Tech Support: How to log in during FreeRepublic DNS problem (3 easy steps on Windows)

FreeRepublic | 4/5/2016 | Self

[20yearsofinternet]

So I noticed a bunch of people have been able to find the trick to getting to FR using the IP in their browser, but can't log in.

Here's a step-by-step guide for Windows on how to log in. NOTE: You need to be an administrator on your machine. You don't have to do anything scary, but you need admin privileges to do the following simple task in step 1.

Step 1: Open Notepad as Administrator

Navigate to Notepad. If you don't have a shortcut handy you can just click the Windows Start button (or in Windows 8+ just press the Windows key) and start typing notepad and it will show as the result. Right-click on it and choose run as administrator.



NOTE: If "run as administrator" is not an option, you aren't an administrator and can't make this change. Sorry!

Step 2: Open hosts file

Once notepad is open, choose to open a file, and then navigate to the path depicted in the screenshot. BE SURE TO CHANGE THE DROPDOWN TO ALL FILES! Open the file called simply "hosts".

Step 3: Add FreeRepublic

Add the IP and domain. Note: You should use the TAB key to create the space between the IP and the domain. If there are other entries in your file, just add the line as depicted in the screenshot at the bottom on its own line. Make sure you DON'T start the line with the # symbol (it's used to "comment out" all the other text in the file).

Then save the file and close notepad.

Step 4: Go to FreeRepublic

For good measure, close and re-open your browser. FR should now load fine and you'll be able to login.

Should there ever be notice that the problem is fixed, just repeat the steps and delete the line you added.

Happy FReeping!

[Albion Wilde]

Any thought as regards Macs? I had trouble signing in last week but finally cleared things out and am back on FR. Yesterday I had a quirk where one line of html in a list of links I was posting would not link, no matter what I did. Finally I eliminated that line, and the problem simply moved to the next link in the post. Creepy!

[Albion Wilde]

Pinging you to this discussion.

[weston]

That worked beautifully!
Thank you!

[markman46]

thanks....

[Fresh Wind]

Oops, spoke too soon. Looks like Android needs to be jailbroken/rooted to fix as well.

I'm at that point right now, and the hosts file is read only (yes, I'm rooted) and I can't find a simple way to get past that.

Anyone know?

[Reeses]

ICANN is showing someone modified the domain yesterday which is now propagating to all the DNS servers: whois.icann.org

[Crolis]

If you are editing with notepad, you may have to right click and run it as Administrator. You may be an admin but notepad is not elevated by default.

I ran into the same issue.

[NEMDF]

Bless you

[A_Tradition_Continues]

Thank you.

I think i’m signed in now.

For AP’s benefit...Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet. Who says you can’t capitalize the word Internet?

[Raycpa]

Is it just me or do the pages load quicker after adding it to Hosts file?

[Signalman]

Brilliant!

Thanks very much.

[Salamander]

It worked!!

Thank you!

[20yearsofinternet]

It’s not just you. Changing the host file bypasses the public lookup usually accomplished over the internet.

Normal flow:
- go to www.freerepublic.com in browser
- browser checks knows entries in hosts file, finds nothing
- browser goes out to the internet
- domain name resolves at the domain registrar, which provides DNS lookup info
- browser checks DNS server for information
- browser uses provided info to load the site

Edited host file flow:
- go to www.freerepublic.com in browser
- browser checks known entries in hosts file, finds info
- browser uses provided info to load the site

So, many milliseconds are shaved off by mapping in your host file.

“But 20yearsofinternet,” you might ask, “why don’t we just add stuff to the host file all the time?”

Good question. That’s because the backend info changes from time-to-time (in some cases, like sites hosted on cheaper Amazon web services platforms, it changes a lot). Once an announcement is made that the problem is all resolved, everyone should undo the change so that if in 3 months from now the IP that FR resolves to should happen to change, nobody runs into problems.

[Roccus]

This poor soul says

THANK YOU!!

First time I've been able to follow directions given at FR and had it work.....I'm a complete computer idiot and appreciate your post very much.

[who knows what evil?]

I was able to get to FR by using the IP, but, like many others; could NOT log in. After following your instructions; here I am!

Thank you VERY much!

[who knows what evil?]

When we find out what caused this DNS issue, there will be some left winger at the bottom of it, most likely a homosexual.

Milt Romnuts...bank on it. :-)

[LaybackLenny]

Got 'er dun! Modified Win10 and Linux Mint "hosts" files as prescribed.

Works like a charm.

THANKS!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Why does anyone ever log off?

[Drago]

The “hosts” file entry bypasses the DNS look-up and goes straight to the IP listed...so you won’t ever have DNS errors on FR. If you want to check if your DNS is OK with FR again you’ll have to remove the FR hosts file entry.

Also, for OS X/Mac users, here is the “hosts” file info.:

http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/

[jazusamo]

Thanks much for your step by step instructions, works fine now and would Not have been able to do it without your help.