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Hosts File
Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts file icon in
Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. When I click on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error window. I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, and saved it in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. Somewhere in my reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in C:Windows does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to Hosts, the icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to re-establish my Hosts file. Would anyone know if that is possible? Then of course the next question is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. |
#2
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"K" wrote in message
... Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts file icon in Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. When I click on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error window. Open Windows Explorer, go to View menuFolder Options. Click on Filetypes tab. Look for the entry for HOSTS and delete it. I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, and saved it in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. Becasue the default when you save a file in Notepad is "As TXT file", so it adds ".txt" to the filename you enter (unless it's already ".txt"--it doesn't repeat it.) To save without the TXT extension, change the "Save As..." to "All Files". Somewhere in my reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in C:Windows does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to Hosts, the icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to re-establish my Hosts file. Would anyone know if that is possible? As I intimated above, you managed to associate HOSTS as being a WMP file. You need to delete the HOSTS entry in Filetypes. Just so you know, though, this file association glitch doesn't affect the functioning of the HOSTS file--it only affects what happens when you double-click the file to read it. Then of course the next question is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. Personally, after getting rid of the erroneous Filetype, I'd recommend you use the MVP HOSTS file from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm One of the easiest ways to use that HOSTS file is to get George Geyde's "HOSTS File Manager". You can find it at the bottom of this page: http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm On the former site (the winhelp2002 site) you'll find lots of helpful documentation. The "HOSTS File Manager" Help section includes a bit about adding custom sites to the MVPS HOSTS file. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm |
#3
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Everything went fine till: "To save without the TXT extension, change the
"Save As..." to "All Files". I opened Notepad, clicked File-Save As, changed "Save as file type:" to All Files, labeled File Name: Hosts, clicked Save, and got another Hosts.txt. What do you spose I'm doing wrong? K. "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: "K" wrote in message ... Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts file icon in Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. When I click on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error window. Open Windows Explorer, go to View menuFolder Options. Click on Filetypes tab. Look for the entry for HOSTS and delete it. I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, and saved it in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. Becasue the default when you save a file in Notepad is "As TXT file", so it adds ".txt" to the filename you enter (unless it's already ".txt"--it doesn't repeat it.) To save without the TXT extension, change the "Save As..." to "All Files". Somewhere in my reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in C:Windows does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to Hosts, the icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to re-establish my Hosts file. Would anyone know if that is possible? As I intimated above, you managed to associate HOSTS as being a WMP file. You need to delete the HOSTS entry in Filetypes. Just so you know, though, this file association glitch doesn't affect the functioning of the HOSTS file--it only affects what happens when you double-click the file to read it. Then of course the next question is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. Personally, after getting rid of the erroneous Filetype, I'd recommend you use the MVP HOSTS file from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm One of the easiest ways to use that HOSTS file is to get George Geyde's "HOSTS File Manager". You can find it at the bottom of this page: http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm On the former site (the winhelp2002 site) you'll find lots of helpful documentation. The "HOSTS File Manager" Help section includes a bit about adding custom sites to the MVPS HOSTS file. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm |
#4
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Sorry, I thought that would do it. You can either locate the file and
delete the extension, or you can put double-quotes around the name "HOSTS" I'm *fairly* certain that will do the trick. (I don't dare guarantee anything today, s.) -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm "K" wrote in message ... Everything went fine till: "To save without the TXT extension, change the "Save As..." to "All Files". I opened Notepad, clicked File-Save As, changed "Save as file type:" to All Files, labeled File Name: Hosts, clicked Save, and got another Hosts.txt. What do you spose I'm doing wrong? K. "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: "K" wrote in message ... Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts file icon in Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. When I click on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error window. Open Windows Explorer, go to View menuFolder Options. Click on Filetypes tab. Look for the entry for HOSTS and delete it. I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, and saved it in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. Becasue the default when you save a file in Notepad is "As TXT file", so it adds ".txt" to the filename you enter (unless it's already ".txt"--it doesn't repeat it.) To save without the TXT extension, change the "Save As..." to "All Files". Somewhere in my reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in C:Windows does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to Hosts, the icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to re-establish my Hosts file. Would anyone know if that is possible? As I intimated above, you managed to associate HOSTS as being a WMP file. You need to delete the HOSTS entry in Filetypes. Just so you know, though, this file association glitch doesn't affect the functioning of the HOSTS file--it only affects what happens when you double-click the file to read it. Then of course the next question is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. Personally, after getting rid of the erroneous Filetype, I'd recommend you use the MVP HOSTS file from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm One of the easiest ways to use that HOSTS file is to get George Geyde's "HOSTS File Manager". You can find it at the bottom of this page: http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm On the former site (the winhelp2002 site) you'll find lots of helpful documentation. The "HOSTS File Manager" Help section includes a bit about adding custom sites to the MVPS HOSTS file. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm |
#6
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Thanks Ya'll, it's very kind of you to take the time to offer your help.
