HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine

[Togijak]

I found here this tip

Quote

in most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine.

To resolve this issue (manually) open the "Services Editor"

• Start | Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
• Scroll down to "DNS Client", Right-click and select: Properties - click Stop
• Click the drop-down arrow for "Startup type"
• Select: Manual (recommended) or Disabled  click Apply/Ok and restart.

 

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When set to Manual you can see that the above "Service" is not needed (after a little browsing - when set to Manual) by opening the Services Editor again, scroll down to DNS Client and check the "Status" column. It should be blank, if it was needed it would show "Started" in that column. There are several Utilities that can reset the DNS Client for you ... [more info]

 

Editors Note: The above instructions are intended for a single (home-user) PC. If your machine is part of a "Domain", check with your IT Dept. before applying this work-around. This especially applies to Laptop users who travel or bring their work machines home. Make sure to reset the Service (if needed) prior to connecting (reboot required) to your work Domain ...

 

Important! If you are using Network Discovery then the DNS Client service is required and should not be set to either Manual or Disabled.

Workaround for using the MVPS HOSTS file and leaving the DNS Client service enabled (set to: Automatic)

• If you find after a period of time that your browser seems sluggish with the DNS Client service enabled you can manually flush the DNS cache
• Close all browser windows ... open a "Command Prompt" from the Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
• (type) ipconfig /flushdns (press Enter) Then close the Command Prompt ...
•  

A better workaround would be to add two Registry entries to control the amount of time the DNS cache is saved. (KB318803)

• Flush the existing DNS cache (see above)
• Start > Run (type) regedit
• Navigate to the following location:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters
• Click Edit > New > DWORD Value (type) MaxCacheTtl
• Click Edit > New > DWORD Value (type) MaxNegativeCacheTtl
• Next right-click on the MaxCacheTtl entry (right pane) and select: Modify and change the value to 1
• The MaxNegativeCacheTtl entry should already have a value of 0 (leave it that way - see screenshot)
• Close Regedit and reboot ...
• As usual you should always backup your Registry before editing ... see Regedit Help under "Exporting Registry files"

 

Which way is the best?

[Batu69]

Moved from Technology Talk forum.

[Jordan]

34 minutes ago, Togijak said:

I found here this tip

Which way is the best?

 

See this discussion about the same subject here: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/large-hosts-file-delays-browsing.178514/

 

Also, here is a switch (ON/OFF) to control your DNS client

it's a simple .bat file.

Copy/Paste into Notepad and save as *.bat

 

@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

or download it here:  https://www.upload.ee/files/6242236/DNS_Client_Control.rar.html

 

[IronY-Man]

On 10/12/2016 at 2:19 PM, jordan4x said:

 

See this discussion about the same subject here: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/large-hosts-file-delays-browsing.178514/

 

Also, here is a switch (ON/OFF) to control your DNS client

it's a simple .bat file.

Copy/Paste into Notepad and save as *.bat

 

@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

or download it here:  https://www.upload.ee/files/6242236/DNS_Client_Control.rar.html

 

Just tried this script but I dont know it didnt worked as said, I had to manually start the service again !!
& Also , when I stopped it , the browsing got halted .....so I had to start the service again...I'm using host file from someonewhocares.org , so its quite big with some tweaks for skype and others !

[pc71520]

Quote

HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine.

You can use uBlock and check various HOSTS filters (e.g. Dan Pollock’s hpHosts’ MVPS )

without increasing the size of your HOSTS file.