DOCUMENT:Q105998  03-NOV-1993  [W_NT]
TITLE   :Cannot PING Computer on Last Line of HOSTS File
PRODUCT :Windows NT
PROD/VER:3.10
OPER/SYS:WINDOWS
KEYWORDS:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SYMPTOMS
========
 
If you add an entry to the HOSTS file (for TCP/IP utilities) and then
try to use the PING command to access that computer, you may receive
the following error message:
 
   <friendlyname>:Unknown Host
 
CAUSE
=====
 
This error message may be caused by not having a carriage return after
the last line in the HOSTS file. This problem usually occurs only when
you try to communicate with the computer on the last line of the HOSTS
file, because the other lines should have carriage returns.
 
NOTE: There may be numerous other causes for this error message.
 
RESOLUTION
==========
 
To avoid this error message, use Notepad (or any text editor) to edit
the HOSTS file and add a carriage return to the last line. If you add
a carriage return to the last line of the HOSTS file created above,
the PING command works correctly.
 
For additional information on the HOSTS file in Windows NT, query on
the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 
   hosts and windows and nt
 
For additional information on the troubleshooting TCP/IP connectivity
with Windows NT, query on the following words in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
 
   tcp/ip and tshoot and windows and nt
 
MORE INFORMATION
================

Steps to Reproduce Problem
--------------------------
 
1. Rename the HOSTS file in the winnt\system32\drivers\etc\ directory
   to HOSTS.OLD.
 
   NOTE: After testing, be sure to rename HOSTS.OLD back to HOSTS.
 
2. Using Notepad, create a new HOSTS file with the following line:
 
   127.0.0.1   test   

   (Without a carriage return after "test.")
 
3. Save the file as HOSTS in the winnt\system32\drivers\etc\
   directory.
 
4. Open a Command Prompt and enter the following command:
 
      ping test
 
You will receive the above error message.

Additional reference words: 3.10
KBCategory:
KBSubcategory: tpip

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  IN NO
EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.