Apparently I have more problems then these symptoms indicate. No matter what combination of quotes or no quotes, and Text Documents or All Files I select, the saved Hosts file always ends up in C:Windows as either Hosts as a WMP icon or Hosts.txt. I'll keep trying to identify all the symptoms and come back when I have more info to work with. I really appreciate your taking the time to consider my promlem. K. "PCR" wrote: Yea, that didn't work for me, either, though some say it would. Well, another way to go is to put quotes around the name in the save box: "HOSTS". This will suppress the .txt extension & only use what is inside the quotes. -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "K" wrote in message ... | Everything went fine till: "To save without the TXT extension, change the | "Save | As..." to "All Files". I opened Notepad, clicked File-Save As, changed "Save | as file type:" to All Files, labeled File Name: Hosts, clicked Save, and got | another Hosts.txt. What do you spose I'm doing wrong? K. | | "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: | | "K" wrote in message | ... | Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts file | icon in | Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. When I | click | on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error | window. | | Open Windows Explorer, go to View menuFolder Options. Click on | Filetypes tab. Look for the entry for HOSTS and delete it. | | I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, and | saved it | in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. | | Becasue the default when you save a file in Notepad is "As TXT file", so | it adds ".txt" to the filename you enter (unless it's already ".txt"--it | doesn't repeat it.) To save without the TXT extension, change the "Save | As..." to "All Files". | | Somewhere in my | reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in | C:Windows | does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to Hosts, | the | icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to re-establish my | Hosts | file. Would anyone know if that is possible? | | As I intimated above, you managed to associate HOSTS as being a WMP | file. You need to delete the HOSTS entry in Filetypes. Just so you know, | though, this file association glitch doesn't affect the functioning of | the HOSTS file--it only affects what happens when you double-click the | file to read it. | | Then of course the next question | is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and comments | will | be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. | | Personally, after getting rid of the erroneous Filetype, I'd recommend | you use the MVP HOSTS file from | http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm One of the easiest ways to use | that HOSTS file is to get George Geyde's "HOSTS File Manager". You can | find it at the bottom of this page: | http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm | | On the former site (the winhelp2002 site) you'll find lots of helpful | documentation. The "HOSTS File Manager" Help section includes a bit | about adding custom sites to the MVPS HOSTS file. | | -- | Gary S. Terhune | MS MVP Shell/User | http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm | http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm | | | |
#7
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K.
