Can't Edit Hosts File

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  1. Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
       #1

    Can't Edit Hosts File


    I'm unable to edit my Hosts file located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder.

    I am using Notepad by opening it via "Run as Administrator." Also, I have changed to properties of Hosts to allow it's modification. For some reason the "Special Permissions" box is ghosted out and not selectable. (See image)


    After allowing for all "Permissions" that the system would allow, I rebooted and still could not save the Hosts file, except as a .txt file.

    I have also tried using Notepad++ ver 7.3.2 x64. In fact, I can not only not Cut & Paste into this file, but I can not type any characters into this file at all.

    I wonder if some maintenance program might be preventing this files modification. I have the full version of Malwarebyte's running. Exiting out of it and using Task Manager to search and end it's services did not work, either.

    Just a side note: My Desktop taskbar (at the bottom) will no longer autohide even though the box is selected when I look in properties.

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Gateway Laptop
    Operating System
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T6600 @ 2.20GHz
    Penryn 45nm Technology
    RAM
    4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 398MHz (6-6-6-15)
    Motherboard
    Gateway NV78 (uPGA-478)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Can't Edit Hosts File-permissions-4-hosts.png  
    Last edited by FirstShirt; 07 Mar 2017 at 15:28.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,783
    win 8 32 bit
       #2

    save it to another location then copy it say yes to allow if uac kicks in
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 630
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #3

    Check the permissions for your login account. Change the permissions for that account so you can make modifications.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    samuria said:
    save it to another location then copy it say yes to allow if uac kicks in
    Alas, that doesn't work either. I copied the Hosts file to the desktop, modified it and tried to replace the original. It would not allow it.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Lance1 said:
    Check the permissions for your login account. Change the permissions for that account so you can make modifications.
    How do I do this?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 630
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #6

    FirstShirt said:
    How do I do this?
    Click the link and look at this. hope it helps..

    https://media.giphy.com/media/l0Iym1...YkU/source.gif
    Last edited by Lance1; 07 Mar 2017 at 23:43.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,839
    Windows 7 pro
       #7

    Something might be using it. Try booting into safe mode.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #8

    You could load up a Live Linux CD/DVD/USB and then use the text editor to edit the file.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #9

    Although the Host file system is a depreciating technology, (most modern Firewalls and security suites have the option to control blacklists with a lot more usable interface), it is still checked by windows. The way I have always edited the Host file is either run as, (full), admin or right click Notepad.exe and run notepad as administrator, open the file, edit and save. If there is a problem that prevents this I would suspect some form of malware, (adding a nefarious link or several, and removing edit permissions from the users to prevent repair)

    As the Hosts file has the potential to seriously compromise your system I would not recommend changing the file permissions in any way. Changing to give "Everyone" or "All users" is a bad idea, as it also gives Malware permissions to edit the file which is never a good idea.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 2,465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #10

    FirstShirt said:
    I wonder if some maintenance program might be preventing this files modification. I have the full version of Malwarebyte's running. Exiting out of it and using Task Manager to search and end it's services did not work, either.
    Without too much information at hand, given the things already tried, I would give this guess a chance.
    Antiviruses may attempt to block changes to it (as it's a common target for some malware), so try disabling those first. Using task manager to kill processes and services is not enough, as real time antiviruses use kernel-mode drivers to do their job. Instead, use the antivirus interface and select the option to disable the "protection", and see if you can change the hosts file. Reenable all antiviruses afterwards.
      My Computer


 
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