Using a large HOSTS file on a home network

[jelson]

Currently, I'm using the MVPS HOSTS file (~600 KB) and have been considering using the hpHosts file (~3.8 MB) since the latter has an extensive listing of malicous websites in addition to adservers.

The info at MVPs HOSTS (SOURCE)

1. Warns that "in most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine";
2. Advises setting the DNS Client to manual;
3. But warns that Network Discovery requires the service.

I am on a home network and from time to time I do want to connect to the other machines in the house. (And doesn't bother me at if they can't see my primary machine.)

So, is the answer to disable the DNS Client and just re-enable it when I need to connect to other machines on my network?

Also, I did read a Wiki article on the subject, but couldn't translate that into how it would affect things at a user level. (Definitely out of my depth here.)

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with HostMan, a freeware HOSTs file manager
(site HERE; WOT = Excellent)

• Automatic update of hosts file
• Enable/Disable hosts file
• Built-in hosts editor
• Scan hosts for errors, duplicates and possible hijacks
• Hosts file backup manager
• Exclusion list
• Local HTTP server

I've been using HostsXpert to manage and update my HOSTS file and started looking at HostMan since it can merge two HOSTS files (like from MVPs & hpHosts) and remove any duplications and also has a Hosts Optimizer built into it.

Any advice and experience on this subject will be most welcome. Thanks.

[luffy]

Why does large HOSTS file slow down the computer? Do they mean it slows down the web browsers

[hellnoire]

Copy and paste the following to Notepad:

@echo off
SET /P ANSWER=Start or Stop DNS Client?
echo.
if /i {%ANSWER%}=={start} (goto :start)
if /i {%ANSWER%}=={stop} (goto :stop)
:start
net start DNS Client
goto: eof
:stop
net stop DNS Client
goto: eof
:eof

Save it as ALL FILES (instead of .txt) and write 'DNS Client Control.bat'

Should allow for you to control your DNS Client on and off.

[jelson]

Thanks hellnoire, much appreciated!

[hellnoire]

No problem. I might be in the process of moving to Linux full time... but I still remember my Windows commands.

[jock]

For over a year i have been having problems with slow browsing.First when using XP then with using W/7 .
Tried everything to get it to run properly and nothing worked.
The only thing I had not tried was removing the MVps host file so changed it back to Windows host file and now everything is working so much quicker.
Just wish I had tried that a year or so earlier.
I know it is not the question asked but thought that I would add it on in case others were having the same problem.
I should add this was using IE8 and IE9 so just an Internet Explorer problem.

[hellnoire]

For over a year i have been having problems with slow browsing.First when using XP then with using W/7 .
Tried everything to get it to run properly and nothing worked.
The only thing I had not tried was removing the MVps host file so changed it back to Windows host file and now everything is working so much quicker.
Just wish I had tried that a year or so earlier.
I know it is not the question asked but thought that I would add it on in case others were having the same problem.
I should add this was using IE8 and IE9 so just an Internet Explorer problem.

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me that IE gave you issues, but the chances are good that it would have been any browser out there really.