Lets step back a moment: You describe two entirely different problems. First, getting the file to be named HOSTS with no extension. It doesn't really matter how you do it, whether you can name it while saving or you have to rename it later to delete the extension. If the name is HOSTS, then it's correct. Your original problem, that the file has a WMP icon and tries to open in WMP when you d-click it, that's the problem that needs fixing. You fix that by looking for a HOSTS item in Filetypes tab of Folder Options. Open Windows Explorer, and in the View menu, choose Folder Options. When it comes up, click on Filetypes tab and wait for it to load, then look for any entry that either has HOSTS in the name, or that has the WMP icon you're seeing. It might even be a "blank" entry. The notation will include the information that it uses WMP to open. Make a list of all that you find that use WMP to open and have that particular icon, and report back here with the list. You should understand that this problem shouldn't keep HOSTS from acting properly. The functions that involve HOSTS don't really care if it's been erroneously associated or not. The only problem is that you can't d-click it to open the file directly and edit it. However, you *can* open Notepad and then open the HOSTS file from Notepad's FileOpen dialogue. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm "K" wrote in message ... Thanks Ya'll, it's very kind of you to take the time to offer your help. Apparently I have more problems then these symptoms indicate. No matter what combination of quotes or no quotes, and Text Documents or All Files I select, the saved Hosts file always ends up in C:Windows as either Hosts as a WMP icon or Hosts.txt. I'll keep trying to identify all the symptoms and come back when I have more info to work with. I really appreciate your taking the time to consider my promlem. K. "PCR" wrote: Yea, that didn't work for me, either, though some say it would. Well, another way to go is to put quotes around the name in the save box: "HOSTS". This will suppress the .txt extension & only use what is inside the quotes. -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "K" wrote in message ... | Everything went fine till: "To save without the TXT extension, change the | "Save | As..." to "All Files". I opened Notepad, clicked File-Save As, changed "Save | as file type:" to All Files, labeled File Name: Hosts, clicked Save, and got | another Hosts.txt. What do you spose I'm doing wrong? K. | | "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: | | "K" wrote in message | ... | Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts file | icon in | Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. When I | click | on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error | window. | | Open Windows Explorer, go to View menuFolder Options. Click on | Filetypes tab. Look for the entry for HOSTS and delete it. | | I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, and | saved it | in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. | | Becasue the default when you save a file in Notepad is "As TXT file", so | it adds ".txt" to the filename you enter (unless it's already ".txt"--it | doesn't repeat it.) To save without the TXT extension, change the "Save | As..." to "All Files". | | Somewhere in my | reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in | C:Windows | does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to Hosts, | the | icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to re-establish my | Hosts | file. Would anyone know if that is possible? | | As I intimated above, you managed to associate HOSTS as being a WMP | file. You need to delete the HOSTS entry in Filetypes. Just so you know, | though, this file association glitch doesn't affect the functioning of | the HOSTS file--it only affects what happens when you double-click the | file to read it. | | Then of course the next question | is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and comments | will | be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. | | Personally, after getting rid of the erroneous Filetype, I'd recommend | you use the MVP HOSTS file from | http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm One of the easiest ways to use | that HOSTS file is to get George Geyde's "HOSTS File Manager". You can | find it at the bottom of this page: | http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm | | On the former site (the winhelp2002 site) you'll find lots of helpful | documentation. The "HOSTS File Manager" Help section includes a bit | about adding custom sites to the MVPS HOSTS file. | | -- | Gary S. Terhune | MS MVP Shell/User | http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm | http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm | | | |
#8
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I'll go with Terhune on this. You seem to be able to name it OK.
