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Is Scan Reg available for Windows XP Home with SP3? It used to be on my computer some time ago, but not there now. If the answer is yes, where will I find the download file?

I searched for it on Google, but couldn’t find the information.

One other question: Can programs listed in the Hosts file be safely deleted? Most where put there by a program I no longer use.

I’ll appreciate all answers.

Thanks,

Gloria

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Scanreg is not part of Windows XP – it was a component of Windows 98 and ME, I think.

The Hosts file doesn’t list programs, but websites, as far as I know.

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Is Scan Reg available for Windows XP Home with SP3?

Wasn’t that for 98 & ME? My brain can’t think that far back anymore! I remember it now…neat little tool!!!

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Is Scan Reg available for Windows XP Home with SP3?

Try Nir Sofer’s RegScanner utility.

Can programs listed in the Hosts file be safely deleted? Most were put there by a program I no longer use.

What you should have in the HOSTS file is simply lists of IP addresses each with a corresponding URL.
Examples from of old:
68.178.254.189 wopr.com
68.178.254.189 http://www.wopr.com

Yes, you can get rid of any and all of these if you want – they are only bypassing the usual DNS lookup function.

But keep
127.0.0.1 localhost
!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Try Nir Sofer’s RegScanner utility.

What you should have in the HOSTS file is simply lists of IP addresses each with a corresponding URL.
Examples from of old:
68.178.254.189 wopr.com
68.178.254.189 http://www.wopr.com

Yes, you can get rid of any and all of these if you want – they are only bypassing the usual DNS lookup function.

But keep
127.0.0.1 localhost
!

Thanks Batcher,

I already have an excellent Registry Cleaner.

The fact that I can remove the IP Addresses is good information.

Also I wish to thank Hans and Mike for their replys. This is what I call good help, ask a question today and get answers within minutes. I belong to many forums, but none are as good as Windows Secrets.

Merry Chirstmas to one and all and may Santa bring you all you desire.

Gloria

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…
What you should have in the HOSTS file is simply lists of IP addresses each with a corresponding URL.

Assistant lounge pedant (networking) here.

What you have in the HOSTS file is a list of IP addresses, each with a corresponding hostname or fully qualified domain name (FQDN).
A URL includes a resource type (such as http: or ftp:), a FQDN, and possibly other information such as folder, file, and arguments

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Try Nir Sofer’s RegScanner utility.

What you should have in the HOSTS file is simply lists of IP addresses each with a corresponding URL.
Examples from of old:
68.178.254.189 wopr.com
68.178.254.189 http://www.wopr.com

Yes, you can get rid of any and all of these if you want – they are only bypassing the usual DNS lookup function.

But keep
127.0.0.1 localhost
!

I looked at RegScanner and was pleasantly surprised at what it does. I’m thinking about giving it a whirl, thanks again for suggesting I try it.

I found Hosts and it was read only which I changed. I got a message that I needed to choose a program to open Hosts, after selecting Notepad the file opened but I don’t know how to delete them using Notepad.

Please post the method I should use.

Gloria

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but I don’t know how to delete them using Notepad.

Select the lines that you want to remove, then either press the Backspace key or the Delete key on the keyboard.

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Select the lines that you want to remove, then either press the Backspace key or the Delete key on the keyboard.

Wonderful, thanks for the information. I’ll try and remove them using one or the other of your suggestions.

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I looked at RegScanner and was pleasantly surprised at what it does. I’m thinking about giving it a whirl, thanks again for suggesting I try it.

I found Hosts and it was read only which I changed. I got a message that I needed to choose a program to open Hosts, after selecting Notepad the file opened but I don’t know how to delete them using Notepad.

Please post the method I should use.

