hosts file problems

i cant remove the hosts file to replace it with the newer one.

i tried unisatlling/reinstalling to no avail.
i also tried to remove it in safe mode (the hosts file) same again.

i read the faq but couldnt find anything that might help me bar this~http://www.safer-networking.org/en/howto/uninstall.html

but am unsure if that is the right way to approach the sittuation.

Hello,

Run Spybot - Search & Destroy and switch to the 'Advanced mode' via the menu bar item 'Mode'. In the left bar select 'Tools' --> 'hosts list'. Please select 'Remove Spybot - Search & Destroy hosts list' in the right window. You can manually add/remove some entries. Therefore you have to edit the hosts-file with e.g. notepad (Close all browser pages before editing). The file is named 'hosts' without any extension. Search for the entries you do not want to block and delete them or add a new page to block. Where the hosts file is located depends on your Windows version...
Windows 2000/XP/NT: C:*your windows folder*system32driversetc
Windows 95/98: C:windowshosts After that save the file and start your browser again.

We also update the hosts list from time to time but not in a regular sequence.
You don't have to remove the old list if you like to insert the new list.

If you like to learn more about the hosts file then please take a look here:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Best regards
Sandra
Team Spybot

kinos:

If necessary, you can replace your HOSTS file with Microsoft's sample (default) HOSTS file as follows:

• Download HostsXpert from the following site:
  • Funkytoad.com -fast, functional and free - Home
    http://www.funkytoad.com/
  The page for HostsXpert is:
  • Funkytoad.com -fast, functional and free - HostsXpert v4.1
    http://www.funkytoad.com/content/view/13/31/
  The direct download URL for HostsXpert.zip is:
  • Click Here to download HostsXpert
• After downloading HostsXpert.zip, unzip (extract) the content of the file into a known location.
• Execute HostsXpert.
• If the first button in the left hand pane is "Make Writeable?", click on the button.
• Click on the "Restore MS Hosts File" button.
• When you receive the following confirmation dialog click "OK".
  • Confirm
    Press OK to Restore Microsofts original Hosts File
    [OK] [Cancel]

spybotsandra

i dont think i put in enough info or i cant understand the reply fully.

my s&d hosts file is very much out off date,and i cant replace it with a newer version,or remove the old one.
useing the functions in s&d does nothing,it used to.

( i do want the layer off proctection it provides)

also (within the i.e tweaks) the lock hosts file as read only cant be unticked (i only wanted to untick it to see if this was blocking me from removing the old one/loading up a new one)

unticking it will work,but goes straight back to being ticked,as soon as i leave the function.

md usa spybot fan~thank you.

i was sure there was a problem with it for a while but not 100% until i formated a freind machine and loaded up s&d for him then i noticed that on his machine,removing it worked as it used to and loading up the updated one also worked,as it used to.

it may well be a problem with my machine as i also have a problem with hijack this (if i remove the back up,they come straight back)

i did load up t-c spy
(after my sub for webroots spysweeper ran out) witch may have affected my machine as it did reomove three reg entries i didnt ask it to do.

(i was told my machine was clean and i belive it is,but am not sure that program didnt remove stuff thts now causing the issiues i am now facing)

hope all that makes sense.

(xp btw)