file:

Please download HostsXpert from here:

http://www.funkytoad.com/content/view/13/31/

Create a new folder C:\Program Files\HostsXpert and unzip your download into that folder.

Run HostsXpert. Click Make writable if that is the first item at the top of the left hand side. If not, do not click on that button. Next, click on Restore MS HOSTS File.

Click on Download and then MVPs Hosts, and choose Merge File.

When the download completes and the file is merged, click File Handling, and then Make ReadOnly? Then exit HostsXpert.

Hosts tab now contains one line:

Status IP Host
Allowed 127.0.0.1 localhost

Did you download the MVPS HOSTS file and merge it like I said above? If not, the line you see is the standard HOSTS that comes from MS. It looks like you didn't do the last steps correctly.

OA version is 2.1.0.112

I chose Merge File and then got this Warning: Your DNS Client Service is running and should be disabled before utilizing a large Hosts file ... Press OK to proceed anyway.

OK led nowhere, so I canceled and continued through File Handling, etc. and wound up with the one line. So, how do I disable DNS Client Service. Help menus don't help. (Added the version number before I saw your reply).

Thank you

That's the latest released version.

Go to Start/Administrative Tools/Services. Scroll down to DNS Client and right click on it. Choose Stop from the context menu. Do not close the open panel. Do your stuff with HostsXpert, then after it is finished, go back to the Services panel, right click on DSN Client again and choose Start from the context menu. Close out of all open panels, and you should be set.

DNS found and taken care of. I get to Merge File, a bar opens, fills with green, "Connecting to Site" appears, then a display box: "ERROR - Cannot open file HOSTS."

Your HOSTS file is locked. Click on the file menu of HostsXpert and click on "Make Writable".

I've been over my head on this almost from the beginning. Where is the file menu? If you mean what appears after I run HostsXpert, Make Writeable doesn't appear at the top of the left-hand column.

Sorry, I don't think I can help you if you cannot follow those very simple instructions. Literally, I have used them hundreds of times in the past, and you are the first person who doesn't seem to be able to follow them. My advice is just leave things the way they are.

Please understand, I am not trying to be nasty or mean, but we have so many people to help that I simply cannot devote this much time and effort to this one issue.

I came to CastleCops because I just don't know, and I have been given answers to questions I was hesitant to post because I thought that they were too simple, too basic. I was given answers, not condescendingly as I had feared, but by teachers! You are much too important to have to deal with the likes of me! You are correct; you are not mean, nor are you nasty -- the word for you is small. You are not up to my standards. You are not a teacher, you spew facts. My signature below mirrors my true feelings; I won't let the likes of you ruin the pleasure I have experienced here! Believe it: I have been called stupid by better people than you!

Have a read through the following it may help you:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm


If you have Spybot - Search & Destroy installed you can download their hosts file from the 'Tools' section in Advanced Mode.

Thanks! That one link is a treasure chest of information. I've run Jason's Toolbox on Firefox and IE; and Spybot is a great idea.

Bingo! Problem completely solved with your Spybot suggestion. As soon as I clicked on the add hosts file button, not only did the Spybot file fill up but the Online Armor file filled up as well. Thank you so very much!