Gloria

Gloria, please don’t use RegScanner or any other so-called third-party registry ‘cleaner’. Certainly never pay for one. You don’t need them – they are unnecessary, often counter-productive, occasionally very dangerous and not worth the price (even the free ones). While the legitimate ones – those that do not contain boatloads of malware and/or adware – are mostly harmless (but even they can be dangerous when used by anyone who is not registry/process/API-IDE savvy) it is a fact that they will do nothing that your Windows system does not already do, all by itself, without help and much more efficiently and safely than any third-party cleaner can do. The bad ones – when they don’t contain nasties – will claim to have found ‘hundreds’ of ‘bad registry entries’ (which is the equivalent of third-rate security software boastfully claiming to have fixed ‘hundreds of malware infestations’ when all they’ve done is murder poor, innocent and harmless cookies) and then, after scaring you, make you pay up before they’ll fix those ‘problems’. I promise you, you don’t need ANY third-party registry cleaners. The ‘problems’ they were originally needed to fix disappeared with the introduction of Windows XP and now with Vista and Windows 7, all three of which are more than capable – and designed for – fixing themselves. The thing that commercial registry cleaners do best is pick your pocket. Resist.

On the Hosts file, if you must edit it, open it in Notepad, delete the entries using the normal Notepad editing methods (backspace, highlight-select and delete, etc) and press Control+S (for Save) on the keyboard or choose ‘Save’ from the File menu.

It would be useful to know the purpose of the Host file: as others have said, the entries are IP addresses for specific websites, plus text commenting in specific places and formats. The IP address ‘127.0.0.1’ is, in effect, your own machine. So that, any URL in the host file which is pointed at 127.0.0.1 will not leave the machine for the wider network – this is often done to prevent certain applications or processes ‘phoning home’. Instead of DNS lookup finding the IP they are trying to connect to out there in the net, they are pointed back at 127.0.0.1 and so the external connection at the application-prescribed IP is never made. In other cases, some malware can ‘hijack’ the Host file so that when, for example, a security application tries to update, the malware has set it up that that application will go to a bogus address as identified in the IP on the left hand side (as is 127.0.0.1). In yet more cases, it may sometimes be more efficient to setup in the Host file an IP to which a certain application always connects – useful if difficulties are experienced with DNS lookups.

It is the case that your PC will work just as well as it always does and connect to the web through whatever DNS lookup addresses are set in networking controls or your modem/router if there is nothing at all in your Host file (other than the very first 127.0.0.1 example). Unless you, yourself, put any of those entries in the Host file, I would delete them because whatever did is up to no good. I would then run a very thorough system scan by your security applications (ESET for preference) and keep an eye on the Host file. If entries re-appear without your intervention, and without your security application alerting you, then you have a problem (inefficient security software being part of that problem).

Good luck,

Brian De B

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If anyone has different opinions about Registry scanners and cleaners then please review http://bro.ws/768675L

We really don’t want to restart the same discussion in another thread

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Gloria, please don’t use RegScanner or any other so-called third-party registry ‘cleaner’. Certainly never pay for one. You don’t need them – they are unnecessary, often counter-productive, occasionally very dangerous and not worth the price (even the free ones). While the legitimate ones – those that do not contain boatloads of malware and/or adware – are mostly harmless (but even they can be dangerous when used by anyone who is not registry/process/API-IDE savvy) it is a fact that they will do nothing that your Windows system does not already do, all by itself, without help and much more efficiently and safely than any third-party cleaner can do. The bad ones – when they don’t contain nasties – will claim to have found ‘hundreds’ of ‘bad registry entries’ (which is the equivalent of third-rate security software boastfully claiming to have fixed ‘hundreds of malware infestations’ when all they’ve done is murder poor, innocent and harmless cookies) and then, after scaring you, make you pay up before they’ll fix those ‘problems’. I promise you, you don’t need ANY third-party registry cleaners. The ‘problems’ they were originally needed to fix disappeared with the introduction of Windows XP and now with Vista and Windows 7, all three of which are more than capable – and designed for – fixing themselves. The thing that commercial registry cleaners do best is pick your pocket. Resist.

On the Hosts file, if you must edit it, open it in Notepad, delete the entries using the normal Notepad editing methods (backspace, highlight-select and delete, etc) and press Control+S (for Save) on the keyboard or choose ‘Save’ from the File menu.

