How to Recover Missing Windows Host Files
The host file is an important part of the Windows operating system, but many users do not even realize it is there until something goes wrong. The host file is used to translate machine and server names to IP addresses, and if that host file is damaged users may not be able to reach certain network resources. Knowing how to recover or recreate this host file can therefore be very important.
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Instructions
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Log on to your computer and click on the "Start" button. Choose "Search" from the menu. Choose "All files and folders" from the list of options.
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Type "hos*.*" in the file box and make sure your hard drive is selected. Click the "Search" button to start the search. It is possible that the extension of the host file was inadvertently changed. If this is true users an recover the host file by simply changing the extension.
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Click on the "Start" button and choose "Run" from the menu if the host file still exists but needs to be renamed. Type "cmd" in the box to open the DOS window.
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Type "rename currentname hosts" at the prompt and hit the "Enter" key. For instance, if your host file was inadvertently renamed to hosts.txt you would type "rename hosts.txt hosts" at the prompt.
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Download a file recovery program if you cannot find the hosts file ion your computer. There are a number of such programs available, and many of them are free. Run the program and browse to your hard drive. You will see a list of the files that can be recovered. Highlight the hosts file from the list and choose "recover" from the menu.
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References
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