Solved Can't Edit Hosts File

[FirstShirt]

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)

 

[samuria]

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

 

[Lance1]

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

 

[FirstShirt]

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.

 

[FirstShirt]

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

How do I do this?

 

[Lance1]

How do I do this?

Click the link and look at this. hope it helps..

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0Iym1TaDA9KNiYkU/source.gif

 

[townsbg]

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

 

[lehnerus2000]

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

 

[Barman58]

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.

 

[Alejandro85]

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.

 

[FirstShirt]

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.

I suspect you are headed down the right trail on this. Let me see if I can use this to correct this dilemma. Something is preventing me (or, anyone) to modify this file...

 

[FirstShirt]

Click the link and look at this. hope it helps..

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0Iym1TaDA9KNiYkU/source.gif

Lance1; I tried this but it did not fix the problem. By the way, that was a cool GIF that said it all!

 

[FirstShirt]

I stumbled around the Net and found a Freeware program called, "Hostsman." After spending a few days trying to figure out how to use it I finally got it. This program is actually quite handy! All you have to do is enter one line at a time and Viola, mission accomplished. Although I never figured out why I couldn't edit the Hosts file in the normal way, this program got the job done.

My sincere appreciation to all who took the time to advise me on this.

 

[DKmuse]

My boneheaded mistake was not unchecking "Read only" of the Hosts file in "Properties", that took care of it!