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Windows 7 - Hosts file not redirecting website to IP address
Posted on 2013-01-07
Hi,
I am trying to redirect my web browser to a specific IP address for my website during construction.
The content of my host files is shown below but I can't work out why its not working.
C:\Windows\System32\driver
123.456.56.232 www.mywebsite.com
123.456.56.232 mywebsite.com
If I open a command window in windows 7 and ping www.mywebsite.com it returns 123.456.56.232
So why won't my browser point to the location specified in hosts file?
Thanks in advance for your feedback..
I am trying to redirect my web browser to a specific IP address for my website during construction.
The content of my host files is shown below but I can't work out why its not working.
C:\Windows\System32\driver
123.456.56.232 www.mywebsite.com
123.456.56.232 mywebsite.com
If I open a command window in windows 7 and ping www.mywebsite.com it returns 123.456.56.232
So why won't my browser point to the location specified in hosts file?
Thanks in advance for your feedback..
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29 Comments
Try clearing your cache?
It's got to be something simple like that.
That should Absolutely point to mywebsite.com
the way you have it written....
127.0.0.1 localhost
Selvol
It's got to be something simple like that.
That should Absolutely point to mywebsite.com
the way you have it written....
127.0.0.1 localhost
Selvol
Active today
To ensure the file is correct (using Windows 7 and UAC), open Notepad with Run as Administrator, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\driver
Try this and see if it works.
... Thinkpads_User
Try this and see if it works.
... Thinkpads_User
Active 6 days ago
Thanks for your help, I have tried clearing cache, flushing dns, changing file as admin and added 0.0.0.0 google.com & 0.0.0.0 www.google.com to the file and I still get through to google. Same file works fine on another windows 7 PC, just wondering if wireless network can have anything to do with it?
Active today
Same file works fine on another windows 7 PC
Wireless should have nothing to do with it. It is just another form of TCP/IP connection.
On the problem PC, disable AntiVirus and Firewall temporarily to see if that changes anything. Integrated AV suites sometimes stop more than is reasonable.
On the problem PC, reset Internet Explorer (Tools, Internet Options, Advanced and Reset). See if that helps. Also run iexplore -extoff to run in Safe Mode. See if that works as it could be an add-on.
If the above do not help, run System File Checker (SFC /SCANNOW). Allow to complete and restart.
.... Thinkpads_User
Wireless should have nothing to do with it. It is just another form of TCP/IP connection.
On the problem PC, disable AntiVirus and Firewall temporarily to see if that changes anything. Integrated AV suites sometimes stop more than is reasonable.
On the problem PC, reset Internet Explorer (Tools, Internet Options, Advanced and Reset). See if that helps. Also run iexplore -extoff to run in Safe Mode. See if that works as it could be an add-on.
If the above do not help, run System File Checker (SFC /SCANNOW). Allow to complete and restart.
.... Thinkpads_User
Active 6 days ago
Thanks again for your help, I have disabled antivirus and firewall, reset internet options, run System File Checker and tried have firefox as well as IE and Safari, still same issues?
Active 6 days ago
Hi, I just tried disconnecting my wireless and plugged Laptop into LAN and redirects work fine, so I guess it's got something to do with my wireless connection?
Active today
Is this a HOME PC or in an office environment?
Could be that your wireless connection goes via a web filter or proxy server of some type. If thats the case your host file WILL NEVER change where it gets to as the proxy will look for the IP address from the name the browser sends to it.
Could be that your wireless connection goes via a web filter or proxy server of some type. If thats the case your host file WILL NEVER change where it gets to as the proxy will look for the IP address from the name the browser sends to it.
Active 6 days ago
its a home laptop connecting to a wirelss modem - https://www.optus.com.au/shop/Broadband/Modems-&-Tablets-Carousel/HUAWEI-E586OMB
Active today
Try your laptop in a different location (that is, different wireless router) to see if that works. Wireless modems normally do not cause this type of problem but it is good to check.
Check for viruses and malware wtih online Malwarebytes.
Otherwise, given all the things you have tried, you probably should find a convenient time to back up the computer, format the hard drive and install Windows again.
.... Thinkpads_User
Check for viruses and malware wtih online Malwarebytes.
Otherwise, given all the things you have tried, you probably should find a convenient time to back up the computer, format the hard drive and install Windows again.
.... Thinkpads_User
Active today
AHhhhh!!! Its a 3G broadband connection!! Not WiFi in the normally accepted sense of the word.
In that case I was correct. Most 3G broadband providers AUTOMATICALLY redirect ALL traffic through a proxy server. A proxy server will ALWAYS resolve the address it is using from the SITE NAME you send it. This bypasses ANY host file entries you can ever try and make.
