hosts file stopped working unexpectedly

[evgenylikov]

Hi lads!

Yesterday I updated Win7 x86 to SP1 and today found out that all my local virtual hosts has stopped working.

First, I checked apache service - it was ok, but I restarted it.

Then I tried to ping one of local domain names:

C:\Users\evgeny g likov>ping aaa1
Ping request could not find host aaa1. Please check the name and try again.

I was thinking, SP1 setup just wiped all additions out of hosts file, but no:

127.0.0.1    localhost
127.0.0.1    aaa1
127.0.0.1    aaa2
127.0.0.1    aaa3
127.0.0.1    aaa4
127.0.0.1    aaa5
127.0.0.1    bin.likov.spb.ru.local
127.0.0.1    likov.spb.ru.local
127.0.0.1    mycodb.ru.local
127.0.0.1    votdermo.ru.local

Then I tried:
- re-create hosts file
- flush dns
- disable antivirus (nod32 v4)
- reboot system
- disable IPv6 on the main interface

Do you have any ideas?

 

[evgenylikov]

(still not) Solved, I think.

Reading about running (and stopped) services, I learned

If the service is stopped, DNS name will continue to be resolved.

Well, I stop the DNS Client service. Hosts substitutions start working.

 

[seth500]

Make sure that host file is set to read-only as well so it can't be re-written by only you and not something else....

 

[evgenylikov]

Thank, Seth500. Access to hosts file is granted to SYSTEM and Administrators.

 

[evgenylikov]

After reboot hosts is not working again. DNS Client is stopped.

 

[evgenylikov]

Solved again, I think.

I know nothing about reasons, just magika. After half of hour of checking parameters of Windows, I granted special access to file hosts for NETWORK SERVICE user. Then I run DNS Client service.

Now it work.

 

[evgenylikov]

Still ok.