help needed with editing a file in sys32!!!

Hello

Please can anyone help me with the following problem that i cant seem to solve.

I am using microsoft vista and i need to edit a file in the following directory:

c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/(filename hosts)

when i open the file i edit some text but when i go to save it, it keeps telling me to make sure the path and filename is correct ????? the end result is that i cant save my changes, ive tried special permissions and given myself full access and authorisation to this folder......i am now STUCK so PLEASE PLEASE can somebody save me!!!

Kind Regards
Mark Allen

 

Hi Pom, welcome to Majorgeeks ,

Go to the properties of the HOSTS file and uncheck Read-only, edit and save (not as a .txt!!) then check Read-only again.

 

Spybot search and destroy sets the hosts file read only by default when you install it. right click on the file, select properties, and untick read only.

Or... from the command prompt type:

ATTRIB.EXE -S -R c:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts

then save your modifications.

 

With my Wife's laptop running Vista, the only way I was able to edit the host file was to log in on an Admin account, copy it to the desktop, edit it (I use Vim), save it then copy it back to it's original location, overwriting the old file.

 

vi is too new fangled for me. I stick to ed/edlin.

 

Easiest way to do it is if you know someone else with Vista, is get them to send you a copy, delete yours and replace, thats what i done on my daughters !

 

Started using vi back in '99 when I first used Linux. Been stuck on it every since.

Copy and paste to your desktop and then back to the original location would be easier and be more accurate for the computer as there is the chance that the "new" one may have something in it that could make your computer not connect the way you want it.