hi guys,

i want someone to explain how to BLOCK bad sites (sex, adv. , ..... ) using host file.

can i make this change in host file in the cd to make this block every time this CD installed.

thnx.

Check http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Everything you ever wanted to know: guides, tools + HOSTS:
http://www.mdgx.com/modem.htm#HOS

Hope this helps.

A Hosts file give information to Internet Explorer as to what URL's are safe to visit and what ones are NOT.

Monthly I download a custom hosts file and install it in windows. It contains url's for many porn sites and virus and spyware sites.

It just adds one more layer of protection against viruses and spyware.

It's very easy to just download and install it.
Both Spybot S&D and Spyware Blaster perform a similar function.

Cheers,
Andromeda43

Yes but where ?

if i wanna to make CD contain this modified HOST file after installation

is it possible??

@ eidenk You can download a current hosts file from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm as listed in a previous post. That site also includes instructions about how to apply it, how your system will behave after it's been applied, and various other important details. Be aware that their list of sites to be blocked may be a bit on the over-cautious side. I've found a couple of times that sites they suggest should be banned are, in fact, relatively harmless.

@ el_rob3 You can apply this file to your Unattended CD simply by copying it, (the unzipped version), to the %CDROM%\$OEM$\$$\System32\drivers\etc folder.

thnx aussiecanuck46

if i should do that unattended CD in Win98 CD
is it possible??

Don't get crazy and complicated with something so very simple.
It's just a text file. Just download the dern'd thing and put it away in the proper folder.
Job done.
For Windows 98 its the folder: C:\windows\
and in XP its either the folder: "c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\"
or it's: "c:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\"
it just depends on which folder name your system uses for Windows.

Since it needs to be updated regularly, putting it on a reinstall CD would be counter productive. It's like last weeks AV files. Stick it on a floppy disk or data CD instead.


I check the URL given, every couple of weeks for a new version of the custom Hosts file. I install the latest version for all my customers.

It is after all a text file. Open it with Notepad or Wordpad and read it.
You'll be amazed at some of the url's you'll find in there.
If you find one that you want to go to, just delete it from the hosts file and resave the file. Then, you'll be able to go to that site without any hinderance. Be carefull though, that url was probably put in there for a very good reason.
I never question mine....I just use it and thank God for the guy who spends his valuable time keeping it up to date.

Good Luck,
Andromeda43

thnx Andromeda43

BUT i want to make unattended Win98se CD.

what i should do to make this CD install new host file with the windows installation.

1. D/l HOSTS.ZIP [1.1 MB, free]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/HOSTS.ZIP
More info:
http://www.mdgx.com/modem.htm#HOS
Unzip HOSTS.ZIP and read READ1ST.TXT.

2. Keep the HOSTS file u want: with local IP set to 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 .
Keep HOSTS.BAT in same directory where u have the HOSTS file.
Edit HOSTS.BAT in Notepad, and adapt its command lines to your specific needs: drive letters, directory names, etc.
Please note that lines between :NX and :N0 batch labels are only for NTx [NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista] OSes.

3. Add HOSTS.BAT to your post-setup commands section in MSBATCH.INF.
Edit MSBATCH.INF in Notepad to modify it.
More info on MSBATCH.INF + unattended installs:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#DEV

4. Put all files u want together [in dedicated directories] with your Windows 9x OS files, and then burn your CD/DVD.
See also the 98/ME boot CD project:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=53392

5. Done.

Hope this helps.

You didn't get the message!

A Hosts file is only good for a very short time. In some cases, only a few days.
It's like a daily update to your AV program.

I'm really not sure what this Unattended Cd is, but leave the Hosts file out of it.

Cheers,
Andromeda43

PS: the best re-install CD for windows 98/SE is a Ghost image on a bootable CD.
I do this all the time and it works like a charm!