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nightology

Q: how can i edit your /private/etc/hosts file

I was told to edit this to fix an issue im having connecting with my imessages. It's faulting due to a registration error.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 8, 2012 4:29 PM

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Q: how can i edit your /private/etc/hosts file

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  • Helpful answers

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Nov 8, 2012 4:27 PM in response to nightology
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 4:27 PM in response to nightology

    Use the built-in nano text editor or TextEdit. I don't understand the registration error. What are you using to generate that message? Provide the details.

  • by nightology ,

    nightology nightology Nov 8, 2012 4:36 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 4:36 PM in response to baltwo

    I just purchased Mountain Lion and I am trying to set up my imessages. i won't login and comes up with this message. I saw on threads that i had to edit my /private/etc/hosts file.

     

    HELP.png

  • by nightology ,

    nightology nightology Nov 8, 2012 4:45 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 4:45 PM in response to baltwo

    I refering to solutions in this link. http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3970

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Nov 8, 2012 4:57 PM in response to nightology
    Level 7 (29,198 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 8, 2012 4:57 PM in response to nightology

    You only need to fix the /etc/hosts file if you or some flaky 3rd party software has modified it. First, let's see if that is true.

     

    Run Terminal.app and enter the following:

    cat /etc/hosts

    and paste the results here. We will tell you if there is anything you need to do.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Nov 8, 2012 4:58 PM in response to nightology
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 4:58 PM in response to nightology

    Thanks for clarifying. Sorry, but I don't use any of that socialized media or other cloudy stuff, so all I can point to is what's in the document you linked to. BTW, if you can't register, then it might be because of an incorrect or wrong AppleID. I only have one, so I've never had the issue. Good luck.

  • by nightology ,

    nightology nightology Nov 8, 2012 5:26 PM in response to etresoft
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 5:26 PM in response to etresoft

    ##

    # Host Database

    #

    # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface

    # when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.

    ##

    127.0.0.1          localhost

    255.255.255.255          broadcasthost

    ::1             localhost

    fe80::1%lo0          localhost

    127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 activate.wip3.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 wip3.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 3dns-3.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 3dns-2.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 ereg.wip3.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 activate-sea.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 activate-sjc0.adobe.com

    127.0.0.1 adobe.activate.com

    127.0.0.1 209.34.83.73:443

    127.0.0.1 209.34.83.73:43

    127.0.0.1 209.34.83.73

    127.0.0.1 209.34.83.67:443

    127.0.0.1 209.34.83.67:43

    127.0.0.1 209.34.83.67

    127.0.0.1 ood.opsource.net

    127.0.0.1 CRL.VERISIGN.NET

    127.0.0.1 199.7.52.190:80

    127.0.0.1 199.7.52.190

    127.0.0.1 adobeereg.com

    127.0.0.1 OCSP.SPO1.VERISIGN.COM

    127.0.0.1 199.7.54.72:80

    127.0.0.1 199.7.54.72

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Nov 8, 2012 5:52 PM in response to nightology
    Level 7 (29,198 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 8, 2012 5:52 PM in response to nightology

    You need to remove the "199.* IP addresses and the Verisign addresses.

     

    I also strongly suggest you remove all of your pirated software and everything after:

    fe80::1%lo0          localhost

     

    If you can't afford the full versions of Adobe, buy Elements or some cheaper competitor. Pirating Adobe software just helps them maintain their stranglehold on the market and prevents competitors from challenging them with more affordable software.

     

    Use Terminal and execute

    sudo nano /etc/hosts

    and remove everything that isn't:

     

    ##

    # Host Database

    #

    # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface

    # when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.

    ##

    127.0.0.1          localhost

    255.255.255.255          broadcasthost

    ::1             localhost

    fe80::1%lo0          localhost

     

    You may also be able to use TextEdit

  • by nightology ,

    nightology nightology Nov 8, 2012 6:06 PM in response to etresoft
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 6:06 PM in response to etresoft

    You lost me on how i do that. How do i remove it?

  • by nightology ,

    nightology nightology Nov 8, 2012 6:12 PM in response to nightology
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 6:12 PM in response to nightology

    Thanks for your help by the way.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Nov 8, 2012 8:20 PM in response to nightology
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Nov 8, 2012 8:20 PM in response to nightology

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

     

    Back up all data.

     

    These instructions must be carried out in an administrator account, if you have more than one user account.

     

    Launch the Terminal application. Copy or drag — do not type — the line of text below into the Terminal window, then press return:

     

    open /etc/hosts

     

    A TextEdit window should open. At the top of the window, you should see something like this:

     

    ##

    # Host Database

    #

    # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface

    # when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.

    ##

    127.0.0.1                              localhost

    255.255.255.255          broadcasthost

    ::1                                        localhost

    fe80::1%lo0                    localhost

     

    Below that, you'll see some other lines. There should be nothing before the first line above. Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom of the document. In OS X 10.7 or later, scroll bars are hidden by default until you actually start scrolling, so you may not realize that you’re not seeing the whole document.

     

    If the contents of the TextEdit window are as described, close it, then enter the following command in the Terminal window in the same way as before; i.e., without typing:

     

    sed '/lo0/q' !$ > Desktop/hosts

     

    You should now have a file named "hosts" on your Desktop. Double-click the file to open it in TextEdit, and verify that it has only the contents shown above, with any extra lines removed. If so, close the window without making any changes.

     

    Next, go back to the Terminal window and enter one final command, again without typing:

     

    sudo sh -c 'cat Desktop/hosts > /etc/hosts'

     

    This time, you'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. Confirm. Quit Terminal.

     

    Do not type anything in the Terminal window except your password.

     

    That will fix the hosts file. You can now delete the file that was created on your Desktop.