Changing your Hosts file in Windows Vista

By modifying your hosts file in WIndows Vista you can block web sites locally on your computer. This is handy if you want to restrict access to certain web sites within your organization.

In windows vista unlike WIndows XP you will find that if you try to modify your hosts file it will not let you save it.  Your require administrative privileges to do this.  To modify the hosts file, run notepad.exe as an administrator and open the hosts file.

1)  Browse to Start > All Programs > Accessories
2)  Right click on Notepad and select "Run as administrator"
3)  Click "Continue" on the User Account Control prompt
4)  Then click File > Open
5)  Browse to "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc"
6)  Change the file filter drop down box from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to "All Files (*.*)"
7)  Select "hosts" and click "Open"
8)  Make the desired modifications (e.g. 127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com will block access to facebook.) Once this is complete close Notrepad and save when prompted.

Thanks M.