BleepingComputer.com: Can't Get Into My Hosts File

I recently read about adding website names in the hosts file to prevent access on them on my home computer. I went to: start>my computer> local disk c:> Windows> system32> drivers> etc > hosts. A dialogue box asks which program I want to use to open the hosts file with. I chose Notepad (which I read somewhere was the correct program). I get an error essage which says: "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item." Now since I have a stand-alone desktop computer, why would I not have permission to access my hosts file? I get the same error message when I just try to open Notepad from start>all programs>accessories>notepad. I have Windows XP Pro version 2002 with SP2, AMD Athlon XP 2400+, 1.99GHz, 1.5 gigs RAM.

Once I get access to the hosts file, what is the exact way to type in the websites so I can block them on my computer?

Here's the help page
http://mvps.org.
and their FAQ page
http://mvps.org
Many people use it, personally I had issues with it
Mark

Right click on the hosts file, click properties, and select the security tab. Make sure in the Administrators item, "Full Control" is selected.

I right-clicked on "properties" in the hosts file. There was only a "general" and "summary" tab. Nothing about security. Additionally, I tried to go directly into Notepad again and I got this additional error message: Windows cannot open thos program because it has been prevented by a software restricion policy. For more information contact your system administrator.

I don't have an administrator. What do I do?

Disable Simple File Sharing, that should give you the security tab.
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharin...mplesharing.htm

arcman, on Sep 5 2007, 04:02 PM, said:

Yeah. If that doesn't work, I would have to ask if you have any program installed that is locking the host file?? I know SpybotSD allows you to do this as well as a handful of other security programs.

The only way I can think of that you still wouldn't have access to the file is if you didn't have ownership of the file, or it was in use by another process. If you don't have ownership, here's how you get it back: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
And if it's in use by another process, you could access it by booting into Safe Mode (press F8 while booting), or boot into the Recovery Console with a WinXP CD: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654#3