Tool bar buttons from the left: Open a Hosts file, Save the file, check the Hosts file for duplicate entries, backup the Hosts file,
restore the backup, make Hosts file read only, make Hosts file writable, enable Hosts file, disable Hosts file, revert to original
Microsoft Hosts file, open the built in browser to download a Hosts file, launch GetIP which fetches a websites IP address, open
HostsCK’s settings, about HostsCK, program help file, View Saved sites, Change language and Update extra Microsoft blocks.
Clicking on the “Check Hosts” button on the toolbar will launch the check
for duplicates function. If duplicate Hosts entries are found they will be
removed. Saving the Hosts completes the change.
The textbox menu featuring the save your own text items. You can easily save your own entries then
import them back into an updated Hosts file when you save one.
Full view mode allows you to concentrate on editing the Hosts entries.
Search the Hosts file for hosts.
The search box also acts as a command box.
Typing ;; (2 semi-colons) into the search box gives a list of available commands such as turning
the DNS Cache service on and off. HostsCK will not check very large Hosts files for duplicate
entries but this can be overridden by typing “;;check hosts” into the search box.
The Integrated browser makes it easy to download an updated Hosts file, no need to use 2
separate programs.
Getting a websites IP address couldn’t be simpler. Use GetIP to get the IP address and allow or
block it in the Hosts file.
Customize fonts and colours
Use the built in colour schemes or choose your own colours for background, comments
font and blocked and allowed entries fonts. Of course using font colouring can slow down
HostsCK when dealing with massive Hosts files, 100,000 + entries so you can disable
colouring to have HostsCK read a Hosts file as fast as any text editor.
From the toolbar HostsCK can search the Hosts file for and remove duplicate entries.
Make the Hosts writable or not, disable the Hosts file if the blocks are making a website hard to read
(you may have to restart your browser after disabling or enabling the Hosts file). Backup your Hosts or
minimize HostsCK to the system tray so it can lock the Hosts file. The Hosts can still be read in this case
but it cannot be modified or deleted. You will probably want to add your own entries to the Hosts file
which would be lost when you update the file. With HostsCK you can remember your own entries which
will be copied back to the file when it’s saved.
For the advanced user “ipconfig GUI” is included in the installation and can be launched from the
HostsCK Start Menu link.
ipconfig GUI gives the ability to run ipconfig commands from an easy to use interface and has the
advantage of colouring results and makes saving results easy.
