Vista and MVPS Hosts file . .CAUTION ! ! !
Just noticed you have suggested some to use the MVPSdotOrg website for their HOSTS file. Well I must advise there needs to be some checking into this because I just attempted to install HOSTS on my Vista system, only about a week old and it died/w BSOD and shut off. Did not even get a chance to read the BSOD information, screen full at that too. That happened last night, this morning called my friend that is my Geek-a-Zoid computer Xxpert and we talked about what had occurred. He recommended I roll back to one of the back ups to a date that was before that attempted install. Could not do anything with Windows, all Icons were set to a IE default (white square with a blue "e" lower case) so used the DVD and did a "R" repair. It said there were NOT any problems so I did a restore from about three days ago and all went well and my NEW system is working again. My processor is 64 bit but running a 32 bit system. My recommendations would be, "be very careful what you install and READ the data on the program BEFORE install to insure you are not causing more troubles for yourself in the long run." Plus Microsoft has a little program 'User Profile Hive Cleaner' that is NOT compatible with VISTA and only mentions this in a very short sentence and if you read too fast may miss the information. CAUTION ! ! ! CAUTION ! ! ! CAUTION ! ! !
Edited by LoneLurker > Here is the site from Microsoft about the Hosts file and Vista not modifiable:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923947
I recommend using extreme caution . . .
Re: Vista and MVPS Hosts file . .CAUTION ! ! !
Yes, I have read that page and followed those instructions for the " . . via the SendTo method" and " . . via "Elevated" Command Prompt" and my system did not show nor indicate the same as what was suggested. I did get the optional selections menu when right clicking on the folder as suggested but when clicking on "Open Command Window Here (Administrator)" did NOT get the window as indicated. All that I got was a DOS cmd window with "Press any key to continue . . . " which I did and it just closed without any happy information indicating all was well. Short time later is when the "BSOD" came up and before I could get the information read another page came up saying something like, "There has been an ERROR and Windows has shut down the system to protect the computer." It was late so went to bed to think about that over night and have a fresh start in the morn. When starting in the morn could not do or access any program, Browsers, searches, my firewall, AV, et ceteras to scan or see what had gone WRONG. That is when I proceeded to do what was reported in my first posting here and now have my system back.
Toward the bottom of http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm webpage is a NOTE that was not there on Saturday 19 July, 2008. "You cannot modify the Hosts file in Windows Vista" that is a link to Microsoft webpage http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923947 and I do recommend anyone reading this and has any form of VISTA to read carefully. I also am not even following the 'Work around' provided by Microsoft, Caution . . Caution . . Caution . . is what I am using from now on.
I do NOT enjoy a "BSOD" especially on a brand NEW system, that is why I posted what I did. You can never be too cautious. Do not think there are any out there that DO enjoy getting a "BSOD."
I have gotten good info from you and many others on this forum and feel any problems I have had or experienced is NOT from you or any of your advice. You have HELPED me many times before and have much comfort in knowing you are still here and replying to my message. Thank you for your interest and hope this is not taken as just a panic message. It is NOT, as my sig indicates my new system it is very GOOD and most everyone I have talked with have been very HELPFUL in assisting this DUMMY learn more about what to do and how to handle problems. Hopefully some of the information I have posted will assist others in being careful with what they do and how to be very watchful of what they put on their systems.
Thank you for reading and replying to my post if there is any other information you would like to know about just ask, as for the HOSTS file for now that is on HOLD for me,
