Solved Associate file hosts with notepad

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

Thanks for the suggestion to open the hosts file with notepad with the two scripts both working.
I also tried the read-only enable command but it doesn't work, maybe I'm doing something wrong:

Code:

ATTRIB +R “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts”

antspants · Apr 29, 2024

DMD said:
Thanks for the suggestion to open the hosts file with notepad with the two scripts both working.
I also tried the read-only enable command but it doesn't work, maybe I'm doing something wrong:

Code:

ATTRIB +R “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts”

You’ll have to ask @FreeBooter about his script in post 15.

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

FreeBooter said:
I have a batch script reset Hosts file to default.

......

Any ideas on how to enable writing to hosts file?
Thanks

FreeBooter · Apr 29, 2024

DMD said:
Any ideas on how to enable writing to hosts file?
Thanks

What kind of error do you get when you save the changes to Hosts file?

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

I get no error.
After following the batch command "ATTRIB -R "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
and you open the hosts file with notepad and make a change you cannot save it to the same path, because the file turns out to be write-protected.

FreeBooter · Apr 29, 2024

Execute below command to remove read-only attribute.

Code:

ATTRIB -R "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

YES. I made a transcription error, however even though the "save" command is disabled, in fact when you make the change with notepad and return to the drop-down menu the "save" command becomes active.
Thank you very much

Tester · Apr 29, 2024

Without any scrits;
If you open hosts file with Notepad++, you edit you things, hit save button. Then get ask to run Notepad++ as admin. When notepad++ relaunches you can just hit the save Button.

If you want a list to block in hosts file:
Use the one that Ublock Orgin uses from Dan Pollock’s hosts file: Using a Hosts File To Make The Internet Not Suck (as much)

Then schedule that url to check if it has updates and if a new list, then download it automaticly to a tmp file.
I also got a self/user defined block list, so that needs to get merged with that list.
So i merge user defined block list + Dan list.
Old hosts file get renamed, with a date and is kept as a backup file.
Then the new merged file get saved as the hosts file.

You can schedule something like that in a scripts in Task Scheduler (Did this years ago, but had to make a lot of scheduled task scripts manaul at reinstall or new computer)
So later i rewrote all scripts to a c# .net application that has it own timers etc, and app add's it self to task scheduler at first run at a new computer.
That app get started at windows boot, trough task scheduler with elevated rights.
So it can preform all admin task without any UAC promts.

Made managing my pc's a lot easer.

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

I also thank you for this interesting alternative, although I often use notepad2.

OAT · Apr 29, 2024

DMD said:
I get no error.
After following the batch command "ATTRIB -R "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
and you open the hosts file with notepad and make a change you cannot save it to the same path, because the file turns out to be write-protected.

Just use save as.
On none of my systems, are those files with the R attribute.

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

If I run "save as" it shows me an additional extension.
As I already said if the "save" command becomes active as soon as a change is made within the hosts file

OAT · Apr 29, 2024

DMD said:
If I run "save as" it shows me a different path than the original path.
As I already said if the "save" command becomes active as soon as a change is made within the hosts file

I have two batch files that I use to 'block' intrusive content and the other to open to all as certain games make API calls.
It puts an icon on the desktop to tell me whether the switch is on or off.

Code:

:: @echo off
c:
cd C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
copy hostsCity hosts
del C:\Users\oat\Desktop\O*.lnk
copy D:\New\City\OFF.lnk C:\Users\oat\Desktop\
start D:\New\City\city.lnk
exit

The other to turn it back off

Code:

:: @echo off
c:
cd C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
copy hostsGlobal hosts
del C:\Users\oat\Desktop\O*.lnk
copy D:\New\City\ON.lnk C:\Users\oat\Desktop\

exit

So the icon changes and the hosts file changes based on the settings.
It also starts a game after changing the hosts file.

Tester · Apr 29, 2024

OAT said:
On none of my systems, are those files with the R attribute.

Correct ReadOnly is not a default setting on hosts file. However i have seen readonly on hosts file at customers before. I guess some antivirus of antimalware did those changes. Cannot pinpoin the exact app, as it was years ago when i last saw that.

~~Edit: What are those hostsCity and hostsGlobal files you have? you answerd it before me posting the question.~~

DMD · Apr 29, 2024

OAT said:
I have two batch files that I use to 'block' intrusive content and the other to open to all as certain games make API calls.
It puts an icon on the desktop to tell me whether the switch is on or off.

Very interesting this procedure, also very practical.