Changing Windows 'hosts' file in guest OS under Parallels Desktop 6

Question

I am running Win7 in a Parallels Desktop 6 on Mac.

I would like to modify my Windows hosts file.

When doing this through notepad it says "You don't have permission to save in this location..."

I am logged on as a regular windows user - not as 'local admin'.

• How can I edit the file?
• How can I grant my regular user 'local admin' rights?
• How can change the Windows user to 'admin' ... this option seems to be missing in my windows install...

Does anybody recognize the issue?

Thank you! J.

Answer 1

The easiest thing to do is to open Parallels in windowed view, so you see a Windows desktop. Open notepad, then hold CTRL+SHIFT and click on the application icon in your task bar. It should open a new window of notepad with admin access that can edit lmhosts.

Answer 2

As an alternative to @Michael Lowman's answer, here a pure Windows solution for the problem. Not being able to edit a system protected file, like hosts, is a Windows security measure. In order to open and edit it, you require elevated permissions (administrator rights).

1. Open Notepad.exe with elevated permissions (as admin)
2. From Notepad, choose File > Open
3. Select the C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file
4. Edit as you please and save the file

So there is no need to change your user rights. Just right-click the Notepad shortcut and choose "Run as administrator".

Side effect: once you run an application as 'admin' you cannot simply drag files from Explorer into the application. Explorer will not run as admin and Windows won't allow this.