It would be useful to know the purpose of the Host file: as others have said, the entries are IP addresses for specific websites, plus text commenting in specific places and formats. The IP address ‘127.0.0.1’ is, in effect, your own machine. So that, any URL in the host file which is pointed at 127.0.0.1 will not leave the machine for the wider network – this is often done to prevent certain applications or processes ‘phoning home’. Instead of DNS lookup finding the IP they are trying to connect to out there in the net, they are pointed back at 127.0.0.1 and so the external connection at the application-prescribed IP is never made. In other cases, some malware can ‘hijack’ the Host file so that when, for example, a security application tries to update, the malware has set it up that that application will go to a bogus address as identified in the IP on the left hand side (as is 127.0.0.1). In yet more cases, it may sometimes be more efficient to setup in the Host file an IP to which a certain application always connects – useful if difficulties are experienced with DNS lookups.

It is the case that your PC will work just as well as it always does and connect to the web through whatever DNS lookup addresses are set in networking controls or your modem/router if there is nothing at all in your Host file (other than the very first 127.0.0.1 example). Unless you, yourself, put any of those entries in the Host file, I would delete them because whatever did is up to no good. I would then run a very thorough system scan by your security applications (ESET for preference) and keep an eye on the Host file. If entries re-appear without your intervention, and without your security application alerting you, then you have a problem (inefficient security software being part of that problem).

Good luck,

Brian De B

Thank you Brian, your posts is one of the very best I’ve seen. You explained things so clearly and I will take your advice and remove my registry cleaner and not install RegScanner.

It’s going to be a pleasure having you a member of this forum and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Gloria

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Thank you Brian, your posts is one of the very best I’ve seen. You explained things so clearly and I will take your advice and remove my registry cleaner and not install RegScanner.

It’s going to be a pleasure having you a member of this forum and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Gloria

Gloria, that is a lovely thing to write and I thank you very much for it. Here’s wishing you (and your Hosts file – heheh) and all you love a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year season.

Brian De B

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Gloria, that is a lovely thing to write and I thank you very much for it. Here’s wishing you (and your Hosts file – heheh) and all you love a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year season.

Brian De B

Thank you Brian for your Holiday wishes, I wish that and more for you and yours.

I have one more question for you.

I’ve been deleting the entries to my Hosts file put there by Spybot – Search and Destroy (which I no longer use). There must be over 1,000 entries and I’ve been using back space to remove them. I will take me over a week to finish (my estimate). When I stopped for the day, I was asked If I wanted to save the changes? I clicked No and went back to view my progress and all I had removed where there again. I presume I should have selected for the changes to be saved. Is that correct?

If so, and I have to enter Save As, what should I name it?

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The hosts file must not be renamed. You have to save it in the correct directory with a filename of hosts. and NO EXTENSION.

The hosts file may be configured with the ReadOnly attribute set, in which case you will have to clear this before editing.

Please read this hosts file FAQ for more information about editing the hosts file.

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The hosts file must not be renamed. You have to save it in the correct directory with a filename of hosts. and NO EXTENSION.

The hosts file may be configured with the ReadOnly attribute set, in which case you will have to clear this before editing.

Please read this hosts file FAQ for more information about editing the hosts file.

Very well Stuart,

That’s very helpful informaion. I had removed almost a hundred, now I have to start from the beginning and save it this time.

Oh well! What else do I have to do a week before Christmas but delete Hosts files?

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Very well Stuart,

That’s very helpful informaion. I had removed almost a hundred, now I have to start from the beginning and save it this time.

Oh well! What else do I have to do a week before Christmas but delete Hosts files?

If the entries in the HOSTS file have an address of 127.0.0.1 then they are being used to block ads. That is a technique that Spybot (and others) use to keep ads from being downloaded. Just because you uninstalled Spybot does not mean you have to remove the entries from the HOSTS file. You can if you wish but don’t feel obligated.

