unable to edit hosts file in terminal

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Level 1

0 points

unable to edit hosts file in terminal

I have read all over and I cannot save the hosts file in terminal.

In the terminal I see:
iMAC:~ Amber$
I type:
sudo pico /etc/hosts it asks for password then I hit return but then nothing happens.
iMAC:~ Amber$

If I type:
pico /etc/hosts it opens the file but I am unable to save it.
It says:
Error writing /etc/hosts: Permission denied

I'm not sure what to do.
Please help.

iMAC 24" 2.33 Intel Core 2 Duo / 3GB Ram / 500GB HD / 7600GT 256MB SDRAM, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 8, 2009 2:57 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 8, 2009 3:00 PM in response to FastPhotoLab

I'm having trouble with 10.5 Terminal also. It's not obeying permissions. It shows as properly chmod'ing, but doesn't. If I copy the files to 10.4 it works fine.

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Answer 2

nerowolfe

Level 6

13,090 points

Mar 8, 2009 3:06 PM in response to FastPhotoLab

I suggest reposting in the Unix forum
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=735

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Answer 3

nerowolfe

Level 6

13,090 points

Mar 8, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Joel Fuller

Joel Fuller wrote:
I'm having trouble with 10.5 Terminal also. It's not obeying permissions.

Terminal has nothing to with obeying permissions.

It shows as properly chmod'ing, but doesn't. If I copy the files to 10.4 it works fine.

I suggest reposting in the Unix forum
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=735

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Answer 4

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Mar 8, 2009 3:10 PM in response to FastPhotoLab

FastPhotoLab wrote:
I have read all over and I cannot save the hosts file in terminal.

In the terminal I see:
iMAC:~ Amber$
I type:
sudo pico /etc/hosts it asks for password then I hit return but then nothing happens.
iMAC:~ Amber$

If I type:
pico /etc/hosts it opens the file but I am unable to save it.
It says:
Error writing /etc/hosts: Permission denied

I'm not sure what to do.
Please help.

It sounds like you have a blank admin password. sudo will not work with a blank password. you need to change you password to a nonblank one. then rerun the command and enter the password when prompted after
sudo pico /etc/hosts

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Answer 5

FastPhotoLab Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 8, 2009 8:39 PM in response to V.K.

Thank you-Thank you-Thank you

I almost was going to try that...It worked!!

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