[how to edit the hosts file in Vista]

if you try to edit your hosts file (for example to add a local ip address as your webserver) manually in Vista you;ll be denied from doing so by the file security laid down in Vista.

 

To fix it, you'll need to change the user 'users' file permissions to 'modify' on the hosts file.

 

To do this right click on the file, choose properties, security, advanced, then click on 'Edit'

 

Accept (continue) the UAC warning dialog, and click and highlight the 'users' username. click 'edit' and make sure to select all of the following attributes

 

 

 

once those are selected and you apply your changes you can indeed 'finally' save the hosts file changes...

 

A easy way to do this without modyfing file permissions so some bad people can take over the host file is too execute the following command line:

 

runas /user:administrator "notepad c:\windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts"

 

or

 

runas /user:administrator@domain.nl "notepad c:\windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts"

 

type your password and Notepad opens your hosts file wich you can edit as you like.

 

Have fun with this