Step #1: Locate the hosts file on your computer. Depending on what version of Windows you have, the folder which hosts.txt (or just named hosts on some versions of windows) is located in may vary:
| Windows Vista | = | C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC |
| Windows XP | = | C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC |
| Windows 2K | = | C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC |
| Win 98/ME | = | C:\WINDOWS |
Step #2: Edit the file, and add 1 new line with your domain and your server (or hosting account) IP address. If you do not know your IP address, check the welcome email that was sent to you after ordering service from TurnKey Internet; the IP address should be contained in that email. If the web site domain name you wanted to test was "www.test.com" and your IP address was 192.168.10.14, your hosts file would look something like this:
127.0.0.1 localhost
192.168.10.14 www.test.com
NOTE: Windows Vista users may run into problems editing the hosts file due to default security settings; if you do run into a problem, follow these steps:
| 1. |
Click Start,
click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Notepad, and then click Run as
administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow. |
| 2. | Open the Hosts file, make the necessary changes, and then click Save on the Edit menu. |
Step #3: Close all web browsers (this prevents any sort of caching from making you go to the wrong copy of your web site). Open a new browser, and go to your domain name. You should now be viewing the web site on your new server (or hosting account). If you have problems be sure to reboot your computer and repeat step #3.
