Windows 7 - Administrator issues...

Wasn't really sure which forum to place my question in, but this seemed the safest bet...

I'm trying to modify the hosts file (.txt document) in Windows-System32-drivers-etc. to get a particular program to run, but cannot save the file once I've made my changes; I'm told I do not have administrator privileges (even though I am the administrator and only user of this PC).

I am unsure of how to go about this; I've tried changing the 'read only' status of the folder via 'properties', but cannot seem to accomplish this either. Could someone kindly give me some simple, step-by-step instructions? (I am told to save the file in 'documents' with a different name, but this defeats the purpose of my changes).

Florio

Open an elevated Command Prompt, then enter these commands

cd \Windows\System32\drivers\etc
attrib -r hosts
notepad hosts

make your changes

attrib +r hosts
exit (to close the Command Prompt)

Why does this happen? Does anyone know?

Thanks Ztruker,
I'll try this tomorrow morning (it's now 1.30 a.m., and I'm going to bed!)
Will get back to you if I have any further problems.

Because it is Windows 7 protecting itself from malware. By now, thanks to Vista, people should be aware that they can't just go editing system files with UAC enabled, or without full admin privs. In the event you do need to edit such a file, you can simply run it as an admin (right-click option) and be done with it.

* I'm pretty sure that would be an option if UAC is enabled. I have it disabled on the computer I'm using right now.

I opened the elevated Command Prompt, but was told that access is denied.
I am not given the option of accessing the hosts file as an admin (right click), since it is not an exec. file but a text file.
Any further suggestions welcomed!
Florio

Open the hosts file make your changes. save it to your desktop. drag and drop the one you just created into the proper folder. it will ask you to approve. you click okay and its changed.

Thanks, I've done that, but now I have two hosts files in the etc folder (i.e., my modified file did not substitute the original one).
The original has no real tag (it's just labelled file, and has to be opened with notepad) whereas my modifed version is a .txt file. Should I delete the orginal? I'm a bit wary about doing this since it is not a .txt file, but in any case am sure that I won't be able to do remove it (hence my original question regarding administrator privileges).

Save as and remove the .txt then drag and drop.

I have performed this several times regarding a program I use...