Joe

--Joe

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If the entries in the HOSTS file have an address of 127.0.0.1 then they are being used to block ads. That is a technique that Spybot (and others) use to keep ads from being downloaded. Just because you uninstalled Spybot does not mean you have to remove the entries from the HOSTS file. You can if you wish but don’t feel obligated.

Joe

Joe, you have no idea how many there are, there must be 1,000 at least. Do they take up any space on the hard drive?

They’re in a folder that says they were created by Spybot – Search & Destroy, can I delete the complete folder? That would save me a whole lot of time if possible.

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Joe, you have no idea how many there are, there must be 1,000 at least. Do they take up any space on the hard drive?

They’re in a folder that says they were created by Spybot – Search & Destroy, can I delete the complete folder? That would save me a whole lot of time if possible.

There should be only one HOSTS file which contains entries, are you saying that you have a folder full of HOSTS files?
Post a screen shot of this folder so we can see what you are talking about!
We also need to see what the full path of this folder is?

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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There should be only one HOSTS file which contains entries, are you saying that you have a folder full of HOSTS files?

Dave,
I believe she’s talking about entries in the hosts file, see [post=’812606′]post 812606[/post], and she replied to Joe, talking about the entries in the hosts file. But some more info. about the path and file can of course be good.

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There should be only one HOSTS file which contains entries, are you saying that you have a folder full of HOSTS files?
Post a screen shot of this folder so we can see what you are talking about!
We also need to see what the full path of this folder is?

The pathe for HOSTS is: c:Windowssystem32Driversetc

I’ve been told so many times about how to take a screen shot and send it to this forum, but I haven’t tried to do it. Sorry Dave but you will have to take my word for it that they appear like this with different URL’s.

Example:

127.0.0.1 babe.the-killer.bz
127.0.0.1 http://www.babe.the-killer.bz

Please don’t scold me about not learning about taking screen shots.

Gloria

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Gloria,

Just leave these entries alone, they are doing no harm. Each one of these will cause a lookup for a particular web site to return the address of your own computer. This is a common trick for protecting you from nasties on the internet.

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All entries starting with 127.0.0.1 (except for the “default” entry 127.0.0.1 localhost) are intended to block malicious websites. There is no pressing need to remove those entries – you can leave them where they are without negative consequences.

On the other hand, if your security software is up-to-date, those entries aren’t strictly necessary – your security software will protect you; the entries are just an extra layer of defense. So if you really want to, you can remove all entries except 127.0.0.1 localhost.

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Joe, you have no idea how many there are, there must be 1,000 at least. Do they take up any space on the hard drive?

They’re in a folder that says they were created by Spybot – Search & Destroy, can I delete the complete folder? That would save me a whole lot of time if possible.

Gloria,
Go to this MS site and it will give you instructions to reset the HOSTS file back to default, either automatically or manually. It also shows a default HOSTS file for various Windows flavors.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034

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Gloria,
Go to this MS site and it will give you instructions to reset the HOSTS file back to default, either automatically or manually. It also shows a default HOSTS file for various Windows flavors.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034

Viking, I clicked on the Fix it button and received a notice that the problem had been fixed and was asked to restart the computer, which I did.

Two things happened next, first Notepad produced a message that it could not find the C:Windowssystem32driversHOSTS.txt file, and asked if I wanted to create a new one. I clicked Yes and when the HOSTS file appeared (using search), all the original entries reappeared, nothing has been removed.

Webroot Internet Security Internet Communications shield is notifiying me that access to all URL’s that are listed have been blocked.
A removal notice is appearing every few minutes, this should take forever because of the amount of URL’s. So, I am back where I started.

Gloria

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… it could not find the C:Windowssystem32driversHOSTS.txt file…

Gloria. You should NOT have a file called HOSTS.txt, if this file does exist you can delete it as it will not be used to lookup addresses
The correct file name is hosts. with no file extension, just the . at the end.

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The correct file name is hosts. with no file extension, just the . at the end.

