Ok, i have checked my host file - it is cool. it looked just like you said it would. I made some other entries in it and tested them to make sure the hosts file i was looking at was the right one. And that it was being used.

I just figured out I can ping localhost - it comes back as ::1. My understanding is that ::1 is supposed to be shorthand for 127.0.0.1. I have my firewall off - it does interfere if i ping my computer ip. But it doesn't help my browser. I cannot deal with localhost. it just sits there forever. 127.0.0.1 works fine, my pc's ip address works fine. ::1 in the browser doesn't work.

Now, what is an A/V scan? Sorry. I haven't heard of it. But I am willing to try it!

Reply from ::1: time<1ms
Reply from ::1: time<1ms
Reply from ::1: time<1ms
Reply from ::1: time<1ms

Thank you!!