Editing hosts file on Windows 8

Question

I'm trying to edit my hosts file in Windows 8 Pro.

When I open C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts in Notepad++ or any other text editor, make changes and attempt to save, I get a dialog that tells me "Save failed: Please check if this file is opened in another program."

I can't think of what would be using it (other than a browser, IIS, and Windows Defender). I've never encountered this problem in Windows 7. I have used Process Explorer to try and identify any processes that are currently using the hosts file, but when I search Process Explorer for the "Handle or DLL substring" 'hosts' it doesn't return anything. I've looked around Process Explorer to see if there is any other way to search for processes consuming the file, but haven't had any luck.

I've also tried simply stopping the Windows Defender service and stopping the WWW Service.

score 33 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 18 '12 at 16:40

33

You have to run Notepad++ as administrator. Otherwise you won't have the neccessary permissions to edit that file.

edited Sep 18 '12 at 16:40

slhck

235,242

answered Sep 18 '12 at 16:10

Frederik

458

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 18 '12 at 16:21

10

If you actually have administrator rights, then you're probably fighting against UAC. Make sure to launch your favorite text editor by right-clicking on it and selecting "Run as administrator".

answered Sep 18 '12 at 16:21

Massimo

2,679

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 19 '13 at 08:33

I had the same case, and couldn't change the hosts file even after I checked if I had all the permissions in the user settings or the hosts file's permissions.

ANSWER: Some antivirus software (in my case AVIRA)blocks everything in changing hosts files in their security options. Disable it for a minute, and change. Be careful, it can be risky!

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 18 '12 at 17:27

2

You may also want to check your permissions on the host file itself. You may run as administrator but you may not have the rights to edit the file.

answered Sep 18 '12 at 17:27

Peter

21

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 19 '13 at 22:25

2

Copy the hosts file to another location on the PC (like Documents) and edit in that location. copy hosts file back to original location. Worked for me.

answered Sep 19 '13 at 22:25

user255834

21
1

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Jun 27 '13 at 14:17

0

Running as admin didn't work in Windows 8 for me. Here's what I did to solve the problem:

Disconnect from net by unplugging network cable (or disable wireless)
Find hosts file. right click --> properties --> security
Click Users then edit
Add write for users (admin has write but didn't work)
Edit file by running notepad as admin
Save file
Remove write for users
Reconnect to net.

edited Jun 27 '13 at 14:17

James Mertz

26,529

answered Jun 27 '13 at 08:19

nero

11

Editing hosts file on Windows 8

6 Answers6

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