Why is my hosts file missing?

[cesc]

Hi there,

My hosts file on c:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ is missing. It doesn't exist anymore.

I have tried to put it back in place by using a Microsoft Fix found here How can I reset the Hosts file back to the default?

But as soon as the hosts file is back it is deleted again and again.

What's happening here? I've an updated antivirus and I've run Malwarebytes Antimalware to see if there was malware in my pc. But there's none.

How can I find out the culprit that is erasing the hosts file?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jacee]

Download the HostsXpert 4.4 - Hosts File Manager.

• Unzip HostsXpert 4.3 - Hosts File Manager to a convenient folder such as C:\HostsXpert
• Click HostsXpert.exe to Run HostsXpert 4.4 - Hosts File Manager from its new home
• Click "Make Hosts Writable?" in the upper right corner (If available).
• Click Restore Microsoft's Hosts file and then click OK.
• Click the X to exit the program.
• Note: If you were using a custom Hosts file you will need to replace any of those entries yourself.

http://www.funkytoad.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=31

 

[cesc]

Download the HostsXpert 4.4 - Hosts File Manager.

• Unzip HostsXpert 4.3 - Hosts File Manager to a convenient folder such as C:\HostsXpert
• Click HostsXpert.exe to Run HostsXpert 4.4 - Hosts File Manager from its new home
• Click "Make Hosts Writable?" in the upper right corner (If available).
• Click Restore Microsoft's Hosts file and then click OK.
• Click the X to exit the program.
• Note: If you were using a custom Hosts file you will need to replace any of those entries yourself.

HostsXpert v4.4

Thanks Jacee, so far so good. I've restarted my computer and the hosts file is still there. By the way, now HOSTS is in capital letters. I suppose it doesn't matter in capital letters or lowercase. I will keep an eye on it in a couple of days to see if still there.

Again, thanks for your help. Very kind of you.

 

[Jacee]

Should be fine

This is a sample look:
Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost