Spybot produces wrong hosts file

[Turps]

The syntax for the hosts file is IP address followed by the host name, with at least one space between them, eg:

127.0.0.1 www.007guard.com

Immunizing with Spybot produces a hosts file with no space, eg:

127.0.0.1www.007guard.com

This is happening on only one for four PCs, one running XP Home and 3 running XP Professional, all SP3. The faulty PC is running XP Professional SP3.

Action taken on the faulty PC includes:

Uninstalling, restart, new download (checksum OK) and reinstall v1.6.2.46, detection update 29/02/2012
Replacing hosts file with an original copy
Copying the program files folder from a good PC to the faulty PC
Run Windows System File Checker

None of the above solved the problem.

I tried editing hosts with Notepad, but the search & replace of over 15000 entries was too much for it.

My current work around is to copy a correctly immunized hosts file from another PC.

Can anyone help, please?

Turps

[Turps]

My workaround was to copy a good hosts file from another PC.

I did this and found that on the faulty PC the copied hosts file also showed no space after the IP address.

This is simply a display matter in Notepad depending upon what font is in use.

The good PC's Notepad was using Lucinda Sans Typewriter (a fixed space font) and the faulty PC was using Verdana (a proportional font).

What a waste of a day that was!

Turps