to route a local / private domain to a private server via windows, you need to edit hosts file. this was how it was done in windows xp.

however in windows 7, when trying to edit the file by double-clicking the file and open with notepad, i got 'access denied' error when trying to save the file.

this has to do with permissions. instead double-clicking the file, startup notepad as administrator and edit file from there.

instruction as follows:

• run notepad as administrator
• from menu > file > open, browse to the directory c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
• select all files types (*.*)
• open the file, edit and save