Comments on: Using a Hosts File on Windows Mobile

By: Andreas

Andreas — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:08:52 +0000

I’m pretty sure I’ve run this on WM 6.1 Standard as well. And there’s no reason it shouldn’t work on WM 6.1. What kind of error are you getting? Is it when starting the app, or when using it the error occurs?

By: Mobile Device Manager Resources | System Center Ideas

Mobile Device Manager Resources | System Center Ideas — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:37:31 +0000

[...] Hosts File Editor for Windows Mobile [...]

By: Ilau

Ilau — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:53:14 +0000

not sure this track is still active. I downloaded the hostfileedit tool posted nov 8th, the pro version works great on PDA running WM6.1, thank you. Unfortunately, I get error when using the hostsfileditstd.exe for WM6.1 standard device. Anyone has a version that will work? thanks

By: Andreas

Andreas — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:39:59 +0000

If I remember correctly Windows Mobile isn’t to happy about using just the host name instead of the fqdn. So for instance www would fail, but http://www.domain.com would be ok. This being because your device always tries to do DNS lookups, and not WINS.

The fix (at least if you’re running SCMDM) is to set the following registry keys:
HKLM\Comm\AFD\NameResolutionordering to 4, and
HKLM\Comm\MSEC\IPSECVPNVNIC1\Parms\TcpIp\Domain to the domain suffix.

I haven’t tested this so I can’t be sure, and that second registry might look a little different if you’re not running SCMDM.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:38:49 +0000

I tried using the utility and the host successfully added:
Hostname: ts-srvr
IP Address: 70.167.160.73

When I try to use this in a web browser, it says that the server cannot be found. I know it works because I have Windows machines where I have modified the hosts file using the same values above. I know the Internet works fine on the mobile device.

I checked the registry value using a mobile registry editor. I checked the hex value and made sure it was programmed with the correct IP address. I have rebooted the mobile device. It does not work in both the mobile Opera or IE browser.

Is there anything that could be preventing this from working? I would appreciate your help if you can.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:11:26 +0000

You’re right. Don’t know how that happened, but it should be fixed now.

By: Luiz

Luiz — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:12:03 +0000

Hi Andreas,

I’m trying to download the HostsFileEditStd.exe but all I got is a dead link… If could make it avaiable somewhere else would be great! Thanks in advance!

By: Andreas

Andreas — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:09:04 +0000

Some WM builds doesn’t have the hosts key defined. Don’t know why. But it should still work when you create the key.

I have tested this on WM 6.1, so I would be very surprised if this has changed with WM 6.1.4.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:05:09 +0000

I notice that the Windows Mobile 6.1.4 Professional emulator doesn’t even have the Hosts key. Was something changed in WinMo 6.1?

By: Andreas

Andreas — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:58:15 +0000

I think I nailed the bug.
I have uploaded a new build.