undo removal of windows host file?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sherry
  • Start date Start date
S

sherry

I think I permanently removed a windows host file that had
something to do with cnet.com because now I get little red
Xs when I go to cnet.com and download.com.

How can I fix this?

I uninstalled and reinstalled microsoft AntiSpyware but it
just remembered all my settings.

And yes, Now I know I shouldn't have touched the windows
host files.

Any advice as to how I can see cnet.com again?
 
The Windows host file should really be empty unless you
have added entries yourself.Im not sure whats causing the
problem but check the hosts file as a start

The easiest way to check is by using hoster from
Toadbee.You can press 'restore original hosts' to reset
it back to microsoft's default,

Download the Hoster from here:

http://andymanchesta.com/Downloads2/hoster.zip

Press 'Restore Original Hosts' and press 'OK'

Exit Program.

The only entry you should find in the default host file
is the 127.0.0.1 localhost line and some examples above
this but if you see any entries below the localhost line
first press copy to clipboard so you can paste it back if
needed then press 'Restore original hosts'



Im not sure its the hosts file causing the problem though
as it wouldn't connect to the site if these had been
added to your hosts file with a invalid IP Address and if
the sites are added with the correct IP Then removed from
the hosts file this still wouldnt stop you getting access.


On the bottom right of the screen where it shows a globe
on the status bar and says Internet .When you goto
download.com or cnet does it still show a globe or does
it say restricted ?.

Again not sure if thats the cause either as it would
still open the site it would just limit your options on
there.

Reset the hosts file and if you still cannot access the
site try clearing all your temp files and prefetch files
and see if that helps.


goto start run and type

prefetch

delete the contents of this folder


Goto start the run and type

cleanmgr

clear what you can from here and try the sites again


Regards Andy
 
I doubt that it's a problem with a windows host file. If
you are still able to download updates to MSAS and other
programs, and view other sites, then the host file IS NOT
the problem. If you are running XP, go to
c:\windows\system32, and verify that svchost.exe if
their. If it is, then this isn't your problem, as
svchost.exe is the host file that is used by any program
to connect to the Internet. This means that it isn't
likely a problem with Windows at all.

The red X marks you are seeing are likely place holders
for image files.

First off try to go to another site such as
microsoft.com, google.com, and nhl.com and see if the
image files load properly. The reason I put in nhl.com
is the site uses flash as its nav bar on the left-hand
portion of the page. If you don't see anything, then the
problem is more than likely with an improperly configured
firewall.

Go into your firewall's settings and make certain that it
isn't set to block ads, as cnet.com and download.com use
ads on their pages on the pages you want to veiw. Also
make certain that it isn't set to block scripts, embedded
objects, and mime-type integrated objects, on these pages
as well, as this will cause problems viewing flash type
graphics (nav bars, etc.). However, ONLY change these
settings from their default values IF you are veiwing a
page that not displaying properly or you are getting
permission errors when trying to download files, AND you
are certain site is legitimate AND DOES NOT contain
damaging content (i.e. Trojans, viruses, Ineternet worms,
damaging script files, etc.).

Hope this helps.

Alan
 
Thank you Andy, you are the best! I downloaded the hoster
and restored the host files and I'm good to go! The
antipspy send include "restore orginial host files" to the
program incase someone else does the same thing! Thank
you sooooooo much!
Sherry
 
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