In that case I was correct. Most 3G broadband providers AUTOMATICALLY redirect ALL traffic through a proxy server. A proxy server will ALWAYS resolve the address it is using from the SITE NAME you send it. This bypasses ANY host file entries you can ever try and make.
Active today
@: sabecs - Check and see if your 3G uses a proxy server. Mine does not and uses my Hosts file just fine. If you are using a proxy server, then that explains it.
Please let us know. ... Thinkpads_User
Please let us know. ... Thinkpads_User
Active today
Thats what i just said!
Yes, I know. I was asking if perhaps it was not using a proxy server.
... Thinkpads_User
Yes, I know. I was asking if perhaps it was not using a proxy server.
... Thinkpads_User
Active today
Neilar may know that. My own 3G (also 4G if the area permits) uses a double NAT. That interferes with VPN (which I solve by paying an upcharge), but it does not redirect by not using my Hosts file. I cannot tell on my on device because it does not appear to be using a proxy.
.... Thinkpads_User
.... Thinkpads_User
Active today
Not 100% guaranteed acurate but as neer as you get. Just visit http://www.lagado.com/proxy-test
Active today
I switched over to my 3G USB key. From the above site:
--------------------------
Proxy Test
This request appears NOT to have come via a proxy.
The request appears to have originated from ip address xx.198.4.117
--------------------------
The IP address is my ISP
.... Thinkapds_User
--------------------------
Proxy Test
This request appears NOT to have come via a proxy.
The request appears to have originated from ip address xx.198.4.117
--------------------------
The IP address is my ISP
.... Thinkapds_User
Active 6 days ago
Thanks again for your help, tried link above and results below:.
Proxy Test
This request appears NOT to have come via a proxy.
The request appears to have originated from ip address x.44.166.xx
Proxy Test
This request appears NOT to have come via a proxy.
The request appears to have originated from ip address x.44.166.xx
Active today
Back to an earlier post of mine, if nothing works, it may be necessary to re-install Windows at a convenient point.
... Thinkpads_User
... Thinkpads_User
Active 6 days ago
I don't see the point of re-installing Windows as it works fine with other wireless networks or wired connections, issue is only with https://www.optus.com.au/shop/Broadband/Modems-&-Tablets-Carousel/HUAWEI-E586OMB
Active today
It is 99% certainly an ISP proxy issue. There are transparent proxies that will not show up in the tests i listed above But the symptons are exactly those.
Installing windows again would get you nowhere.
Find another computer, put in your wifi and test. You will find the result follows your wifi adapter.
Installing windows again would get you nowhere.
Find another computer, put in your wifi and test. You will find the result follows your wifi adapter.
Active today
I don't see the point of re-installing Windows
There is certainly no rush. That is why is used "convenient time". There may come another time when you need to re-install Windows anyway.
Otherwise, it is hard to say why your machine is not using your Hosts file. My Hosts file works even using the 3G device.
There are several Hosts files: hosts, hosts.sam, and possibly hosts.lm. Make sure you are using Hosts and make sure there is only one of them (that is, hosts with no extension).
.... Thinkpads_User
There is certainly no rush. That is why is used "convenient time". There may come another time when you need to re-install Windows anyway.
Otherwise, it is hard to say why your machine is not using your Hosts file. My Hosts file works even using the 3G device.
There are several Hosts files: hosts, hosts.sam, and possibly hosts.lm. Make sure you are using Hosts and make sure there is only one of them (that is, hosts with no extension).
.... Thinkpads_User
Active 6 days ago
Thanks again for your help, http://www.whatsmyip.org/more-info-about-you/ did not show any poxies either.
Is there any way I can force host file use from IE, Firefox, Opera or Safari?
Is there any way I can force host file use from IE, Firefox, Opera or Safari?
Active today
Here is a teqnique for testing for most transparent proxies. Give it a try.
http://tracetcp.sourceforge.net/usage_proxy.html
http://tracetcp.sourceforge.net/usage_proxy.html
Active today
If its a proxy of any type you will Never be using the hosts file ever and you cant change that.
Active today
Read the following...
http://delimiter.com.au/2011/07/04/optus-filter-can-be-defeated-by-trivial-dns-change/
That tells us that Optus use web filtering. To use web filtering there has to be a proxy. As your device is on the Optus network........
http://delimiter.com.au/2011/07/04/optus-filter-can-be-defeated-by-trivial-dns-change/
That tells us that Optus use web filtering. To use web filtering there has to be a proxy. As your device is on the Optus network........
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