Solidworks Host File Block Fix Link

The SolidWorks host file block fix typically refers to a manual DNS workaround to resolve connectivity issues between a SolidWorks PDM (Product Data Management) client and its server. This method bypasses DNS failures by hard-coding the server's IP address and name directly into the Windows hosts file. When to Use This Fix

DNS Issues: You can ping the server by IP but not by its name (or vice versa).

Connectivity Errors: Getting "Bad Data" errors or unable to log into the PDM vault view despite being on the same network.

Firewall/Antivirus Blocks: Third-party security software (like Webroot or ZoneAlarm) is preventing SolidWorks from writing to or accessing the necessary network pathways. Step-by-Step Fix Procedure

Open Notepad as Admin: Search for Notepad in the Start Menu, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator.

Locate the File: Go to File > Open and navigate to:C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.

Show All Files: In the open dialog, change the file type from "Text Documents (.txt)" to **All Files (.*)** to see the file named hosts (with no extension).

Add Server Entry: On a new line at the bottom, type the Server IP address, hit Tab, and then type the Server Name. Example: 192.168.1.50 PDM-Server-01.

Save and Flush DNS: Save the file. To ensure the changes take effect immediately, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns then press Enter. Common Troubleshooting Blocks

Read-Only File: If you cannot save, right-click the hosts file in File Explorer, select Properties, and uncheck Read-only.

Antivirus Interference: Check your antivirus settings to ensure "Prevent any program from modifying the HOSTs file" is unchecked.

Incorrect File Name: Ensure the file is named exactly hosts and not hosts.txt.

For further detailed guides, you can visit GoEngineer's PDM Workaround or MLC CAD Systems Help Center.

Are you seeing a specific error code or blank screen when trying to connect to your PDM server? Top 8 troubleshooting steps for PDM connectivity issues

SolidWorks Host File Block Fix Report

Introduction: The SolidWorks host file block fix is a solution to resolve issues related to SolidWorks being blocked by the Windows host file. This report provides a step-by-step guide on how to fix the issue. solidworks host file block fix

Symptoms: Users may experience the following symptoms:

  • SolidWorks fails to launch or crashes immediately after launch
  • Error messages indicating that SolidWorks is unable to connect to the license server
  • The SolidWorks license server is not visible in the License Server list

Cause: The issue is usually caused by the Windows host file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) blocking the connection to the SolidWorks license server.

Solution: To fix the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the Host File: Open the Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.
  2. Open the Host File: Right-click on the hosts file and select "Open with" > Notepad (or any other text editor).
  3. Identify the Blocking Entry: Look for any entries related to the SolidWorks license server IP address or hostname. Typically, these entries are in the format 127.0.0.1 <license_server_name> or <license_server_ip> <license_server_name>.
  4. Remove or Comment Out the Blocking Entry: Delete or comment out (add a # at the beginning of the line) the entry that is blocking the connection to the license server.
  5. Save the Changes: Save the changes to the host file.

Example:

Before:

127.0.0.1 license-server

After:

#127.0.0.1 license-server (commented out)

or

(no entry)

Verification: After making the changes, restart SolidWorks and verify that it launches successfully and connects to the license server.

Troubleshooting Tips:

  • Make sure to run Notepad (or text editor) as an administrator to ensure write access to the host file.
  • If multiple license servers are listed in the host file, try removing or commenting out all entries and then add the correct license server entry.
  • If the issue persists, try flushing the DNS cache by running ipconfig /flushdns in the Command Prompt.

Conclusion: The SolidWorks host file block fix is a simple and effective solution to resolve issues related to SolidWorks being blocked by the Windows host file. By following the steps outlined in this report, users should be able to resolve the issue and successfully launch SolidWorks.

Note: This draft assumes the "fix" refers to attempting to block SolidWorks license verification servers via the Windows hosts file to bypass licensing (piracy). I have framed this as a warning against that practice.

Symptoms unique to the Hosts File Problem:

  1. The "Slow Open": SolidWorks takes 5+ minutes to open before erroring out. The software is trying every DNS route before failing.
  2. The "License Server Not Responding" error code (-15,10): This is the classic "can't reach the server because it's blocked locally."
  3. Error 0x80004005: Unspecified failure related to network transport.
  4. SolidWorks Rx is fine, but the main app fails: SolidWorks Rx uses a different network stack than the main CAD engine.

1. License Error: -97, 121

"SolidWorks cannot connect to the license server. The server may be down or you are not connected to the network." The SolidWorks host file block fix typically refers

  • Cause: SolidWorks tried to ping the license server (e.g., 25734@localhost or a remote server) but the DNS lookup failed or the traffic was blocked by a firewall.
  • Fix: Redirects traffic internally.

Conclusion: Restore, Don't Crush

The SolidWorks Host File Block Fix is a surgical procedure. It is not about crushing the software's ability to phone home; it is about removing obsolete or malicious routing instructions that prevent legitimate communication.

The TL;DR Step-by-Step Recap:

  1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.
  2. Turn off Read-only on the hosts file.
  3. Open with Notepad, delete lines containing solidworks.com.
  4. Save, turn Read-only back on.
  5. Run ipconfig /flushdns in CMD as Admin.
  6. Restart your PC.

If you follow this guide exactly, you will resolve the yellow triangle, recover your license server connection, and get back to engineering. However, if the error persists after three attempts, the problem is likely not the Hosts file—it is your network firewall, your license server hardware ID mismatch, or a corrupt .lic file.

