Block certain sites or mapping of IP addresses to host names using HOSTS file

HOSTS file contains mappings of IP addresses to host names. The HOSTS file does not have any extension. It is just names as “ hosts ”. Some computers running Windows operating system does contain HOSTS file. Instead those computers will have a file called “ hosts.sam ”, meaning sample file containing mappings of IP addresses to host names.

You can open the HOSTS file in any text edit such as NOTEPAD and make the changes.

If you want to block certain sites, for example to block www.google.com, open HOSTS file using notepad and add " 127.0.0.1 www.google.com " without double quotes at the end of the line. Save the HOSTS file and open your favorite browser and type " www.google.com " in address bar. Now you can see the message " Page cannot be found ".  If you are still able to browse the Google page then restart the computer and again open the Google website in web browser. " 127.0.0.1 " is the loopback IP address also called as local address pointing to you own computer. In the above example you are directing IP address of the Google to your computer

To find the IP address of the website, go to START and click on RUN or hold the WINDOWS key and press R to open RUN window. Type " cmd " and press ENTER key to open DOS window. Now type
" ping www.google.com " without double quotes to ping Google website to find the IP address.

You can increase the internet surfing speed by mapping IP addresses to host names. Usually IP addresses to host names resolving is done by DNS (Domain Naming Servers). Some times it takes time to resolve IP addresses to host names using DNS. If that is the case, then you can use HOSTS file to map IP addresses to host names. For example, if you want to map BING website to Google website IP address then get the IP address of www.google.co.in using PING in DOS window and type <IP address of Google> www.bing.com

It should look like " 74.125.236.48 www.bing.com " without double quotes. Here 74.125.236.48 is the IP address of www.google.co.in

Now when you type www.bing.com in the address bar of the browser it will direct to www.google.co.in

But remember the HOSTS file size is limited. You cannot add a big list to block or map the websites.

In Windows/95/98/ME, HOSTS file is located at C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS

In Windows NT/2000, HOSTS file is located at C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS

In WindowsXP Home/Pro , HOSTS file is located at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS

NOTE: Always remember to take backup of your original HOSTS file before making changes to it.

Windows shortcut keys

Go to “ START “ and click on “ RUN “ or hold “ WINDOWS “ Key and press “ R “ to open “ RUN “ window and type the shortcut command.

gpedit.msc = Opens Group Policy Window
certmgr.msc = Opens Certificate Manager Window
compmgmt.msc = Opens Computer management Window
devmgmt.msc = Opens Device Manager Window
lusrmgr.msc = Opens Local Users and Groups Window
dfrg.msc = Opens Defragment Window
diskmgmt.msc = Opens Disk Management Window
fsmgmt.msc = Opens Folder Sharing Management Window
eventvwr.msc = Opens Event Viewer Window
control = Opens Control Panel Window
wmimgmt.msc = Opens Windows Management Infrastructure Window
ntmsmgr.msc = Opens Removable Storage Window
perfmon.msc = Opens System Performance Manager Window
secpol.msc = Opens Local Security Policy Window
services.msc = Opens System Services Window
ciadv.msc = Opens Indexing Service Window

sndvol32 = Opens Volume Controller Window

regedit = Opens Registry Editor Window

taskmgr = Opens Windows Task Manager Window

winchat = Opens Windows chat Window

sndrec32 = Opens Windows sound recorder Window

msconfig = Opens system configuration utility Window

calc = Opens Windows calculator Utility

clipbrd = Opens Windows clipbook viewer Window

explorer = Opens Windows Explorer Window

iexplore = Opens Internet Explorer Application

Low Level Format or Zero Fill the hard disk drive

Low Level Format also called as Zero Fill is a method to completely wipe or erase the entire hard disk drive. Zero filling the hard disk drive will get rid of problems related to partitions errors such as problem reading data from sectors and tracks, wiping off confidential data for security and privacy reason, boot sector viruses. Scan and replace bad sectors. When you format the hard disk during windows installation, the operating system fills zeros only to the sectors where the operating system related files are copied. In order to perform zero filling the complete hard disk drive you have to download the low level formatting tool from particular hard disk vendor’s website. DOS based low level formatting tools are always recommended. In older computers, most of the BIOS were integrated with option called “ Low Level Format ” to completely destroy the data and repair hard disk related issues.

After Low level format or zero fill, if your hard disk drive is not working properly or still has any mechanical problem, then try zero filling the hard disk drive using third party software if not replace the hard disk drive.

Always remember to take backup before zero filling the hard disk drive and never zero fill unless there is very good reason to do so.

Seagate HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Tool

Click here  to download Zero Fill tool for Seagate hard disk drive. Same tool can also be applied for Maxtor Hard Disk Drive.

Western Digital HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Tool

Click here to download the tool by selecting specific hard disk drive model.

Samsung HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Tool

Click here  to download the tool.

Hitachi HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Tool

Click here  to download the tool.

Free Zero Fill Tool

This is a free utility which supported Maxtor, Hitachi, Seagate, Samsung, Toshiba, Fujitsu, IBM, Quantum, Western Digital.

Click here to download the tool.

Removing boot sector virus

Many computer users might have faced the message “ BOOT SECTOR VIRUS. PROCEED Y/N? “ during Windows installation thus not allowing to install the operating system or you to boot operating system if already installed. Some motherboard manufacturers have put boot sector virus protection in BIOS. Boot sector is the first sector which contains DOS boot sector or commonly known as MBR (Master Boot Record) of the hard disk drive or floppy. MBR contains information about your hard drive partitions details and from where the operating system has to boot.

If the boot sector virus protection is enabled in the BIOS, it won’t allow you to install operating system because during installation the operating system writes boot code on MBR of the hard disk drive. If you are trying to write anything on MBR, it will consider as virus. To solve this, you have to disable boot virus protection in BIOS

If you are seriously infected by boot sector virus even though you have disabled boot virus protection in BIOS, then scan your computer with good antivirus tool or use Avira Antivir Boot Sector Repair Tool to remove the boot virus. Usually boot sector virus will corrupt the MBR of the hard disk drive or floppy.

There is another way of removing boot virus. Select “R” to repair during Windows installation setup to go to DOS recovery console window. In the command prompt type “ FIXMBR ” to repair corrupted MBR.

Installing Windows operating system using bootable USB flash drive

If your computer does not have CD or DVD drive or if your operating system files are corrupt, it is always better to have Windows operating system installed on your USB flash drive.

To install Windows operating system from bootable USB flash drive your motherboard should support USB media as first boot option. When you switch on the computer press DEL or F2 or F10 to enter BIOS setup depending on the type of motherboard you use. Go to BOOT menu and change the option USB STORAGE DEVICE or USB STORAGE STICK as first boot option. In most of the recent motherboards you can select USB STORAGE MEDIA as first boot device.

Click here for procedure to install Windows XP using bootable USB flash drive.

Click here for procedure to install Windows Vista or Windows 7 using bootable USB flash drive.