However, the icon is wrong. Mine certainly isn't the same as WMP's. And it isn't Notepad's, either. It is... the same as... "Windows Explorer Command" of extension ".scf" in "Folder Options, File Types tab". Check as he says whether "HOSTS" is mentioned there, & delete it. If not, then... http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q133733 Icons Displayed Incorrectly in Control Panel The icon cache may be corrupt. Delete it, & let it regenerate. Shelliconcache is a hidden file. (1) "START, Settings, Folder Options, View tab, bolt 'Show all files'". Also, UNcheck "Hide file extensions for known file types". (2) Boot to Safe Mode (hold F5 as you boot). (3) "START, Find, F/F, Shelliconcache". R-Clk it & select "Delete". (4) "START, Shut Down, Restart". (Do not use a shortcut to Restart.) Alternatively, per cquirke & Glee... (1) "Control Panel, Display, Appearance tab". (2) Select "Icon" in the Item dropdown menu. (3) Change the Icon size by one pixel, & Apply. (4) Change it back to original size, & Apply. (5) "START, Shut Down, Restart". (Do not use a shortcut to Restart.) ....Now, you should have a new ShellIconCache with one reboot & never needing to delete it or to enter Safe Mode. http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q132668 Icons Randomly Change to Different Icons This is how to increase the ShellIconCache size. It may go as high as 4096. (Well, some say 8192.) It has cured, for me, a sluggishness of the drawing of icons, inside Explorer & My Documents (the small ones to left of file names). HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer Max Cached Icons 2048 (String value) 1. START; Run; Type "RegEdit" & Enter 2. Click the plus (+) signs in the left pane, starting left of "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", & ending left of "CurrentVersion". 3. Finally, click the key "explorer" in the left pane (not it's plus sign). 4. In the right pane, R-Clk an empty area; point to "new"; select "string value"; type or paste "Max Cached Icons" & Enter. 5. R-Clk "Max Cached Icons"; select "Modify"; enter "2048" & click OK. 6. Close RegEdit & reboot. -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "K" wrote in message ... | Thanks Ya'll, it's very kind of you to take the time to offer your help. | Apparently I have more problems then these symptoms indicate. No matter what | combination of quotes or no quotes, and Text Documents or All Files I select, | the saved Hosts file always ends up in C:Windows as either Hosts as a WMP | icon or Hosts.txt. I'll keep trying to identify all the symptoms and come | back when I have more info to work with. I really appreciate your taking the | time to consider my promlem. K. | | "PCR" wrote: | | Yea, that didn't work for me, either, though some say it would. | | Well, another way to go is to put quotes around the name in the save | box: "HOSTS". This will suppress the .txt extension & only use what is | inside the quotes. | | | -- | Thanks or Good Luck, | There may be humor in this post, and, | Naturally, you will not sue, | should things get worse after this, | PCR | | "K" wrote in message | ... | | Everything went fine till: "To save without the TXT extension, change | the | | "Save | | As..." to "All Files". I opened Notepad, clicked File-Save As, changed | "Save | | as file type:" to All Files, labeled File Name: Hosts, clicked Save, | and got | | another Hosts.txt. What do you spose I'm doing wrong? K. | | | | "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: | | | | "K" wrote in message | | ... | | Something appears to have happened to my Hosts file. The Hosts | file | | icon in | | Windows Explorer has changed to the Windows Media Player icon. | When I | | click | | on it , the Windows Media Player comes up followed by the Error | | window. | | | | Open Windows Explorer, go to View menuFolder Options. Click on | | Filetypes tab. Look for the entry for HOSTS and delete it. | | | | I deleted the Hosts file (Media Player), opened a Notebook file, | and | | saved it | | in C:Windows as Hosts. It appeared in C:Windows as Hosts.txt. | | | | Becasue the default when you save a file in Notepad is "As TXT | file", so | | it adds ".txt" to the filename you enter (unless it's already | ".txt"--it | | doesn't repeat it.) To save without the TXT extension, change the | "Save | | As..." to "All Files". | | | | Somewhere in my | | reading about the Hosts file I think I read that the Hosts file in | | C:Windows | | does not contain a file extension. When I renamed Hosts.txt to | Hosts, | | the | | icon changed to the Media Player icon. I would like to | re-establish my | | Hosts | | file. Would anyone know if that is possible? | | | | As I intimated above, you managed to associate HOSTS as being a WMP | | file. You need to delete the HOSTS entry in Filetypes. Just so you | know, | | though, this file association glitch doesn't affect the functioning | of | | the HOSTS file--it only affects what happens when you double-click | the | | file to read it. | | | | Then of course the next question | | is how to build a safe Hosts File? All ideas, suggestions and | comments | | will | | be greatly appreciated. Thanks, K. | | | | Personally, after getting rid of the erroneous Filetype, I'd | recommend | | you use the MVP HOSTS file from | | http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm One of the easiest ways to | use | | that HOSTS file is to get George Geyde's "HOSTS File Manager". You | can | | find it at the bottom of this page: | | http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm | | | | On the former site (the winhelp2002 site) you'll find lots of | helpful | | documentation. The "HOSTS File Manager" Help section includes a bit | | about adding custom sites to the MVPS HOSTS file. | | | | -- | | Gary S. Terhune | | MS MVP Shell/User | | http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm | | http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm | | | | | | | | | |
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