When in doubt, contact your VAR (Value Added Reseller). They have diagnostic tools that can fix this in five minutes remotely.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and troubleshooting legitimate software installations only. Unauthorized modification of software licensing mechanisms violates federal copyright laws.

Resolving SOLIDWORKS Connection Issues via Local Hosts File Modifying the local Windows hosts file

is a common troubleshooting step when SOLIDWORKS PDM or License Manager cannot connect to a server due to DNS or name-resolution failures. This workaround directs your computer to the correct server IP address by bypassing standard network lookups. 1. Identify Connection Requirements Before editing, ensure you have the server’s IP address exact server name used by your organization. Standard Ports: Ensure your firewall allows communication through ports (License Manager) and (Vendor Daemon). 2. Access the Hosts File with Administrative Rights Windows protects the hosts file; you must use Administrator privileges to save any changes. Right-click Notepad and select Run as Administrator In Notepad, go to File > Open Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ Change the file filter from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to to see the 3. Apply the Fix

Add a new entry at the bottom of the file following this format: [IP Address] [TAB] [Server Name] 192.168.1.100 MySWServerName Single Server Note:

If your Archive and Database servers share one machine, only one line is needed. Save the File: File > Save and close Notepad. 4. Verify the Connection

After saving, clear your local cache to ensure the new settings take effect immediately. Command Prompt ipconfig /flushdns PDM Connectivity Test Tool or a simple ping [Server Name] to confirm the connection is active. Troubleshooting Host File "Blocks" If you cannot save the file even as an administrator: Antivirus Interference: Software like SentinelOne

may "lock" the hosts file. Disable "Lock Hosts File" in your antivirus advanced settings before editing. Read-Only Attribute: Right-click the file, select Properties , and ensure is unchecked. File Extensions: Ensure the file is named exactly extension.

SOLIDWORKS Host File Block Fix: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you experiencing issues with SOLIDWORKS due to a blocked host file? Do you see an error message indicating that the software is unable to connect to the license server or access certain features? You're not alone. In this article, we'll explore the SOLIDWORKS host file block fix, a common problem that affects many users. We'll provide a step-by-step guide on how to resolve the issue and get your SOLIDWORKS software up and running smoothly.

What is a Host File?

A host file is a text file used by the operating system to map hostnames to IP addresses. It's a crucial file that helps your computer communicate with other devices on a network. The host file is usually located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc directory on Windows systems. SolidWorks fails to launch or crashes immediately after

What Causes a Host File Block in SOLIDWORKS?

When you install SOLIDWORKS, it may create entries in the host file to facilitate communication between the software and the license server. However, sometimes these entries can become corrupted or blocked, causing issues with the software. Here are some common reasons that can lead to a host file block:

  1. Corrupted or incorrect entries: If the entries in the host file are incorrect or corrupted, SOLIDWORKS may not be able to read them properly, leading to a block.
  2. Antivirus software interference: Some antivirus software may flag the host file as a potential threat and block it, causing issues with SOLIDWORKS.
  3. System configuration changes: Changes to the system configuration, such as updates to the network settings or changes to the license server, can cause the host file to become outdated.

Symptoms of a Host File Block

If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, it's possible that your host file is blocked:

  1. Error messages: You see error messages indicating that SOLIDWORKS is unable to connect to the license server or access certain features.
  2. License server issues: You're experiencing issues with the license server, such as being unable to activate or deactivate licenses.
  3. Feature access issues: You're unable to access certain features or tools within SOLIDWORKS.

SOLIDWORKS Host File Block Fix: Step-by-Step Guide

To fix the host file block, follow these steps:

Method 1: Manually Editing the Host File

  1. Open the host file: Open the host file in a text editor, such as Notepad, with administrator privileges. To do this, right-click on Notepad and select "Run as administrator."
  2. Locate the SOLIDWORKS entries: Look for entries related to SOLIDWORKS, such as 127.0.0.1 localhost or ::1 localhost. These entries may be at the bottom of the file.
  3. Delete the SOLIDWORKS entries: Delete any entries related to SOLIDWORKS.
  4. Save the file: Save the file and close it.

Method 2: Using the SOLIDWORKS License Server Tool

  1. Download the License Server Tool: Download the SOLIDWORKS License Server Tool from the Dassault Systèmes website.
  2. Run the tool: Run the tool and select the "Fix Hosts File" option.
  3. Follow the prompts: Follow the prompts to fix the host file.

Method 3: Resetting the Host File

  1. Rename the host file: Rename the host file to hosts.old.
  2. Create a new host file: Create a new host file by copying the contents of the hosts.sample file (usually located in the same directory as the host file).
  3. Restart SOLIDWORKS: Restart SOLIDWORKS and see if the issue is resolved.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

If the above methods don't resolve the issue, try the following:

  1. Check antivirus software: Check your antivirus software settings to ensure that it's not blocking the host file.
  2. Check system configuration: Verify that your system configuration, including network settings and license server settings, is correct.
  3. Contact SOLIDWORKS support: Contact SOLIDWORKS support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Step 5 – Save and Flush DNS

  • Save the file (Ctrl+S).
  • Close Notepad.
  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type: 
    ipconfig /flushdns
  • Press Enter.

The Verdict: A Necessary Evil (With Caveats)

Rating: 6/10 (Effective but Risky)

The "Host File Block" fix is a workaround, not an official solution. It is highly effective for a specific problem (the "SolidWorks SolidNetwork License Manager cannot connect to the server" error), but it introduces maintenance headaches and potential security risks.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the review.

Step 5: Reboot

Restart your computer. SolidWorks should now look at your local machine for validation instead of the internet.