[squid-users] Can't get my Squid proxy to use my c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file.

Hello!

I just configured a new Squid proxy
(http://squid.acmeconsulting.it/download/squid-2.7.STABLE8-bin.zip) in
an updated Windows XP Pro. SP2 box for a testing proxy network setup for
a network program. I got its manual (no PAC scripts) proxy to work on
both client computer and server via Internet Explorer correctly. I am
not using any PAC scripts either.

I couldn't get my prerelease network software to connect to the correct
test internal server. It ends up on the production one which I do not
want! According to
http://www.eu.squid-cache.org/mail-archive/squid-users/200903/index.html#226
thread's replies, Squid proxy does not read the Windows' hosts file by
default. Administrator has to tell Squid to do that in its Squid's
folder/directory's etc\squid.conf file (hosts_file section). I told
Squid to use c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts with my custom hosts
list.

However, I still could not get it to work in my activated 64-bit W7
HP's IE8 client PC. I even tried public internet Web sites like:
157.166.255.19 msnbc.com
So client's IE8 should take me to CNN's Web site instead of
www.msnbc.com, but it didn't (gave me MSNBC's Web site). I tried
rebooting both PCs, restarting Squid service, etc.

What am I missing? Thank you in advance. :)

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