Your IT Professionals

File location: %systemroot%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
Containing Folder: %systemroot%\System32\drivers\etc\

How to open it.
1.) We will be using a text editor, locate (but don't open) your favorite text editor, if you don't have one notepad will do.

2.)The easiest way to open notepad in administrator mode, is to go to the start menu and in the search bar type notepad, wait a couple of seconds, it should show up at the top of the list. **Important** When it does right click on the text editor (notepad, notepad++, etc...) and click Run as administrator (this will allow you to write to a system file), if you don't you will get an error saying "you don't have permission to save in this directory", "contact the administrator to obtain permission."

2.) Click file, then open

3.) Now paste the location above into the file name field.

4.) It should open and you should be able to add hosts as nessassry.

Troubleshooting

I can't find the etc directory...
If you are browsing for the hosts file... You may have a problem finding it because the etc folder is a hidden system folder. You can either directly drag and drop the location or when you get to the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers, you can add \etc in either the address bar or in the file name field, the hosts file should be there.

I can't save the file...
**Important** You must be running your text editor in administrator mode. (this will allow you to write to a system file), if you don't you will get an error saying "you don't have permission to save in this directory", "contact the administrator to obtain permission." Please read step 2 in opening the file at the beginning of this document.