Windows 10: Hosts file being ignored

I have 3 Windows 10 machines, and the hosts file is being ignored by ALL browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox) on ALL 3 machines. Yes, I know how to edit the hosts file, been doing it for 20 years. But just actually checked a few websites, and the 127.0.0.1 entries are ignored (or not read at all).


In the old days, there was a Registry Key pointing to the hosts file, at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DataBasePath. The whole thing is still there EXCEPT for DataBasePath. What is going on???


In addition, it now seems impossible to run Notepad as administrator, add entries, then save as "all files". Windows simply won't accept the "all files" choice and saves as .txt


Any body have an idea about this? This is extremely problematic!


Moved from: Windows 10 / Files, folders, & storage

:)

 

Hosts file editing

I have to jump in and say I use, and have used the host file for years. It's an easy way to take stress off of old name servers. I don't add everything, but major shares I do add to the host file. I've used the host file for some tunneling as well. I try to optimize my network as much as possible and I have a solid network. But Easy Rhino is right as well, you'll want to have everything he suggested as well. *Toast :toast:

 

Vanilla hosts file ( hosts file not working )

From the OP it appears Hosts is not being changed, rather it is being ignored....

 

Browser /connection security, hosts file and DNS service

You're saying that Open DNS(and other services like it) house their own list of known 'bad' sites, and by using their DNS servers, it will filter out sites based on that list?

Would you believe I was already using Open DNS servers.
This means the hosts file is moot?

And furthering that, if there's any bespoke sites I want to manually add, I could do it through my router directly.

Thus I can empty my local hosts file and turn my DNS service back on?