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Our network IT people hate us, so our ip addresses are not entered in to the DNS lookup automatically if we run a non-Windows OS. How do I get my Windows 7 machine to find the non-Windows OS machine by using the hostname?

In WinXP, I added the hostname and ip address of the linux box to the c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file. Under 64-bit Windows 7, how do I do that? I can't just edit the host file by opening it with notepad from the file explorer window.

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To edit the hosts file

C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

in Windows 7, you need to run the editor (eg. notepad) as administrator, which you do by locating it through the Start menu and then right clicking on the editor's icon, then manually open and edit the hosts file.

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I used TextPad as Admin and the etc directory wouldn't show up in the file browser list. Works in notepad though. – Jay R. Sep 18 '09 at 19:23
You definitely have to be administrator. – Jay R. Sep 18 '09 at 19:24
I had a similar issue in Notepad2, I think it must be some funky new Windows protection - but notepad worked in the end. Never understood what actually prevented it. – William Hilsum Sep 18 '09 at 19:28
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The process should be identical. Make sure to check "Show Hidden Files" in folder options, though.

(If you can't see the menu bar, press <Alt>)

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