Message I can't understand

[powyco]

I keep getting the message 'connection on 127.0.0.1 refused', yet my emails are arriving and being sent with no problems. Can anyone tell me what's going on, and what I should do, please ?

[vehelpfulguy]

Windows sets up a "dummy" network address called "localhost" in case you are not connected to a network.

Localhost is always given the IP address of 127.0.0.1

This information is held in a file called "hosts" but maybe that file has been updated or deleted.

(some people who want to put spyware on your computer change your hosts file to point to the "wrong" web site. So they may say that e-bay is now at a different ip address to point to a fake site).

The "hosts" file (it has no extension) is held in the windows folder:
c:\widows\system32\drivers\etc (the "etc" is part of the path)

Edit your hosts file and ensure it has the following text in it:

127.0.0.1 localhost

There should be no other entries in there so let us know if there is.

[vehelpfulguy]

One thing you can try to see if localhost is set up correctly.

On the Windows start menu select Run

In the Run field type:

ping localhost

and press OK.

A black window should open and it should say three times:

Reply from 127.0.0.1

If it does then localhost is setup OK.

If it doesnt then you may have a problem with the hosts file.

[Hard@it]

Hi vhguy, checked this out, (although I have no prob), and it did exactly as you said ! Cheers Hard@it

[powyco]

Thanks, vehelpful guy. The 'ping localhost' is fine, but in the Windows/system32/drivers there are so many entries I don't know where to look. I do have Spybot and Adaware, and run and update them regularly, at least twice a week. Any further advice will be gratefully received.