I’m not sure about the “.” at the end, Stuart. My current hosts file does not have one and I don’t recall ever seeing a period at the end. I update this file quite regularly with the anti-malware and ad blocking file provided by mvps.org. Do you think it might work both ways?

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I’m not sure about the “.” at the end, Stuart. My current hosts file does not have one and I don’t recall ever seeing a period at the end. I update this file quite regularly with the anti-malware and ad blocking file provided by mvps.org. Do you think it might work both ways?

Yes, there is no dot at the end of my HOSTS file either.

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I’m not sure about the “.” at the end, Stuart. My current hosts file does not have one and I don’t recall ever seeing a period at the end. I update this file quite regularly with the anti-malware and ad blocking file provided by mvps.org. Do you think it might work both ways?

Paul,

You are – of course – correct.

I tend to add the dot to mean “there is no extension”. The dot is not actually displayed by Windows explorer, and is probably not stored with the filename. If you rename the file from hosts to hosts. you will see that it continues to work and that Windows explorer continues to display the name as hosts without the .

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So it does work both ways. I learned something new today.

BTW, I just noticed that the default HOSTS file in Windows 7 (at least my 64 bit version) is nothing but comments. Even the IPv4 and IPv6 localhost lines are now commented out.

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost

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Gloria. You should NOT have a file called HOSTS.txt, if this file does exist you can delete it as it will not be used to lookup addresses
The correct file name is hosts. with no file extension, just the . at the end.

HOSTS.txt has been removed. I also removed the one placed there by Spybot S&D, since Webroot Internet Security has blocked all that were listed there.

FYI: IMHOSTS.SAM was also found. Path: c;windowssystem32driversetc.
Windows couldn’t open the file so I went online to Windows File Association and found the File Type is ami Pro Document with a file extension of .sam. The description read” A word procressing document created by Sana Ami Pro, as an early graphical word processor for Windows.

I then opened the .sam document in Word and read more interesting information about the HOSTS file, which I printed and filed.

My thanks to all have who have responded to this topic.

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FYI: IMHOSTS.SAM was also found. Path: c;windowssystem32driversetc.
Windows couldn’t open the file so I went online to Windows File Association and found the File Type is ami Pro Document with a file extension of .sam. …

I always assumed .sam stood for ‘sample’ – i.e. an example of what the HOSTS file could contain…..

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I always assumed .sam stood for ‘sample’ – i.e. an example of what the HOSTS file could contain…..

Now you know the correct meaning. It’s better NOT to assume any thing, right?

Gloria

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Now you know the correct meaning. It’s better NOT to assume any thing, right?

Let me rephrase that – I believe, and still believe, that with respect to the file hosts.sam, the .sam suffix refers to a sample file.

For example, see Microsoft TCP/IP Host Name Resolution Order…

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Let me rephrase that – I believe, and still believe, that with respect to the file hosts.sam, the .sam suffix refers to a sample file.

For example, see Microsoft TCP/IP Host Name Resolution Order…

Your link took me to a page that said it might not apply to the operating system I was using and directed me to the Windows XP Solution Center where I couldn’t find the topic I was looking for.

I’m running Windows Xp Home Edition. It’s really not all that important, since the file opened and I was able to read it. Sample file or what ever, just since it opened.

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Oh well! What else do I have to do a week before Christmas but delete Hosts files?

Duchess843:

Are there any entries you want to save in the Hosts file?

If not, open the file in Notepad, press Ctrl+A, hit the Delete key, and save the now empty file.

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Well, if you keep quiet about that, I won’t say a word about Gloria thinking that RegScanner was a registry cleaner!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Well, if you keep quiet about that, I won’t say a word about Gloria thinking that RegScanner was a registry cleaner!

I have something to say. With a name like that (without looking at the program), who wouldn’t think it was a registry cleaner. Since I made that mistake, I’ll take a look at it and see exactly what it does.

Thanks for the correction, I have egg on my face and it doesn’t do anything for my looks.

Gloria

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