Can't Change Host File

kah22

My account type shows that I am currently logged in as administrator.

I want to change my Hosts file as I find it the best way to block sites and annoying ads. However, when I get to the Hosts and attempt to save the current Host file as hosts_old I receive the message saying that I don’t have permission to save in this location. Contact the administrator to obtain permission.

But surely if my account type shows that I am logged in as administrator I should be able to alter the account or save it as another name. Is there something I’m missing.

As always many thanks for the advice.

matttye

Which version of Windows are you running?

Try right clicking on the "etc" folder in %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\ and changing the permissions for administrator.

frugal_mike

kah22 wrote: »

My account type shows that I am currently logged in as administrator.

I want to change my Hosts file as I find it the best way to block sites and annoying ads. However, when I get to the Hosts and attempt to save the current Host file as hosts_old I receive the message saying that I don’t have permission to save in this location. Contact the administrator to obtain permission.

But surely if my account type shows that I am logged in as administrator I should be able to alter the account or save it as another name. Is there something I’m missing.

As always many thanks for the advice.

Could it be a misleading error message, and it won't let you rename because the file is in use? How are you attempting to rename the file? E.g are you trying to rename using explorer by right clicking on the file (i'm assuming this is windows)?

Can you create a new empty file and copy the contents across?

S0litaire

Have you got Anti-Virus running?

I know some AV's real-time scan will stop you opening system files like hosts even if you are admin.

Turn off real-time scanning or the Anti-virus itself first then see if you can change the hosts file.

NiftyDigits

kah22 wrote: »

My account type shows that I am currently logged in as administrator.

I want to change my Hosts file as I find it the best way to block sites and annoying ads. However, when I get to the Hosts and attempt to save the current Host file as hosts_old I receive the message saying that I don’t have permission to save in this location. Contact the administrator to obtain permission.

But surely if my account type shows that I am logged in as administrator I should be able to alter the account or save it as another name. Is there something I’m missing.

As always many thanks for the advice.

Why do you need to rename it anyway? IF you are using the MVPS HOSTs file, then running the MVPS batch file as Admin will do it for you.

frugal_mike

I assume to back it up in case the changes cause problems.

John_Gray

It used to be a "bright idea" of Spybot - Search & Destroy to have enormous Hosts files for the very reason you suggest, but surely this idea has long since been deprecated, and replaced by more efficient methods?

RobTang

Because the HOSTS file (and the folder it is in) is owned by the admin group, the program you are editing the file in needs to running with escalated rights (Run as administrator)

If you just open it normally it doesn't have the rights to edit the file

John_Gray wrote: »

It used to be a "bright idea" of Spybot - Search & Destroy to have enormous Hosts files for the very reason you suggest, but surely this idea has long since been deprecated, and replaced by more efficient methods?

Not really, although there are some services that will do it at the DNS level (like open dns)