The "Hosts" file is a file that exists in Windows and other operating systems. This file is used to associate host names with an IP address. A host name is the web address that you use to go to a website. For example, www.e-businessexpress.com is a hosts address.

An IP address means the same as a host name. Computer systems use IP addresses to find websites. Host names exist because it is much easier for humans to remember names instead of lengthy numbers.

Below are a few pathways to find and edit your PC's hosts file, always be very careful to not change the localhost info found in the "hosts" file. You also must remember to save the file with out an extension.

Windows 95/98/Me  c:\windows\hosts
Windows NT/2000/XP Pro  c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
Windows XP Home  c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts