@ Andavari - you mentioned using HostsXpert in the following post: https://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=47985&p=281658
Can you tell me what procedure you use to update the MVPS file in HostsXpert. I seem to be having difficulties
Naturally anyone else who knows the procedure, please feel free to tell me
In HostsXpert you have to disable the HOSTS files read-only attribute first:
1. In the "File Handling" tab click Make Writable? - it's in red bold text at the very top.
2. Click "Download" then click MVPs Hosts... - it will now download and replace the old version if there's an update.
3. Rather there's an update or not, when done go back into "File Handling", and click Make ReadOnly? - it's in black bold text at the very top.
Edit:
For people on older systems like WinXP after installing or changing the HOSTS file you need to log off, and then log on for the changes to properly take effect - or restart the computer.
Thanks Andavari, it's working great now. The problem was that the DNS was running and thus HostsXpert would not download. Within services.msc I had previously changed DNS from automatic to manual but when I just checked a few minutes ago it was running again. This time I disabled the DNS and rebooted and then HostsXpert worked perfectly.
I guess I should leave DNS disabled.
Thanks for tip #3 - I had never done that - i.e. leave File Handling as Make Read Only. It certainly makes sense to do that.
Read-only doesn't stop malware from modifying it, or dubious websites that have a script to empty your HOSTS file so that their advertising isn't blocked.
Read-only doesn't stop malware from modifying it, or dubious websites that have a script to empty your HOSTS file so that their advertising isn't blocked.
Did you mean to type "doesn't stop"? Would read only not stop any modification?
No quotes needed. Read-only won't protect from what I mentioned before, although it's a good practice to make the HOSTS file read-only.
Thanks for the info :-)