How to Block Websites in Windows
If you run a version of the Windows operating system such as XP, Vista or 7, you can avail yourself of a built-in resource that--when configured properly--allows you to block websites without purchasing any third-party software. This minor miracle is accomplished through the "hosts" file on the computer, a file that the operating system refers to whenever a program attempts to access the Internet.
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Instructions
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1
Click on the "Start" button. If you use Vista or Windows 7, you don't need to do anything further at this point. If you use Windows XP, you need to click on the "Run" program.
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2
Type out "notepad.exe" (without the quotes) and then press the "Enter" key. If you use Vista or Windows 7, right-click on the "notepad.exe" program that appears and select "Run as administrator" instead.
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3
Click on the "File" button, click "Open" and then navigate to the "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc" folder.
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4
Click on "hosts" and then click "Open."
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5
Type "127.0.0.1 www.website.com" (without the quotes) into the hosts file, at the bottom of the file and then press the "Enter" key.
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6
Type "127.0.0.1 website.com" (without the quotes) into the hosts file, directly below the line you typed in on Step 5. Instead of literally typing "website.com" in this step and in Step 5, type out the website that you want to block.
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Save the file and then close the text editor. The website is now blocked.
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