"RJK" wrote in message ...
..which raises several questions including, "Could it have been the case
that XP never read / implemented my hosts file in the etc directory because
in IE6 - Security - Local Intranet zone, I hadn't cleared the check box
"Include all sites that bypass the proxy server?"

regards, Richard


It could be that your hosts file simply needed to be named HOSTS?
Awful small point but a valid one believe it or not.