Win98 SE Host files?

HongKongPolice · Post by **HongKongPolice** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 4:20 pm

Tried editing both the lmhosts.sam and hosts.sam file and neither works. I put the IP first, a few spaces, then the related DNS name, but it always checks the ISP's DNS server first. I have DNS enabled tho, and it has to be enabled because the computer is connected to a Win98SE ICS machine.

I even tried editing the the sam files on the router computer, which has DNS disabled on the NIC connected to the cable modem, and it still checks the ISP's DNS server first.

Whats wrong?
Plz help

Bret · Post by **Bret** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 5:27 pm

.SAM files are only "sample" files, and are not used by windows. The actual file you want to edit is called "HOSTS" (without the quotes and without an extention). And I would suggest using a tab between the IP address and the domain name. This makes for a nice, neat looking HOSTS file.

What I would suggest doing is to edit the .SAM file, so that it contains the info that you want, then save it, but the file you save should be named "HOSTS", and saved in the same directory as the .sam file that you used as a template.

LMHOST files are used by WINS, and will have no effect on internet traffic.

HongKongPolice · Post by **HongKongPolice** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 3:36 am

Ohhhhh ya, i forgot bout that.

I remembered that for NT4 machines, the file to edit was just "hosts", but there was no file called "hosts" in the Windows Dir in Win98, so i thought hosts.sam was it.

doh
Thanks

HongKongPolice · Post by **HongKongPolice** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 4:03 am

Crap, just renamed the hosts.sam file to just hosts and it still doesn't work. Its placed in the same spot as the hosts.sam file (D:\windows\). Got any other suggestions?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 4:53 am

Uh...is your copy of Windows 98 loading from D:\Windows or C:\Windows?

Also make sure you've saved it, and that the file actually HAS some info in it, and is not just a blank HOSTS file.

HongKongPolice · Post by **HongKongPolice** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 10:58 am

Loading from D:\Windows, and yes it has info in it, correctly placed and spaced.

This sux

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 12:20 pm

Double check, look for hosts and lmhosts...like they said above, not the SAM files, but the real ones without any extension.

Exactly what is it you're trying to do BTW? Why not manually configure DNS...have it query whatever DNS server you're trying to hit first....followed by the two DNS servers from your ISP.

HongKongPolice · Post by **HongKongPolice** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 12:25 pm

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
Double check, look for hosts and lmhosts...like they said above, not the SAM files, but the real ones without any extension.

Exactly what is it you're trying to do BTW? Why not manually configure DNS...have it query whatever DNS server you're trying to hit first....followed by the two DNS servers from your ISP.

I triple checked the files and their contents, and rebooted the machine several times. Still no go.

I'm trying to link favorite sites that I go on to short phrases. like h for hardocp.com, etc. Don't wanna waste any space on the bookmarks bar

Can any1 try it out 'n confirm that Win98 SE even supports hosts files?
Thanks

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 7:17 pm

I'm running 98SE on this machine, and I have had no problem with my HOSTS file.

The only thing that tripped me for a moment was that I was using the hosts.sam file, instead of just creating a new file just called HOSTS (w/o an extention).

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 8:52 pm

Originally posted by HongKongPolice
I triple checked the files and their contents, and rebooted the machine several times. Still no go.

I'm trying to link favorite sites that I go on to short phrases. like h for hardocp.com, etc. Don't wanna waste any space on the bookmarks bar

Can any1 try it out 'n confirm that Win98 SE even supports hosts files?
Thanks

Yes Windows 95 and 98 support hosts files...else would you even have the .sam files on a fresh installation? I've used them and also lmhosts files many times.

Try installing DUN 1.4 to upgrade the TCP stack.

And again, perhaps what we're doing here isn't the answer to what your trying to do.....which begs the question again...just what ARE you trying to accomplish?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 2:35 am

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
And again, perhaps what we're doing here isn't the answer to what your trying to do.....which begs the question again...just what ARE you trying to accomplish?

Apparently he just wants to press "h" to get to [H]ard|OCP?